Almond Snow Cookies

Ingredients

• 1-1/4 cup soft butter
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3/8 teaspoon LorAnn almond oil (www.Lorannoils.com) or 2 to 3 tsp. almond extract
• 1 cup finely ground blanched almonds
• 3-1/2 cups sifted flour
• Confectioners’ sugar

1. Cream shortening, butter and granulated sugar; add eggs and beat until light.
2. Mix in almond oil and ground almonds.
3. Add flour to creamed mixture and mix thoroughly. Chill dough or not.
4. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 325 F.
5. Scoop dough into small balls (I use a 1-1/4″ ice cream type scoop) and place on ungreased baking sheets about 2″ apart.
6. Slightly flatten top with a dampened cloth-covered glass.
7. Bake until set but not brown, about 14-16 minutes.
8. Sift confectioners’ sugar over cookies as soon as you take them out of the oven.
9. Cool on cookie sheet.
10. When thoroughly cool, but not cold enough to stick to cookie sheet, remove cookies from cookie sheet and roll in additional confectioners’ sugar.

• 4 large (120 grams) egg whites
• 1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup )65 grams) cake flour
• 2 1/2 cups (220 grams) sweetened coconut

1. In a stainless steel bowl, over a saucepan of simmering water, whisk together the egg whites, sugar, and salt. When this mixture is warm to the touch, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract, flour, and coconut. Cover and refrigerate (about one hour) or until the dough until firm.
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (170 degrees C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. Place small mounds (about 1 tablespoon) of the dough on the parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing several inches apart. Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes and then place on a wire rack to cool. Makes about 2 dozen Macaroons.