Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Rainy Day Yummies: Scandinavian Almond Cookies



There is nothing like a cup of cocoa and a
yummy plate of cookies on a cold winter's
day. We don't get many of those in central
Arizona, so today when I woke up and it
was gray and rainy and hovering in the
high 50's/low 60's, I knew it was cookie
baking time!


The cookie of choice? My mother's Scandinavian almond
cookies. It's a recipe she gave me almost 20 years ago
and it never fails to win over new fans and bring the old
ones coming back for more.

Scandinavian Almond Cookies

1 3/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/s teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup sliced almonds


Stir together flour, baking poweder, and salt. In a large mixer
bowl beat butter until softened. Add sugar and beat till fluffy.
Add egg and almond extract and beat well. Add flour mixture
and beat until well mixed.

Divide dough into fourths. Form each into a 12 inch roll. Place
two rolls 4 to 5 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Flatten till 3 inches wide. Repeat with remaining rolls.

Brush flattened rolls with milk and sprinkle with with almonds.
(I am a BIG almond lover. In my book SPRINKLE WITH
MURDER my favorite cupcake is an almond flavored cake with
almond buttercream called the blonde bombshell, but I digress.)
Bake in a 325 degree oven for 12-14 minutes or until edges are
lightly browned. While cookies are still warm, cut them
crosswise at a diagonal into 1 inch strips. Cool and drizzle with
almond icing. Makes 48.

Almond Icing

Stir together 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 teaspoon almond extract,
and 3-4 teaspoons of milk (enough to make the icing of drizzling
consistency).


www.jennmckinlay.com


Jenn McKinlay
SPRINKLE WITH MURDER
March 2010
(Available for pre-order now)

aka Lucy Lawrence
STUCK ON MURDER
Sept 2009 (Available now)

CUT TO THE CORPSE
April 2010
(Available for pre-order now)


Keep sending in suggestions for our next Iron Chef ingredient week, there are
prizes to be had. So be creative!

11 comments:

  1. Jenn! I didn't know you lived in Scottsdale. (I went to your website after reading Central Arizona.) Maybe you'd be willing to do an Authors @ The Teague event for me sometime after your new book comes out. I'll be in touch!

    Lesa - www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com

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  2. This looks easy and yummy, Jenn! My kids love it when I'm baking cookies when they get home from school...I'll pick up the almonds at the store today and make them! Thanks.

    Riley/Elizabeth
    Mystery Writing is Murder

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  3. These sound great! And easy! Thanks, Jenn. I'm looking forward to trying these really soon.

    Julie

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  4. Oh, yum! Very elegant cookies. We're having a rainy day, too. But no cookies . . . Celery anyone? : (

    ~ Krista

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  5. Hello from Mesa (we've moved from Tempe)! Your cookies look great, but in weather like this we always have stewed chicken.

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  6. Those are beauties after all those sugary Christmas cookies last month, nice to see an adult cookie!

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  7. Thanks, everyone! Lesa, I'd be happy to an
    Authors@The Teague. I have a book out in March
    and another in April, so anytime this spring
    is fine with me. Saturday, March 6th, I'll be signing at the Poisoned Pen (and giving out
    cupcakes -- naturally). Cindy in Mesa-- stewed chicken -- Yum! I hear we're going to get a real
    soaking at the end of the week. I'd better go
    get some chicken! Don't tell the dude, but I eat these cookies for breakfast after they've gone
    to school ;-)

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  8. Love almonds...Super recipe. Expecting a cold rain in NYC Friday--good day to bake!

    ~Cleo

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  9. I love almonds too. These sound yummy! There's nothing like a recipe handed down from mom to say comfort food.

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  10. A keeper recipe. I love the looks of these! thank you so much for sharing this.

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  11. Jenn I spent a few hours today looking for an almond cookie recipe that was fairly easy and sounded yummy.....yours fit the bill! I'm so glad I found this one I think I'll try making them tomorrow. BTW I just got your book likely story today. I don't miss any of your books and I gotta tell you I'm totally into the cupcake series. Those girls are so much fun. I'm also loving your new hat shop series, love that it's set in the UK. You and Cleo are two writers that when a new book comes out I'm front and center. Thanks for the recipe and the fun reads......Toodles

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