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 an 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. The 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!
How to make almond shortbread cookies
Below are some step-by-step photos illustrating major steps on how to make these cookies. For the 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 a 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 a sharp knife, to form individual cookies
Individual cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet, lined with foil
Almond Shortbread Cookies with Amaretto
Ingredients
- 8 oz butter , unsalted, room temperature (16 tablespoons or 1 cup)
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 teaspoon amaretto liquor
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour , sifted or aerated – see my note below!
- ¾ cup almonds , sliced, lightly toasted
Instructions
- 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!
- In a large mixing bowl, using mixer, beat butter, sugar, amaretto, salt until smooth and creamy.
- With mixer on low speed, add flour and mix until dough forms.
- Using rubber spatula, mix in almonds.
- 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.
- Preheat oven to 325. Using sharp knife, cut dough into ¼ inch thick slices, place them on un-greased baking sheet 1 inch apart. Bake until edges are golden, about 12 minutes.
- Cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I followed the directions exactly. The cookies taste wonderful, very rich, although in my oven (which is slow), it took more like 18 minutes to get them golden-brown. I think that was because I cut them a little thicker than 1/4-inch because the cold dough was very hard to handle. Next time I will let the dough sit on the counter for at least 20 min. after going from freezer to refrigerator; otherwise there was a tendency for it to crumble during slicing.
Sharon, thank you for your feedback - so helpful to everybody! Wishing you a Happy New Year! ❤️
These look delicious! Is there a way to make them gluten-free?
Yes, you can. Just follow this recipe as is using this gluten-free flour:
https://shop.kingarthurbaking.com/items/gluten-free-measure-for-measure-flour
I was very excited to make these almond short bread cookies for my daughters Baby “ Tea” shower. I followed the recipe exactly. I was very disappointed by the lack of almond flavor. Actually there is no almond flavor at all! I even lightly toasted the almonds to enhance the almond flavor. Very disappointed and will not be making these cookies again. I would recommend using Almond Extract, perhaps that would work
better.
I brushed amaretto on top of the cookies when they came out of the oven with a silicone brush. It made them taste a lot more like almonds!
This recipe delivers on all the buttery almond shortbread goodness. Thank you Julia!
I bought a metal cookie mold frame thing so I could make the rectangular shaped logs. It worked great. I am not so good doing it free form style.
I let my dough sit overnight in the fridge and the result was divine.
Make this your signature cookie! Everyone makes chocolate chip or sugar cookies, etc. Stand above them with this recipe. You will not be sorry.
Made these cookies last year and they were a big hit. I lost the printed recipe and was glad to find it again when I searched online. I'll definitely be making them again!
Christina, I am so glad you liked this recipe and found it again! Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to share such positive feedback!
Would almond flour work?
I substitute 1/4 to 1/3 of the flour with sifted or fluffed almond flour, and then skip the almond extract or amaretto, but do add a scant tsp of vanilla or even orange extract, because I love them with the (organic) grated orange peel (2TBS)!
Love your changes: the use of almond flour, vanilla, and orange extract (or orange peel)!
What's the non alcohol version. I have Amoretto extract what amount?
Use the same amount - 1 teaspoon. You can also use almond extract.
TO DIE FOR!!! Followed recipe, exactly, ( did have to use slivered toasted almonds, ) No better cookie than a good shortbread, melt in your mouth and terribly addicting! Made a double batch and could have made more. Thanks for the recipe, it'sa keeper!!!!
So glad you enjoyed these cookies! Thank you for stopping by and leaving such a wonderful review!