National Almond Day | Almond Snowball Cookies

February 16, 2014 Desserts, February, National Food Holiday, Recipes 1 Comment »

I wonder what would happen if I just drank the almond extract right from the bottle.

Oh dang. A quick Google search told me it could be dangerous. I’m not weird enough (almost, but not quite) to drink pure almond extract, but I can say that almond is one of my favorite flavors. I can’t get enough of it.

Jordan Almonds were my favorite candy growing up. Delicious, sweet almond wrapped in a hard candy shell = perfection. I remember looking forward to weddings because at the time, a wedding wasn’t complete without Jordan Almonds as a favor. The struggle was real in selecting honey sticks over almonds for my wedding. I also love almond cookies AND we had an almond wedding cake at our wedding.

In fact, back when I was 16 and completely single, I decided on having an almond wedding cake after working a bridal show at the Publix store I was employed at. I basically walked around for 4 hours, tasting dessert and answering the occasional customer’s question. I fell in love with almond desserts right then and there. Fast forward 13 years and it became reality as I was smashed in the face by my husband and had to lick my cheeks for some deliciousness.

But enough about my obsession because I could go on for days. Let’s discuss the cookies I made for National Almond Day, a day much anticipated by me, OBVIOUSLY.

Again, my cousin Stef came through and shared her great grandmother’s Almond Snowball Cookies recipe with me. When I received the recipe from Stefanie, she said, “I have to admit I have never tried to make them because she used to make them so good, it wasn’t even worth me trying.”

Well, Stefanie (and readers), I can tell you that I know how it is to try a simple family recipe and still not be able to get it quite right. It’s something about the love that only a grandparent can put into a dish, and perhaps we will all rival that one day, but these cookies will still make your almond-loving heart do a quick pitter patter.

Make sure to plan them for a party or to share because otherwise you’ll eat all three dozen. I promise you that.

National Almond Day | Almond Snowball Cookies

Recipe Type: Dessert

Author: The Foodie Patootie

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 15 mins

Total time: 30 mins

Serves: 36

Ingredients

1 cup butter
1/2 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup blanched almonds, ground

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350*F.
Cream butter in large bowl until light. Add sugar, creaming well until mixture is light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla.
In a separate bowl, sift flour and salt together. Blend into creamed mixture. Stir in almonds.
Shape into balls the size of a walnut. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are lightly browned.
Remove from cookie sheet and roll in additional confectioners’ sugar. Allow to cool on rack before rolling again in more confectioners’ sugar.
Feel yourself measure up to me in your almond-loving potential.