While delicious at any time of year, Chinese almond cookies are often made and shared during the Lunar New Year celebration. Symbolism plays an important role in the foods enjoyed during Chinese holidays; these round cookies are thought to resemble coins and signify wealth. Popo (grandma) made her Chinese almond cookies during other special occasions, as well, including Christmas. She passed them out to her friends and family and everyone enjoyed them. Third and fourth generation members of the family carry on her tradition to this day.
Ingredients
1-1/2 cup Crisco
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 tsp. almond extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. red food coloring for decorating tops of cookies
Optional:
3–4 tsp. yellow food coloring added to the Crisco mixture
Directions
Cream Crisco, sugar, egg and yellow food coloring together in a bowl. Then add the flour, almond extract, salt and baking soda to the Crisco mixture by hand.
Roll dough into 1-inch balls, place on cookie sheet, then press with a cup to flatten.
Using a chopstick, dot the center of each cookie with red food coloring.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Makes: about 40 cookies
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COOKIE RECIPE NOTE: While recipes made with Crisco are usually very crispy, butter may be substituted, yielding a soft inside with a crisp exterior. Placing a slivered almond into the center of each cookie instead of a dot of red food coloring is another popular option.
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