Almond Cookies

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These are the best almond cookies – buttery with crispy edges, soft centers and a rich almond flavor.

15 Almond Cookies with glaze on a plate

These almond cookies are a fun twist on the classic shortbread cookie!

They have a rich almond flavor from both almond flour and almond extract. Plus, they are topped with a delicious almond glaze making them absolutely irresistible!

These almond shortbread cookies are easy to make and are a great addition to a Christmas Cookie tray during the holidays!

4 Almond Cookies with glaze, one with a bite taken out of it

Almond Shortbread Cookies Ingredients & Substitutions

overhead photo of the ingredients in this Almond Cookies recipe
  • Salted Butter. Unsalted butter can be used in place of salted butter. 
  • Granulated sugar. I recommend using organic cane sugar or white sugar.
  • Egg yolks. There are no substitutes for egg yolks in this recipe.
  • Almond extract. For authentic almond shortbread cookies, do not make substitutions.
  • Vanilla extract. vanilla bean paste is a good substitute.
  • All-purpose flour.  For a gluten-free version substitute a 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour.
  • Almond flour. Use superfine almond flour for the best texture.
  • Fine sea salt. If using iodized table salt, decrease the amount by half. 
two almond shortbread cookies, one with a bite taken out of it

How to Make Almond Cookies

Let’s walk through this recipe together, and don’t forget to watch the video.

Begin by beating the butter and sugar for for 1 minute either in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer.

two photos showing How to Make Almond Cookies - beating butter and sugar

Then, add the egg yolks, almond extract, vanilla extract, and salt and beat for an additional minute.

two photos showing how to make almond cookies - adding egg and vanilla & almond extract

Next, add the flour and beat until the mixture begins to clump together (60-90 seconds).

two photos showing How to Make Almond Cookies - beating dry ingredients into wet ingredients

Then, gather the dough and roll it into a log that is 2” in diameter (about 16 inches long).

Wrap the dough log in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (or up to overnight).

almond shortbread cookies dough rolled into a log and wrapped in plastic wrap

After chilling, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mats.

Carefully slice the almond cookies into ½ inch thick circles.

almond cookie dough cut into round circles

Then, evenly space them on the prepared cookie sheet.

12 almond shortbread cookies on a baking sheet before baking

Bake the almond cookies in the preheated oven for 11-12 minutes until the cookies look set and the bottom edges just barely being to brown.

12 almond cookies on a baking sheet after baking

Remove the almond cookies from the oven and let them cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

15 almond cookies on a wire cooling rack

Make the Almond Glaze

Once the almond cookies are completely cooled, make the glaze by whisking the ingredients together in a small bowl.

two photos showing how to make almond glaze

Then, when the almond cookies are completely cooled, dip them into the glaze and let them sit at room temperature until hardened.

You can speed up this process by cooling the cookies in the refrigerator, or outside on a chilly day.

two photos showing almond cookies after being glazed

Serve

Serve the almond cookies room temperature after the glaze has hardened.

3 Almond Cookies with glaze

Store/Freeze

Store almond shortbread cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Use wax paper to separate layers of cookies.

You can also slice, then flash-freeze the cookie dough. Freeze it in an airtight container then thaw and bake fresh according to the recipe instructions.

7 Almond Cookies with glaze, one with a bite taken out of it

Almond Cookies Recipe FAQS

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, you can double the ingredients and make 64 cookies.

What if I’m allergic to almonds?

Then I suggest making these classic shortbread cookies, without almond extract.

a stack of 4 Almond Cookies with glaze, the top one has a bite taken out of it

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Almond Cookies (Almond Shortbread Cookies)

Laura
These are the best almond cookies – buttery with crispy edges, soft centers and a rich almond flavor. Topped with a delicious glaze, these almond shortbread cookies are completely irresistible.
No ratings yet
Course cookies, Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 32 Cookies
Prep Time1 hour 10 minutes
Cook Time11 minutes
Chilling/Cooling2 hours
Total Time2 hours 21 minutes

Ingredients 
 

Almond Glaze

Instructions 

  • In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a handheld mixer, beat together butter and sugar for 1 minute.
  • Add egg yolks, almond extract, vanilla extract, and salt and beat for an additional minute.
  • Add the flour and beat until the mixture begins to clump together (60-90 seconds).
  • Gather the dough and roll it into a log that is 2” in diameter (about 16 inches long).
  • Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (or up to overnight).
  • After chilling, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mats.
  • Carefully slice the cookies into ½ inch thick circles.
  • Evenly space the cookies on the prepared cookie sheet.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 11-12 minutes until the cookies look set and the bottom edges just barely start to turn brown.
  • Let cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Make the Glaze

  • Whisk ingredients together in a small bowl
  • Once cooled, dip cookies into the glaze.
  • Let sit until hardened.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Notes
  • Salted Butter. Unsalted butter can be used in place of salted butter. 
  • Granulated sugar. I recommend using organic cane sugar or white sugar.
  • Vanilla extract. vanilla bean paste is a good substitute.
  • All-purpose flour.  For a gluten-free version substitute a 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour.
  • Almond flour. Use superfine almond flour for the best texture.
  • Fine sea salt. If using iodized table salt, decrease the amount by half. 
Store/Freeze
Store almond shortbread cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Use wax paper to separate layers of cookies.
You can also slice, then flash-freeze the cookie dough. Freeze it in an airtight container then thaw and bake fresh according to the recipe instructions.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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