Chinese Almond Cookies Recipe

Happy Chinese New Year eve to all Chinese readers.

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Michelle shared a Chinese Almond Cookies recipe in the South Arm Women Community Kitchen for a little Chinese New Year spirit.

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This Chinese Almond Cookie is light and is certainly great with tea or coffee.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/3 cups almond flour, lightly packed
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, chilled and cut into cubes
  • pinch of kosher salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 3/4 cups flour
  • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • thinly sliced almonds

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Source: from Simplyrecipes.com

Yield 5 dozen

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No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

Michelle shared a no bake cookie bar recipe for the South Arm Older Adults Community Kitchen.

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These No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars has to be refrigerated and serve right out of the fridge.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil or butter
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup raisins (or dried cranberries)
  • 1/2 cup ground flaxmeal, flaked coconut, hemp seed or nuts

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Source: this recipe is adapted from website New Nostalgia

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Almond Thins

Michelle prepared some Almond Thins cookies for the Chinese New Year celebration at the South Arm Cooking Club for Seniors.

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Michelle called it Monica’s Almond Thins. I guessed the recipe is from Monica. The Almond Thins are crispy and quite additive. They are great with a cup of tea.

Ingredients

  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose unbleached flour
  • 1 1/2 cups sliced almonds
  • orange rind from one orange

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Source: this recipe is adapted from Monica

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Indian Cuisine: Chai Spiced Almond Cookies

For dessert, the South Arm Cooking Club for Seniors made some Chai Spiced Almond Cookies to complete the Indo-Canadian inspired meal.

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These Chai Spiced Almond Cookies are similar to Mexican Wedding Cookies. They are good with tea.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/3 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped toasted almonds
  • 1 cup powdered sugar for rolling

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Source: this recipe is adapted from Bon Appetit

Prep time: 20 minutes;  Bake time: 20 to 25 minutes;  Yields 20 cookies

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Walnut Balls

Someone requested for the recipe of the Walnut Balls brought by Ella during the Richmond Community Kitchen Potluck before Christmas break last year. So, Minoo looked up for the recipe and shared it in the Gilmore Park Church Community Kitchen.

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Ella commented that these Walnut Balls are better than those made by her friend.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter, softened
  • 6 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • pinch of salt
  • 8 oz walnuts, chopped
  • 1 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar

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Source: unknown

Prep time: 30 minutes; Bake time: 14 minutes; Yield 36 balls

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Peruvian Cuisine: Dulce De Leche Cookies (Alfajor)

The last item which Erika shared with us is a cookie filled with dulce de leche called Alfajor.  Erika made this cookies for his son’s school party and it was a hit.  Many parents asked for the recipe.  Dulce De Leche is a caramel like spread that can be made by simmering sweetened condensed milk in the can for hours.  But, we are very lucky that we can find them in jars in Real Canadian Superstore for about $3.

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The Dulce De Leche Cookies (Alfajor) is very delicate and they just melt in your mouth with the caramel sweetness lingering in the mouth.  I enjoyed the cookies very much as I have sweet tooth.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of sifted all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup of corn starch (or more)
  • 225 gm unsalted butter
  • 6 tablespoons confectioners sugar
  • Dulce de leche (manjarbalnco) for filings

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Crisp Seedy Oatmeal Cookie

For the dessert, Minoo made some Crisp Seedy Oatmeal Cookies in the Gilmore Park Church Community Kitchen.

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This Crisp Seedy Oatmeal Cookie will satisfy anyone.  It has a variety of seeds like sunflower seed and water melon seeds.  The original recipe has pumpkin seeds instead of the water melon seeds. This cookie is great for snack or lunch box.  This recipe yields 42 cookies.

The puffed rice cereal in the cookies make them a bit chewier than my preference.  I would leave out the puffed rice cereal in these cookies as I find that the baked rice cereal kind of sticks between my teeth.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (250ml) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup (250ml) packed brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla
  • 2 cups (500ml) quick-cooking (not instant) rolled oats
  • 1 1/2 cups (375ml) puffed rice cereal (such as Rice Krispies)
  • 1/2 cup (125ml) all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup (125ml)  whole wheat flour
  • 1/4 cup (50ml) unsalted sunflower seeds
  • 1/4 cup (50ml) water melon seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2ml) baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2ml) baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon (1ml) salt

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Holiday Cutout Cookies

Charlene also demonstrated some Holiday Cutout Cookies in the Peach Mennonite Church Community Kitchen. This is a fun session as everyone can participate in rolling out the dough, cutting out the cookies, and decorate the cookies.

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Above are some samples of the decorated Holiday Cutout Cookies.

Ingredients:

For cookies:

  • refer Raspberry Diamonds

For Icing:

  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2-3 tablespoons water

For decoration:

  • food coloring
  • sprinkles

Tool:

  • cookies cutters
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Click on Read More for the instructions.

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