Anyone have a good Christmas cookie recipe using almond extract?

 

4 cups all purpose flour

1 ¼ cups Sugar

1 ¼ cups packed Brown Sugar

3 tsp baking powder

1 ½ tsp. salt

1 ½ cups Shortening

 

Mix Flour, sugars, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles fine crumbs

Place desired amounts of mix in containers. Seal tightly, label and refrigerate no longer than 10 weeks

If using self rising flour omit salt and baking powder.

Banana cookies

2 ½ cups of versatile cookie mix

½ cup mashed banana (= 1 small to medium)

1tsp almond or vanilla extract

1 egg

½ cup chopped nuts (good with almonds)

 

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Mix all the ingredients. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonsful about 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until golden brown. 12-15 min. immediately remove from cookie sheet.  Makes about 3 doz.

 

Peanut Butter Cookies

2 cups cookie mix

½ cup crunchy peanut butter

1 egg

1tsp vanilla or almond extract

 

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Mix all the ingredients. Shape dough into balls and place about 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until light brown. 10-12 min. immediately remove from cookie sheet and cool.  Makes about 2 doz.  This also excellent made with almond butter

 

Spice Cookies

2 ½ cups cookie mix

1 egg

½ tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp almond extract

½ cup raisins

½ cup chopped nuts   almonds are excellent I also put in some nutmeg

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Mix all the ingredients. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonsful about 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until golden brown. 12-15 min. immediately removes from cookie sheet.  Makes about 2 ½ doz.

If you want to make them healthier use whole wheat pastry flour.

Soy garden or smart balance margarine both are non hydrogenated

Fructose can be substituted for white sugar and Succant for brown sugar.

I like this recipe because you can make the basic mix and mix any variety as you need it.

I have also mixed up batches of this dough and given it with a pottery bowl some wooden spoons, spatulas, measuring spoons and a crocheted kitchen towel with matching pot holders. Put bright cellophane around it with a bow as a Christmas gift the whole family can enjoy while the kids are home for Christmas break.

 

 

I hope this helps

Sue Kelly