Best Almond Cookie Cutouts Recipes

ALMOND SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Prepare, Roll, and Chill Cookie Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the unbleached all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, and kosher salt until combined.
• Combine the granulated sugar and orange zest in a stand mixer bowl. Using the tips of your fingers, rub the zest into the sugar until it resembles wet sand and is very fragrant.
• Add the butter to the bowl. Using the paddle attachment, mix the sugar mixture and butter together at low speed for 30 seconds or until creamy. Add the egg, vanilla extract, and almond extract and mix over low speed until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to ensure all ingredients are incorporated evenly. Over low speed, slowly add the dry flour mixture. Mix until the flour is just absorbed and the dough comes together. It will be soft and fairly sticky.
• Press the dough together, divide in half, and place each half between two large pieces of parchment or wax paper. Roll each piece of dough until is ¼-inch thick. Stack the rolled dough pieces on top of each other and place on baking sheet or flat surface. Transfer to the fridge and chill for a minimum of 1 hour or the dough is cold and very firm. Important Note: This dough requires chilling, so don't attempt to skip this step.
• Bake Cookies: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) with a rack in the center position. Line a standard baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking mat. Remove one half of the chilled cookie dough from the fridge, and cut into shapes using cookie cutters. Place the cut-out cookie dough on the lined baking sheet one inch apart from one another. Note: The dough sheets should be very firm during cutting - if it is at all soft or sticky, place back in the refrigerator for an additional 15 to 20 minutes. In addition, the cut out cookies should also be firm and cool when they go into the oven.
• Bake for 7 to 9 minutes, rotating the pan halfway, or until the edges of the cookies are just turning golden in color. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Cookies should be completely cool before decorating.
• Repeat with the remaining half of rolled dough. Any leftover dough scraps can be pressed together, re-rolled, and used. I recommend rolling the scraps between new, clean pieces of parchment paper to ensure zero sticking.
• Prepare the Icing: Combine ingredients in a small bowl until completely smooth and slightly glossy. The icing should be thick.
• Transfer frosting to a piping bag fitted with a Wilton #3 tip. Pipe and decorate the cookies, garnishing with decorating pearls or sparkling sugar as desired. To make for easy clean-up, I like to decorate the cookies on a cooling rack set within a baking sheet. This allows me to easily collect and use any excess decorative pearls or sprinkles.
• Allow the icing to set, uncovered, for several hours (or overnight) or until firm to touch before storing the cookies in an airtight container.

BRIDGET'S CUT OUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350F.
• Line three cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Set this mixture aside.
• In the large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until combined and fluffy. Beat in the egg and extracts, mixing until combined.
• Add the flour mixture in three parts, mixing on low speed. Scrape down the sides and bottoms of the bowl as needed. After the last addition, the dough will look very thick and crumbly.
• Prepare a rolling surface and roll out a portion of the dough. Cut as many shapes from the dough as possible and place them on a prepared cookie sheet, about 2 inches apart.
• Place the cookie sheet in the freezer for 10 minutes. Freezing the cookies will help keep them from spreading. Meanwhile, knead the scraps and remaining dough together and continue the rolling, cutting, and freezing process on a second cookie sheet.
• After freezing, immediately bake the cookies on the center rack of your oven for 9 to 12 minutes (for 3.5 to 4-inch cookies), or until they appear done in the center. The baked cookies won't change much in color.
• Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the cookie sheets for 2 minutes. With a thin cookie spatula, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

ALMOND COOKIE CUTOUTS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add egg and extracts; mix well. Combine the flour, cornstarch, almonds, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture just until blended. Shape into two balls. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. , On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut out with lightly floured 2-1/2-in. cutters. Place on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with colored sugar and/or sprinkles if desired., Bake at 350° for 7-9 minutes or until set and bottoms are lightly browned. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks.

BUTTERY ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together flours, cornstarch, baking powder and salt.
• In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and granulated sugar until lightened in color and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in egg yolk and almond extract until combined, about 20 seconds. With the mixer running on low, add flour mixture, beating until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
• Divide dough into two balls. On a floured surface, roll each ball into a 1 1/2-inch-thick log. (If the dough is too soft to work with, chill it for 20 to 30 minutes before forming it into logs.) Wrap logs tightly in parchment paper or plastic wrap, and refrigerate until very firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• When you are ready to bake the cookies, heat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
• Use large, sharp knife to cut each log into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Place cookies 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
• Bake until cookie edges and bottoms are golden brown, about 15 to 22 minutes. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Make the icing: In a large bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar, melted butter, 1 tablespoon buttermilk, vanilla and almond extracts. If the icing isn't thin enough to drizzle, add more buttermilk. It should be a little thicker than heavy cream.
• Using a fork, drizzle icing all over the cooled cookies, then top with almond slices if you like. Let the icing set for at least 1 hour, then store at room temperature in an airtight container. The cookies will keep for at least 3 days.