These Almond Meltaway cookies have a shortbread base and beautiful almond flavor. The perfect sweet bite for the holidays!
I first had a version of these delicious cookies when my aunt made them for Christmas several years back. These no-chill cookies literally melt in your mouth for the perfect sweet and almond-y bite.
Since then I have always included them in my Christmas cookie gift boxes and I'm so excited to share the recipe with you all! I guarantee these are sure to become a holiday family favorite.
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Equipment
- Mixing bowls: I love these Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowls. They are really good value and I use them all the time.
- Stand mixer or Electric hand mixer: I will forever love my KitchenAid Stand Mixer but the KitchenAid Electric Hand Mixer also works great.
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheet
Ingredients
- All purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Unsalted butter
- Sugar
- Almond extract
- Vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar
- Raw sliced almonds
Recipe FAQs
Technically yes but you'll want to leave out any added salt and the cookies will have a saltier flavor. If you like that mix of sweet and salt then it will work. If not, I recommend sticking with unsalted butter for this recipe.
No, unlike other cookies these do not need to be chilled. But you can make the dough ahead of time and take out of the fridge about 15-20 minutes before baking.
Definitely! This is a great recipe to serve at a gathering. Just double the ingredients and cook as instructed.
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Made these Almond Meltaway Cookies? Let me know what you think in the comments!
Recipe
Almond Meltaway Cookies
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Stand mixer or hand mixer
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup white granulated sugar
- 1.5 tsp almond extract
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
For the topping
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 2-3 tsp water
- thinly sliced almonds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium size mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Mix until well incorporated and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer (or mixing bowl with hand mixer) beat the softened butter on medium high speed for about a minute until fluffy. Add the sugar and beat on medium high speed for another 2 minutes. Then add in the vanilla extract and almond extract and mix for about 30 more seconds. Scrape down the sides as needed.
- Add in half of the flour mixing and beat on medium low until just combined. Then add the remaining flour mixture and beat until just combined with no visible white streaks of flour.
- Use your hands to roll out the cookies into 1 inch balls and place on the parchment linked baking sheet about 1-2 inches apart. Repeat until all the dough has been used up (around 32 cookies).
- Bake the cookies at 400 degrees F for 6-7 minutes but no longer. (They may not look done but these cookies are supposed to be quite pale).
- While the cookies are baking mix up powdered sugar, 1 tsp of almond extract and water to create a glaze.
- Take the cookies out of the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Once the cookies have been transferred, gently press a few almond slices on the top of each cookie. Then drizzle a little of the almond glaze over the tops.
- Allow the cookies to cool and the glaze to set and then serve. Enjoy!
I totally want these right now. I love how easy the recipe it is. Thanks for sharing.
Ok, so a few things. Don’t forget to add vanilla. It’s listed in recipe but not in the instructions and I also had to flatten mine with a glass cup and put back in oven for 1 more minute.
My apologies for the oversight! Thanks for letting me know and I just updated the recipe. I'm sorry you had to flatten the cookies with a glass. I typically recommend pressing the almond slices into the cookie which flattens them down a little. I just updated it in the recipe to make that more clear as well. Happy holidays!
These are delicious! I got so many compliments on these!
Loving these almond meltaway cookies! So delicious and easy to make!
Love these cookies. They're so simple to make, yet they are a little more special than your everyday cookie because of the glaze and almond flakes.Perfect with a cup of tea.
Loved the rich almond flavor. Delicious with a cup of tea.
I just made these and they're amazing!? They go perfectly with a hot cup of coffee.? Thank you very much for the recipe.??
These are so good I flattened mine down and the came out absolutely delicious!!!!
This was a great recipe...so tasty! Thank you!
I live at 6000 ft elevation and cooked these for 7 minutes at 400 degrees. May need an extra minute as a little under done, kinda mushy inside. May be due to elevation ? ??? Anyhow we absolutely love them. Wow great taste!
Elevation definitely might have been a factor! Next time try adding a minute or two and see how they turn out. Glad y’all liked them though! 🙂
do I need to use butter or can I use margarine?
I highly recommend using real butter for this recipe. Margarine won’t have the same texture or flavor. Hope you enjoy!
Thank you
Would these have even more almond flavor if you used almond flour instead ?
How many cookies in one recipe?
This recipe will make about 32 small cookies. Hope you enjoy!
WOW! These little cuties are fast, easy & DELICIOUS. Didn't have sliced almond so used finely chopped whole almonds. Worked great.
Yay! So glad you like them!