CHRISTMAS COOKIES PART 2 (Maui)

Almond Strawberry Xmas Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 to 1 1/2 cups of real non salted butter, room temperature
• 1 1/2 cups raw brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 teaspoons almond extract
• 4 cups of flour used for baking, plus some for dusting
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup ground almonds
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until nice and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, and then the vanilla and almond extracts and blend it well. In separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt and ground almonds. Add the flour mixture to sugar mixture and blend well. Fold in the almonds. Roll out the dough onto a flour dusted work surface and cut into desired shapes. Place cookies onto baking sheet lined cookie pan and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

The Topping

1 cup of strawberries, pulsed in a food processor, then add in 3 tbsp. of brown sugar, 1 tbsp. of lime juice, 1/4 cup of apple juice, and then pulse again. Place this mixture in a sauce pan and heat over medium high heat. As it simmers, in a small bowl, mix 3 tbsp. of cornstarch with 6 tbsp. of water, then add this to the sauce pan to thicken up the mixture. When cooled slightly, spoon a little over each cookie, then put the cookies in the chiller until the topping sets nice and firm.