Description
Delightful almond meltaway cookies melt effortlessly on palates with buttery richness from traditional European baking traditions. Delicate shortbread-style treats provide sweet comfort during afternoon tea or festive gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (125 g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tsp almond extract
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tbsps milk (or more as needed)
- Sliced almonds, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Oven Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal heat distribution.
- Flavor Foundation: Cream butter and powdered sugar until luxuriously smooth, then incorporate almond extract, ensuring complete flavor integration.
- Dough Formation: Fold flour, cornstarch, and salt into butter mixture, developing a tender, slightly tacky dough that promises delicate texture.
- Cookie Shaping: Portion dough into uniform spheres using a cookie scoop, placing them on prepared sheet with gentle spacing. Crown each cookie with an almond slice for sophisticated visual appeal.
- Baking Process: Slide sheet into preheated oven, baking 12-15 minutes until edges transform to a pale golden hue, carefully avoiding over-browning.
- Cooling Technique: Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for five minutes to stabilize structure, then transfer to wire rack for complete cooling. Optionally dust with a whisper of powdered sugar for an ethereal finish.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters: Ensure butter is softened but not melted for the perfect cookie texture. Room temperature butter blends more smoothly, creating a silky, uniform base that guarantees tender, melt-in-your-mouth cookies.
- Handle Dough Gently: Avoid overmixing the flour mixture. Fold ingredients just until combined to prevent tough, dense cookies. Delicate handling preserves the light, crumbly texture that defines these almond meltaways.
- Spacing is Crucial: Leave sufficient room between cookies on the baking sheet. One-inch gaps prevent spreading and ensure uniform, perfectly shaped cookies with crisp, golden edges.
- Cooling Technique Matters: Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for exactly five minutes after baking. This brief cooling period helps them set without becoming hard, maintaining their signature delicate, crumbly texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 145
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg