Spiced Almond Delight Cookies
Delight in the festive taste of Spiced Almond Delight Cookies, a delightful addition to your holiday dessert platter. These traditional German cookies, which originally took their name from a distant city, stand out with their unique blend of fragrant spices, zesty lemon, and rich nuts. Unlike the more commonly found buttery or chocolatey treats, these cookies offer a refreshing contrast with their subtle sweetness and chewy texture, making them irresistible. Perfect for gifting, they are not only visually appealing with their bright icing but also freeze beautifully, ensuring you can savor the spirit of the season long after the celebrations are over.
72
Servings
75
Calories
16
Ingredients
Ingredients
eggs
3 (beaten)
sugar
1 cup (granulated)
flour
2 cups (all-purpose)
baking powder
1 teaspoon
baking soda
1/2 teaspoon
salt
1/4 teaspoon
cinnamon
2 teaspoons (ground)
clove
1/4 teaspoon (ground)
cardamom
1/2 teaspoon (ground)
lemon rind
1 teaspoon (zested)
candied citron peel
2 ounces (minced)
candied orange peel
2 ounces (minced)
unblanched almonds
11 ounces (ground)
powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups
almond extract
1 teaspoon
hot water
2 tablespoons (more as needed for icing)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) and lightly grease and flour a large baking sheet.
2
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs using an electric mixer until they are fluffy.
3
Gradually add in the sugar, continuing to beat the mixture until thickened and pale in color.
4
In a separate bowl, thoroughly mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, clove, and cardamom.
5
Slowly incorporate the dry mixture into the egg and sugar blend, stirring until just combined.
6
Gently fold in the lemon rind, minced candied citron and orange peels, and the ground almonds until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
7
Given the soft and sticky nature of the dough, oil your hands or wet them with water to make handling easier.
8
Divide the dough into three equal portions and shape each into long, flat 'loaves' on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring there is enough space between them for spreading.
9
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until they are lightly browned.
10
While the cookies are baking, prepare the icing by mixing the powdered sugar, almond extract, and hot water until you achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency. Adjust with more water if necessary.
11
Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet.
12
While the loaves are still warm, generously ice them directly on the baking sheet.
13
Allow the cookies to rest for about 5 minutes, then carefully slice each loaf crosswise into approximately 1/2-3/4 inch slices. Take care to slice while they are still warm, as the icing may flake if allowed to cool too much.
14
Let the slices cool completely on the baking sheet. These cookies also freeze exceptionally well and can be stored for later enjoyment.
Nutrition Information
4.2
Fat
8.3
Carbs
1.25
Protein
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Spiced Almond Delight Cookies?
These are traditional German cookies known for their blend of fragrant spices, zesty lemon, and rich nuts, offering a chewy texture and subtle sweetness.
How many cookies does this recipe yield?
This recipe makes approximately 72 servings.
How many calories are in one Spiced Almond Delight Cookie?
Each cookie contains approximately 75 calories.
At what temperature should I preheat the oven?
The oven should be preheated to 300°F (150°C).
What spices are used in these cookies?
The recipe uses a blend of ground cinnamon, ground clove, and ground cardamom.
What kind of nuts are used in this recipe?
The recipe calls for 11 ounces of ground unblanched almonds.
What citrus flavors are included?
The dough includes zested lemon rind, minced candied citron peel, and minced candied orange peel.
How do I handle the dough if it is too sticky?
Because the dough is soft and sticky, you should oil your hands or wet them with water to make handling easier.
How is the dough shaped before baking?
Divide the dough into three equal portions and shape each into long, flat loaves on the baking sheet.
How long should the cookies bake?
Bake the loaves for 20-25 minutes, or until they are lightly browned.
What ingredients are in the cookie icing?
The icing consists of powdered sugar, almond extract, and hot water.
When should I apply the icing?
Generously ice the loaves directly on the baking sheet while they are still warm from the oven.
When is the best time to slice the baked loaves?
Slice the loaves crosswise while they are still warm, approximately 5 minutes after icing them.
Why must the cookies be sliced while warm?
Slicing while warm prevents the icing from flaking, which can happen if the cookies cool down too much.
Can these cookies be frozen?
Yes, these cookies freeze exceptionally well and can be stored for later enjoyment.
How should I prepare the eggs for the dough?
Beat the eggs using an electric mixer until they are fluffy before adding sugar.
What is the fat content of one cookie?
Each cookie contains 4.2 grams of fat.
How much protein is in each cookie?
There is 1.25 grams of protein per cookie.
How many carbohydrates are in a serving?
Each serving contains 8.3 grams of carbohydrates.
How do I prepare the baking sheet?
Lightly grease and flour a large baking sheet before placing the dough on it.
What happens after I add sugar to the eggs?
You should continue to beat the mixture until it is thickened and pale in color.
How should I incorporate the dry ingredients?
Slowly incorporate the dry mixture into the egg and sugar blend, stirring until just combined.
How thick should the cookie slices be?
Slice each loaf crosswise into approximately 1/2 to 3/4 inch slices.
What type of flour should I use?
The recipe calls for 2 cups of all-purpose flour.
How much candied fruit is needed?
You will need 2 ounces of minced candied citron peel and 2 ounces of minced candied orange peel.
What texture can I expect from these cookies?
These cookies have a refreshing contrast with a chewy texture rather than being buttery or crunchy.
What should I do if the icing is too thick?
You can adjust the consistency by adding more hot water as needed.
Are these cookies suitable for gifting?
Yes, they are visually appealing with bright icing and perfect for holiday gifting.
How much baking powder and soda is required?
The recipe uses 1 teaspoon of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.
How should the cookies be cooled?
Let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the sheet after baking, then allow the individual slices to cool completely on the sheet after cutting.