Learn the best kept secret for how to make almond shortbread cookies with this easy holiday recipe.
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Holiday Treat Exchange Blog Hop
It’s no secret that I have a BIG sweet tooth. So it should come as no surprise that baking cookies is one of my favorite holiday traditions. I love to spend time in the kitchen whipping up sweet treats. (And, of course, sampling them, too!)
Since last year’s Christmas cookie exchange was such a hit, why not do it again? Today I’m excited to team up with a few of my friends to bring you ten new recipes for some delicious Christmas treats.
To all of my readers, both old and new, thank you for stopping by. I know how precious your time is, and I’m so thankful that you can spend some of it here with me.
If you are visiting from KariAnne at Thistlewood Farms, welcome! KariAnne is such a light to many in the home decor blogging community. I’m thrilled she could join us.
And, last, but not least, a big thank you to my friend Aliya at Open Doors Open Hearts for all of the work she did behind the scenes to pull together this fun group of ladies.
Easy Almond Shortbread Cookies
![The Best Kept Secret To Make Easy Almond Shortbread Cookies - Midwest Life and Style Blog](https://www.midwestlifeandstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Easy-Shortbread-Cookies-7-Midwest-Life-and-Style-Blog.jpg)
Today, I’m sharing a recipe that is new to me, easy almond shortbread cookies. I’ve had these cookies many times before, but this was my first time making them. And although they do require a bit of patience, I can promise you that they were well worth the wait!
Ingredients for Easy Almond Shortbread Cookies
For the Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup almonds, chopped
- pinch of salt
For the Chocolate Drizzle
- 4 ounces chocolate wafers, melted
- 1/4 cup almonds, chopped
Baking Tools
- Stand mixer
- Silicone pastry mat
- Adjustable rolling pin
- Star cookie cutter (or cookie cutter in the shape of your choice)
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
The Best Kept Secret To Make Easy Almond Shortbread Cookies
So what is the best kept secret for how to make easy almond shortbread cookies? Well, there are two.
The first is almond flour. I substituted 1/4 cup of almond flour in place of regular all-purpose flour. Not only does it add a very mild sweet flavor to the recipe, but it also helps to extend the shelf life of the cookies by adding fat, which helps to retain moisture. Not that you need to worry too much about a long shelf life. This batch I baked was devoured in less than two days!
The second secret tip to make the best almond shortbread cookies is to chill the dough. This will help keep the cookies from spreading too much when they bake. (Because nobody likes a flat cookie!)
How To Prepare Your Cookies
Once all the ingredients are mixed, transfer your dough into an airtight storage container and chill it in the fridge for at least two hours. I recommend a stand mixer like this one to mix your cookie dough, but if you don’t have one, a hand mixer will work just fine.
![Making Cookie Dough for Shortbread Cookies - Midwest Life and Style Blog](https://www.midwestlifeandstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Easy-Shortbread-Cookies-3-Midwest-Life-and-Style-Blog.jpg)
Then, when you’re ready to bake the cookies, roll the dough out on a lightly floured silicone pastry mat. I received a silicone mat as a gift a few years ago, and I use it every chance I get. Not only is it easy to clean, but it helps to keep the mess off of my new kitchen counters!
To roll out my dough I used this adjustable rolling pin. It takes the guesswork out of the thickness of your dough and helps to make sure all of your cookies will be uniform.
![Cutting Out Shortbread Cookies - Midwest Lif and Style Blog](https://www.midwestlifeandstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Easy-Shortbread-Cookies-4-Midwest-Life-and-Style-Blog-1.jpg)
When the dough is ready, use a cookie cutter to gently cut out your cookies and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. I used a star-shaped cookie cutter and made about a dozen large cookies.
![Almond Shortbread Cookies - Midwest Life and Style Blog](https://www.midwestlifeandstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Easy-Shortbread-Cookies-5-Midwest-Life-and-Style-Blog.jpg)
In the end, after I cut out all of the stars, I had a bit of leftover dough. It wasn’t enough for the larger cookie cutter, so I used a smaller star shape to press out a handful of tiny cookies. Aren’t they cute? They’re the perfect bite-sized sweet treat.
Next, place the baking sheets in the fridge for an additional 40 minutes to make sure the dough is firm. Then put the cookies in the oven to bake at 350℉ for 10-12 minutes or just until the edges start to lightly brown.
![The Best Kept Secret To Make Easy Almond Shortbread Cookies - Midwest Life and Style Blog](https://www.midwestlifeandstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Easy-Shortbread-Cookies-1-Midwest-Life-and-Style-Blog.jpg)
When the cookies are done, let them cool completely before dipping in melted chocolate and sprinkling with chopped almonds.
How To Store Your Cookies
To keep your almond shortbread cookies fresh, place them in an airtight food container. The cookies can be stored on the counter for a week or in the fridge for ten days.
![The Best Kept Secret To Make Easy Almond Shortbread Cookies - Midwest Life and Style Blog](https://www.midwestlifeandstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Easy-Shortbread-Cookies-9-Midwest-Life-and-Style-Blog.jpg)
They can also be kept in the freezer for up to three months. Just let the cookies defrost and come back to room temperature before serving.
![The Best Kept Secret To Make Easy Almond Shortbread Cookies - Midwest Life and Style Blog](https://www.midwestlifeandstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Easy-Shortbread-Cookies-8-Midwest-Life-and-Style-Blog.jpg)
And what are cookies without hot cocoa? If you’re looking for another quick and easy holiday treat, be sure to check out my recipe for hot cocoa bombs.
