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These delicious Chinese Almond Cookies are dense, sandy, and crunchy. A great fun treat when you want a classic cookie. And a new cookie for any holiday cookie tray!
These are a great Twin Dragon Almond Cookies copycat recipe!
Recipes like my Pumpkin Cookies and Creme Filled Spice Cookies are great for when you want a fun and different cookie. I love the cookies and candies, and this is one of my Cookie Recipes you’ll want in your recipe box!
One other thing I really like about these cookies is that they aren’t too sweet. Lightly sweet, a little salty. Nice almond nuttiness.
And, you know, I much prefer the Chinese almond Cookie to the more popular fortune cookie at the end of the meal!
These cookies are also a great way to celebrate Chinese New Year. Almond cookies symbolize coins and will be sure to bring you good fortune.
Gung Hay Fat Choy! (Cantonese to wish you a happy new year — literally “wishing you great happiness and prosperity.”)
We appreciate your support
Please let me know if you have any questions about this recipe. I read all the comments myself and I try to help as soon as I can. I have readers from all levels of comfort and experience in the kitchen on my site, and I’ve tried to answer some of your questions already in the post. But if I’ve missed anything, please feel free to leave a comment and ask.
Dairy free cookies
These cookies also happen to be dairy-free.
Shortening helps create that wonderful texture in these cookies. Butter would be soft, allow the cookies to spread, and would change the flavor of these almond-y cookies.
What are blanched almonds?
Blanched almonds are simply almonds with the skins removed.
Blanched almonds are more traditional for garnishing these Chinese Almond Cookies than the raw almonds that you see that I’ve used in mine.
However, blanched almonds are difficult to find at the store sometimes (and this was one of those times).
Yes, you can blanch almonds yourself at home. Bring a small pot of water to a boil, and drop raw almonds into the boiling water. Boil them for 1 minute, and drain immediately. Rinse with cold water, and dry them with a paper towel. Use your fingers to squeeze the almonds and loosen the skin. Not too difficult. And, blanching your own almonds is much cheaper usually.
But, I was baking up a bunch of cookies and didn’t really feel like taking the extra time to blanch them.
So… raw almonds with skins it is!
Measure your flour lightly
Make sure you lightly spoon the flour to measure it, otherwise these cookies may end up being too dry and hard.
Use a spoon to fluff up the flour within the container. Then, use a scoop or spoon to lightly scoop the flour into the measuring cup. Use the straight side of a knife to level the flour across the top of the measuring cup.
The photo above:
This is what the dough looks like, a bit dry and crumbly.
It’s best to work it with your hands to form the dough cylinders.
Another traditional note
It’s my understanding that Chinese Almond Cookies are traditionally made with lard. Times change, recipes change.
I don’t cook with lard – I am a vegetarian after all. So, my recipe doesn’t have lard in it. It’s better that way, I think.
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Chinese Almond Cookies Recipe
Chinese Almond Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup vegetable shortening
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup packed light brown sugar sifted through a coarse sieve
- 2 eggs divided use
- 1 tablespoon almond extract yes, this is correct!
- 2 tablespoons water
- 32 whole raw or blanched almonds
Instructions
- Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, cream together shortening, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and creamy. This can be done in a stand mixer, with a hand mixer, or by hand with a sturdy fork.
- Beat one egg and the almond extract into the creamed sugars.
- Beating at a low speed, add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture, about 1/3 at a time.
- Press the crumbly dough together by hand to form two balls. Place each ball on waxed paper, and roll it into a cylinder about 8 inches long. Chill the wrapped dough for several hours or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 275° F.
- Unwrap the dough cylinders. With a sharp serrated knife, cut each cylinder into 16 equal slices. Place the rounds on a large baking sheet that’s been covered with parchment paper or a silicon-baking mat.
- In a small bowl, beat the remaining egg with the water. Brush the cookies with the egg mixture, and press an almond into the center of each cookie.
- Bake the cookies for 25 minutes, then without taking the cookies out of the oven, raise the temperature to 325° and bake for 10-15 more minutes, or until they are golden brown.
- Transfer cookies to a rack, and let cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
Annette
My dad has Christmas albums that I think are older than me. Each year he takes them out and fills the house with the sounds from them.
Antoinette M
We leave cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.
Rita A
We make popcorn balls from my grandmothers recipe. Then we attach them to a wreath by the door for any visitors or family to take one on their way home!
katherine ellis
In addition to leaving for cookies for Santa, we leave oats and sprinkles outside for his reindeer. 🙂
Andrea
Spending christmas day with the family and playing dominos along with any new games from Santa
Emma
Those cookies look delicious!
Amy Nash
These cookies sound delicious. I love the strong almond flavor with the almond extract and the texture looks so good!
Jaye Smith
Our tradition is going to see the Christmas lights everyone has put up on their homes.
Pam Flynn
We always put large naval oranges in the bottom of all the stockings we hang on the mantel. My mom & dad always did this and my daughter still does.
Jean Millsap
My fam always has a secret santa gifting so everybody gets one present in the extended family!
Daleene Fox
Decorating our Christmas tree together was always a favorite holiday tradition and also setting out Santa’s favorite homemade chocolate chip cookies
Ali Celestino
The Chinese Almond cookies look delicious in the photos I love almonds . Our tradition is making gingerbread houses with our kids. We have a lot of fun. Happy Holidays!
gal colleen
We used to leave cookies & milk with a carrot on the kitchen table
Madi
I’ve been wanting to try making chinese almond cookies! Your version looks perfect!
Dolores Miranda
Decorating our tree and watching A Christmas Story!
Deborah Beyer
We would always go to grandpa & grandma’s Christmas Eve, and a couple hours in my dad would always leave for about and hour. We later found out he would go home, make Santa footprints in the Wisconsin snow, nibble on cookies, put presents under the tree and come back to us.
Michele Pineda
Since my husband is from Guatemala, we have the tradition of making tamales for Christmas and eating them on Christmas Eve. Thanks for the cookie recipe, I have tried these before at a local buffet and they are soooo good!
Daniela
My family likes to watch a Christmas movie and eat chocolates on the 24th.
Laura
We love watching our favorite Christmas movies every year.
Katt. Lewis
I love the looks of the coffee table!