Almond shortbread cookies with Amaretto

almond shortbread cookies with Amaretto – delicious Christmas cookies! These are just like classic shortbread cookies but with a little twist – I am using almond liquor to provide even more almond flavor to these very much almond-y holiday cookies!

I am very much in a holiday mood, and this is my first recipe in the holiday cookie series that I will be posting over the course of the next 2 weeks. This is a classic Christmas almond shortbread cookie that everybody should try at least once in their lifetime. Because, first, the recipe is so easy! And, second, almonds are great in cookies, and their flavor is even more amplified in this recipe by the addition of a small amount of Amaretto, a sweet almond flavored liquor. Amaretto….. Just give me any excuse to use it and I will. It’s one of my favorite liquors but it doesn’t feel proper to drink it straight out of the bottle, so I am always searching for ways to incorporate it in not so obvious way. Such as in these almond shortbread cookies with Amaretto.

I’ve used Martha Stewart’s recipe, where I substituted almond extract with Amaretto and omitted orange zest. These 2 changes made these Christmas cookies even more “almond-y”, which is exactly what I wanted! The sliced almonds in the cookies give them a very nice crunch. Feel free to halve the recipe or double it. First time I made these I actually halved the recipe to make sure I liked it, and the cookies came out perfect.

This almond shortbread cookie dough keeps very well frozen in the freezer, and you can make several smaller logs, so that each time you want to bake cookies, you just take out one log of cookie dough and slice it. The cookies themselves, once baked, can be stored in an air-tight container for a month. My husband and I have been eating these holiday cookies for 2 weeks, and what a pleasure that was!

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How to make almond shortbread cookies

Below are some step-by-step photos illustrating major steps how to make these cookies. For complete recipe, scroll down, below the photos.

Start by mixing together cookie dough ingredients

Add Amaretto to the cookie dough

Sliced almonds – ready to be added to cookie dough

Mix in almonds

Make a rectangular shape out of cookie dough – before putting it in the freezer

Wrap cookie dough into plastic wrap – at this point, once it’s wrapped in plastic, it’s easier to shape cookie dough into a more perfect rectangular shape

After cookie dough was in the freezer/refrigerator, cut thin slices of cookie dough, using sharp knife, to form individual cookies

Individual cookies on ungreased cookie sheet, lined with foil

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Almond Shortbread Cookies with Amaretto

Prep Time

35 mins

Cook Time

1 hr

Total Time

36 mins

 

This is a classic Christmas almond shortbread cookie recipe.   The almond flavor is even more amplified in this holiday recipe by the addition of a small amount of Amaretto, a sweet almond flavored liquor.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 40 cookies

Calories: 90 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter , unsalted, room temperature
• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 teaspoon amaretto liquor
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour , sifted or aerated – see my note below!
• 3/4 cup almonds , sliced, lightly toasted

Instructions

1. Important note about properly measuring flour using measuring cups:

   The proper way to measure flour using measuring cups is to aerate it first. This is done either by sifting flour, or aerating it by fluffing it up and whisking it well, then spooning it into the measuring cup, then carefully removing any excess flour with a knife. If you just stick that measuring cup in the bag of flour and scoop some out, you will get a lot more flour than what the recipe calls for. Do aerate the flour, or you will end up with dry dough!

2. In a large mixing bowl, using mixer, beat butter, sugar, amaretto, salt until smooth and creamy.

3. With mixer on low speed, add flour and mix until dough forms.

4. Using rubber spatula, mix in almonds.

5. Form dough into a rectangular log (or 2 rectangular logs). Wrap each log in plastic wrap. Once the log is wrapped in plastic wrap, it is easier to continue shaping it as a more perfectly shaped rectangular log. Freeze the log for 40 minutes in freezer, then 20 minutes in refrigerator.

6. Preheat oven to 325. Using sharp knife, cut dough into 1/4 inch thick slices, place them on un-greased baking sheet 1 inch apart. Bake until edges are golden, about 12 minutes.

7. Cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Recipe Notes

Recipe adapted from Martha Stewart. 

Nutrition Facts

Almond Shortbread Cookies with Amaretto

Amount Per Serving

Calories 90 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 5g 8%

Saturated Fat 3g 15%

Cholesterol 12mg 4%

Sodium 55mg 2%

Potassium 26mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 8g 3%

Sugars 3g

Protein 1g 2%

Vitamin A 2.8%

Calcium 0.9%

Iron 2.2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.