Description
These Twisted Christmas Cookies with Almond & Citrus Icing are delightful holiday treats featuring a tender almond-infused dough brightened with fresh citrus zest and juice. Topped with crunchy almond slivers and a tangy citrus glaze, these cookies balance sweetness and zest for a festive flavor perfect for Christmas celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon citrus zest (lemon or orange)
- 1/4 cup citrus juice (lemon or orange)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup almond slivers for decoration
Icing
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar (approximate amount, to achieve desired consistency)
- 2-3 tablespoons citrus juice (lemon or orange)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which will ensure a tender texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the egg, then add the vanilla extract, citrus zest, and citrus juice. Mix well to combine all flavors evenly into the batter.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
- Mix Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Shape Cookies: Form the dough into small balls and arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spaced evenly apart.
- Add Almonds: Slightly flatten each dough ball and sprinkle almond slivers generously on top to add crunch and enhance the almond flavor.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges turn lightly golden, indicating they are perfectly cooked.
- Cool: Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before icing.
- Prepare and Apply Icing: Mix powdered sugar with citrus juice until the icing reaches your desired consistency—smooth but slightly thick. Drizzle the citrus icing over the cooled cookies to finish.
Notes
- Use fresh citrus zest and juice for the best flavor impact in both cookie dough and icing.
- Be careful not to overmix the dough after adding dry ingredients to keep cookies tender.
- Let cookies cool completely before applying icing to prevent melting.
- You can substitute almond flour with finely ground almonds if almond flour is not available.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
