Chinese Almond Cookies: the traditional recipe to celebrate the Lunar Year

Looking for a must-have snack to celebrate Chinese New Year? Look no further than these Chinese Almond Cookies. This popular Chinese-American treat is said to have been inspired by the traditional Chinese Walnut Cookie. It’s crispy, crumbly, and packed with almond flavor. You’ll find it hard to stick to only one cookie.

You don’t need any special ingredients to make the cookie, and probably already have everything you need in your pantry. Grab the flour, eggs, sugar, and a pack of almonds, and get ready to make these tasty treats. Bake an extra batch and give them as gifts this Chinese New Year!

What Are Chinese Almond Cookies?

Chinese Almond Cookies are Chinese-American treats that are said to have been inspired by the traditional Chinese Walnut Cookie. They’re not to be confused with a Chinese almond mooncake which is usually filled with a paste.

Instead, these cookies are sweet and nutty flavor (which comes from the almond extract, sugar, and almond flour), and very crumbly.  It’s traditional to give these cookies as a gift to friends and family to celebrate the Chinese New Year, so make sure to bake an extra batch!

Chinese Almond Cookie Ingredients

Flour – two flours are used in this recipe, almond flour, and all-purpose flour.

Fats – for a nice crumbly texture, lard and butter are both included.

Eggs – one egg is used in the dough, and one for the egg wash.

Almond extract – adds almond flavor.

Sugar – use granulated sugar.

Sliced almonds – used to decorate cookies.

How To Make Chinese Almond Cookies

Beat together the almond flour, salt, lard, and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Add one egg and the almond extract, and beat again. Add the flour, sugar, and baking soda, and beat again on low speed until just combined.

Form the dough into a disk, then cover it with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least one hour (or more). Create dough balls. Pinch off pieces of the dough, about 1 inch in size, and roll them into balls. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and flatten slightly. Continue with the rest of the dough.

Make an egg wash. Beat the remaining egg in a cup and use it to brush on top of the flattened dough balls. Place a sliced almond on top, then bake until golden brown. Cool completely before storing.

Tips

Make sure to use almond flour and not almond meal.

Don’t skip the refrigeration step, otherwise, you will struggle to form the dough.

When measuring the flour, spoon it into a measuring cup and level off the excess. Scooping the flour directly from the bag will compact the flour, making the cookies dry.

How To Store Chinese Almond Cookies

Store the baked Chinese Almond Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Can you Freeze Chinese Almond Cookies?

The dough balls can be frozen and baked later. Place the uncooked dough balls on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer for two hours. Transfer to a Ziploc bag, and freeze for up to 3 months.

To bake, place the dough balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and allow them to thaw before baking.

Instructions

Place the almond flour, salt, lard, and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment and beat on low-medium speed for 3 minutes. The mixture will be coarse.

Add sugar and one egg.

Add the almond extract, and beat again.

Now add the flour, sugar, and baking soda, and beat again on low speed until just combined. If the dough still looks too crumbly, use your hands or a spatula to incorporate the crumbs into the dough until smooth.

Form the dough into a disk, then cover it with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least one hour. Pinch off pieces of the dough, about 1 inch in size, and roll them into balls.

Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and flatten slightly. Continue with the rest of the dough. Place a sliced almond on top.

Beat the remaining egg in a cup and use it to brush on top of the flattened dough balls.

Bake at 325°F/165°C for about 15 minutes until golden brown. Remove the tray from the oven.

Allow to cook for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Serve and enjoy!