I usually develop recipes based on my love of the dish. Not in this case! Growing up, I never really liked the traditional Chinese almond cookies. They have a sandy and very dry texture. They do not taste sweet. And they’re very almondy. Everything combined, they leave a weird mouthfeel that I’ve never craved. I remember when I was a kid, we always had lots of cookies at Chinese New Year gatherings. I always reached for the imported buttery shortbread cookies that my parents bought from the American supermarket, and left the traditional cookies behind. Now that I’m living in the US, I get asked by friends to bring Chinese almond cookies to parties once in a while. Especially around Chinese New Year, people want to see those cheery, shiny cookies on the dinner table for good fortune. So Lilja and I decided to develop an almond cookie recipe that we actually enjoy eating.
Why this recipe
Again, these are not the traditional sandy Chinese almond cookies. There are about three dozen recipes out there that yield the traditional texture. Check out the other websites if that’s what you prefer. This recipe has been adapted and localized. Living in the US for five years has made me prefer the buttery, cakey texture. There’s nothing I can do about it!
This recipe has a slightly soft, coarse, and chewy texture, with crispy edges. It is more buttery, moist, and cakey than the traditional version. It uses more sugar to achieve a better texture and balance the almond flavor.
The prep is extremely easy. And the result is so much better.
Cooking process
Making Chinese almond cookies is extremely easy. It’s a fun activity to do with your kids. To prepare the cookie dough:
Once the dough is chilled, it’s ready to be made into cookies!
That’s it. The result is fragrant and soft almond cookies that are buttery and moist when warm. And they’re crispier once they’ve cooled. My love for Chinese almond cookies increased tenfold once we developed this recipe.
Afterthought
If you were thinking of serving fortune cookies for your Chinese New Year party, think again! Fortune cookies are not from China and cannot be found in China. See this article to find out where fortune cookies came from. Instead, these Chinese almond cookies should be high on your list. Topped with an almond, these cookies are shaped like an ancient Chinese coin, which represents fortune and prosperity. Brushed with egg wash, they are shiny and cheerful to look at, too. They are not overly sweet and perfect served with tea. If you’re not a big fan of Chinese traditional cookies, give this one a try and let me know what you think.
More delicious holiday baking recipes
Easy Milk Bread Rolls Soft Cinnamon Rolls with Sesame Sesame Checkerboard Cookies Kabocha Pumpkin Pie (a Lighter and Fluffier Pie)
If you give this recipe a try, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it (once you’ve tried it), and take a picture and tag it @omnivorescookbook on Instagram! I’d love to see what you come up with. Lilja Walter is a part of the Omnivore’s Cookbook team and worked closely with Maggie to develop and test this recipe.