![The Best Kept Secret To Make Easy Almond Shortbread Cookies - Midwest Life and Style Blog](https://www.midwestlifeandstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Easy-Shortbread-Cookies-2-Midwest-Life-and-Style-Blog.jpg)
More Holiday Sweet Treats
Next, stop by my friend Crissy’s kitchen at First Day of Home to get the recipe for her Pecan Sandies. I love anything with pecans in it and can’t wait to bake a batch of her cookies. Then be sure to check out all of the other treats prepared by my friends, linked below.
With love from my home to yours,
Christmas Treat Exchange
![Chistmas treats](https://opendoorsopenhearts.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Christmas_Treat_exchange1-1024x307.jpg)
![Christmas Treats](https://opendoorsopenhearts.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Christmas_treat_exchange2-1024x307.jpg)
She Gave It A Go | A Blue Nest | The Tattered Pew| Cottage on Bunker Hill | Pasha is Home
![10 Delicious Christmas Treats - Midwest Life and Style Blog](https://www.midwestlifeandstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/the_best_Christmas_treats-1-683x1024.jpg)
Recipe for Easy Almond Shortbread Cookies
Easy Almond Shortbread Cookies
Equipment
- Stand mixer and paddle attachment
- Silicone pastry mat
- Rolling Pin
- Star cookie cutter
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup almond flour
- ¼ cup almonds, chopped
- pinch of salt
Chocolate Drizzle
- 4 ounces chocolate candy wafers, melted
- ¼ cup almonds, chopped
Instructions
- Use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment to cream together the butter and powdered sugar until well mixed. Next, add in the vanilla and almond extract and stir until combined.
- Then, fold in the all-purpose flour, almond flour, and salt until just combined. Then gently stir in the chopped almonds.
- Carefully transfer the dough into an airtight food storage container and chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours.
- Once ready to bake, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Then, roll out the dough on a lightly floured silicone baking mat until it is about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut out the cookies with your cookie cutter and place them on the baking sheet about 1-2 inches apart.
- Place the baking sheet back in the fridge to chill the cookies for an additional 40 minutes.
- Then preheat your oven to 350℉. Once the cookies are chilled, place them in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges start to turn a light brown.
- Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool for 3-5 minutes on the baking sheet before moving them to a rack to finish cooling.
- Once the cookies are completely cooled, dip them into the melted chocolate wafers. Place them back on the cooling rack and sprinkle with some chopped almonds. Let the chocolate firm up completely before storing the cookies.
Did You Enjoy This Recipe? PIN It for Later!
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I would love to see what you make! If you try any of my recipes, be sure to tag me in your photos!
IG: @midwestlifeandstyle + #midwestlifeandstyle
I made these today, The only part that was not easy was getting a slab cut from the hard lump of refrigerated dough to soften up enough to be successfully rolled out. Next time I make this recipe I will shorten the amount of dough chilling time to less than half an hour so I will have workable dough,
The first sheet of cut-out cookies is chilling in the fridge, so I can only speak to the taste of the dough!
Thank you Nanita for leaving your feedback! I hope you enjoy your cookies. Merry Christmas!
I love shortbread! And this recipe looks so yummy. Thank you for the 2 special tips and thank you for organizing this group. SO thankful to join you ladies and Merry Christmas!
Thank you so much, Kelly. They are so yummy. I may or may not have eaten several to test them out.😉 Mery Christmas to you!
These look so good!
Thank you, Paula. They are very yummy and needless to say they disappeared very quickly!
I love anything almond…oh, and anything chocolate…perfect combo cookie for me!!
They’re delish! Hope you enjoy them, friend!
These look delicious and are so pretty!
I am so happy you shared these tips and cannot wait to bake them this holiday season.
What a fun Christmas treat exchange with you, Jen. Thanks for organizing.
xoxo,
Brendt
Thank you for joining us, Brendt. Merry Christmas!
Almond flour is sooo smart Jen!! And I love the chocolate dipped look! Sooo yummy looking – of course! – wouldn’t expect any less from you ;). Thank you for including me in this fun group!!
XOXO – Pasha
Thank you so much, Pasha. So happy you could join us!
Using almond flour to make almond cookies is BRILLIANT! Thank you so much for sharing your tips—the cookies look so yummy!
Happy day friend!
KariAnne
Thank you for joining us KariAnne. Such a fun group of ladies and so many yummy-looking recipes. Wishing you and your family a wonderful and happy holiday season!
Jen, these shortbread cookies are so pretty, and I love how you’ve adapted the recipe to make it your own. My husband is eating more almond flour these days, so I love that substitution. You’ve done a beautiful job with the presentation too! Thanks for helping to organize this hop!
Thank you, Crissy, for joining us. So many yummy recipes. I look forward to trying them all! Merry Christmas!
These looks so delicious Jen! I LOVE shortbread cookies and with almonds and chocolate they’re even better! I have no idea that almond flour would extend the shelf life. I have some in my pantry, so I’m really excited to try your recipe this weekend. Thank you so much for sharing and have a very merry Christmas!
Thank you, Amanda. They are so yummy and disappeared quickly! I Hope you have a very Merry Christmas, too!
Jen!! These cookies look beautiful!! I love that you have a variety of sizes! And they look so delicious!! 😍 Thanks for helping organize this hop with me!! XoXo
Thank you, Aliya. So happy to be joining in with you. I can’t WAIT to try all of these yummy recipes.