Chinese Almond Cookies Recipe

• 1 cup (1/2 pound) lard or vegetable shortening
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon almond extract
• Pinch of salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons water
• Whole blanched almonds for garnish

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Grease 2 baking sheets.
2. Beat 1 cup (1/2 pound) lard or vegetable shortening (at room temperature) with 1 cup granulated sugar until creamy.
3. Beat in 1 tablespoon almond extract and a pinch of salt, then beat in 3 cups all-purpose flour, a little at a time.
4. The dough will be crumbly.
5. Shape spoonfuls of dough into flat, round cookies about 2 inches in diameter.
6. (The edges of the cookies will have cracks.)
7. Transfer to the prepared pans.
8. Beat together 1 egg yolk and 2 tablespoons water and brush it atop the cookies.
9. Press a whole blanched almond into the center of each cookie.
10. Bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly golden.
11. Cool slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool fully.
12. Store in an airtight container.
13. Makes 4 dozen.

lard, sugar, almond, salt, allpurpose, egg yolk, water, blanched almonds

Taken from www.chowhound.com/recipes/chinese-almond-cookies-10477 (may not work)