Tri-Color Almond Cookies
Almond-scented butter cookies with a jewel-like cherry in the center. These cookies are soft and not too sweet. A festive addition to any cookie platter.
Ingredients:
2 ½ cups flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 cup butter
1 egg, beaten
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon almond extract
Red and green food coloring
Cocktail cherries, dried strawberries, or nuts
Method:
Sift together flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; set aside. Cream butter and powdered sugar together until light and fluffy. Add egg, vanilla and almond extracts; mix well. Add flour mixture to the butter and sugar. Mix until just combined. Divide dough into three equal parts. Tint one part red, one part green and leave one part natural. Chill dough for one hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Form dough into small balls about one teaspoon each. Place in groups of three, one of each color, on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Flatten with the bottom of a drinking glass. Place a dried strawberry, half a cocktail cherry or a nut in the center of each cookie. Bake 10 minutes; cookies should not brown. Allow to cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes then move to a wire rack to cool completely.