Chinese almond cookies also known as Almond cakes or Almond crisp is a popular cookie that is made around the Chinese New Year to distribute to friends and family. This Almond cookie is one of the simplest cookie that I have made and it is considered a sign of good luck.
This month, I am beginning my Mega Marathon with my Blogging Marathon friends, themed A-Z Baking Around the World. We are going to be baking recipes from all around the world. The recipes have to be in the alphabetical order and one country cannot be repeated more that twice. I wanted to begin the journey with a sweet note and what else could be much more apt than the this Chinese Good Luck Almond Cookies. This is my recipe under the alphabet A from the country China. Do check back every day to see what is baking at My Cooking Journey!
These Almond cookies were adapted from the Chinese Walnut cookies that was made during the 16th century for the royals. Eventually the cookie was started being adapted by commoners and they started using almonds instead of walnuts for other flavor profile. This Chinese Almond Cookie became so popular that there is a National Chinese Almond Cookie Day celebrated on April 9th in the United States.
When researching about the cookies online, I found several version with butter, lard and oil. I have used butter a lot for most of the cookies I have baked and hence wanted to try it with oil to make it a vegan version. This almond cookie is very simple to make and it just needs a few basic ingredients. There are many recipes online with just all purpose flour and almond flavoring to make the almond cookies, but I did not just want to flavor my cookie with almond essence. I wanted the actual flavor of the almond and hence started looking for something with almond flour in it.
I have used almond meal in the recipe, but you could very well use the almond flour instead. If using the almond flour, the cookies will be lighter in color and more white than the ones that I have made. Almond meal is the same as almond flour except it is made with whole almonds (skin and all) whereas the almond flour is made with skinned almonds.
I buy my almond meal in bulk from my local Sprouts store, but we can very well make it at home. I was a little concerned about how the flavor would be as I was using all oil in the almond cookies, but there is no trace of smell or flavor of the oil. It is very important to use neutral oil so that we don’t have the oil flavor in the cookies. I used vegetable oil for the recipe.
The cookies had egg yolk wash on top of it. Since I was going all vegan, I chose to use almond milk wash on the cookies. If you are not making it vegan, but still want to make it egg less, heavy cream would be a great option.
Preparation time – 5 minutes
Baking time – 15 to 20 minutes per batch
Difficulty level – easy
Recipe adapted from – Just One Cookbook
Ingredients to make Chinese Almond Cookies – makes about 20 small cookies
- All purpose flour – 3/4 cup
- Almond meal or Almond flour – 1/2 cup
- Sugar – 1/2 cup
- Baking soda – 1/2 tsp
- Baking powder – 1/2 tsp
- Oil (I used vegetable oil) – 75 ml (might need a tsp or more depending upon the humidity level)
- Almond milk – couple of tablespoons to brush on top of the cookies
- Sliced almonds or whole almonds – for garnish
Procedure to make Chinese Almond Cookies –
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment and keep it aside.
- I used store bought almond meal and hence did not have to process the almonds. If making it on your own, prepare the almond flour or almond meal and measure out 1/2 cup.
- In the jar of the food processor, combine the flour, almond meal, sugar, baking powder and baking soda.
- Run the processor a couple of times to combine the ingredients and slowly add the oil. Pulse the processor a few times until the mixture comes together as a loose dough. When held together in the palm, it should form a ball.
- If the dough is too dry, add a teaspoon more of oil and continue doing this until it comes together. I needed about 2 more teaspoons of oil to bring the dough together.
- Roll the dough into small balls and slightly flatten them. Press a whole almond or sliced almond in each cookie and place them in a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Brush the top of the cookies with almond milk liberally and bake them for about 15 to 20 minutes or until the top of the cookies have turned light brown.
- Carefully remove the cookies on a cooling rack and let it cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container.
If you like the recipe, do not forget to share it on Pinterest!
Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 75
Veena Krishnakumar says
Beautiful start sandhya. I had bookmarked these cookies too. Yet to bake them. These look super inviting.Love the fact that almond meal and just not the essence is used. Looking forward for the rest of the bakes!!!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Thanks veena! I also liked it much better with the almond flour and not just the almond flavoring.
Traditionallymodernfood says
I m recently addicted for almond flour this s nice cookies for my son?Yummy
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
You will like these cookies if you like almond flour.
Sharmila - The Happie Friends Potpourri Corner says
Lovely cookies for an awesome start to this mega BM 🙂
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Thanks Sharmila!
Antonet Roajer says
Yummy cookies with the goodness of almonds!!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
That it is Antonet!
Kylee from Kylee Cooks says
I absolutely love almond in anything. These almond cookies are a great way to start out your marathon! Can’t wait to see what else you come up with.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Thanks Kylee! This is going to be an exciting month for sure.
harini says
Hope and pray these cookies bring good luck to one and all!! Very tempting cookies and love that they are vegan. Are you going all vegan this month or what?
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Harini, thanks and no way I am going all vegan.
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
I love almond cookies! They remind me of my mom – we used to have them with tea when I was a little girl. Such a fun afternoon treat!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Childhood memories are the best and I am so glad these cookies brought back some of your memories!
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
I have never tried these. I do like almonds…so I really think we would like them. They would be perfect for an afternoon latte for sure.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
They were an interesting cookie and it goes really well coffee!
Sowmya says
These cookies look so cute….I want to grab a few right now. Can’t wait to rest of your recipes for the month!
Helene D'Souza says
Ironically we have Almond cookies too which we make for christmas in Austria and they are made the same way just that we don’t use almond milk but I think only almond flour and no maida.
PJ says
Such a nice way to start the mega BM Sandhya.Lovely looking cookies and nice to see almond meal used here. It gives a nice texture to the cookies.
Vaishali Sabnani says
Wow, the cookies look melt in the mouth kinds, just trying to get the taste..and wow, they are amazing. Fantastic start!
Veena Azmanov says
I love almond cookies – have not made some in ages. Need to make some again. These look amazing.
Noel Lizotte says
Wow this recipe looks so easy! I need to try it out. We love cookies at my house – they’re perfect with the endless cups of tea and coffee that we consume! Almonds are one of my favorite nuts too … so it’s a win all around!
Sapna says
Lovely start to the BM . I have always wanted to make the Chinese almond cookies and now got the perfect recipe too. Looking forward to seeing your other recipes.
[email protected] says
This cookies sound really simple but so good. I love that you’re doing cookies from around the world. Sounds like a fun idea.
swathi says
These almond cookies are not only delicious but also protein rich treats kids will love it.
Adriana Lopez Martn says
I have alwasy wanted to learn how to make these almond cookies. I have a fancy for them since childhood. Now thanks to you I will be able to make them at home =)
Molly Kumar says
These Almond Cookies look so cute and that yellow shine on them is perfect. I love homemade cookies as they are so much more flavorful n you’ve control over what goes in. Really simple recipe and will try soon.
Srivalli Jetti says
Such a lovely way to start the marathon Sandhya, these have been on my todo list as well…must bake these soon..I love how thick and yet so well baked your cookies look!
ManilaSpoon says
I am a self-confessed almond addict as I will eat anything that almonds are added to! These cookies look delectable and would pair well with my cup of tea!
Daniela Anderson says
Almond cookies sound just delightful, especially with a lovely cup of tea. Almonds not only give a great textures, but also a nice flavour. I am sure they would disappear quickly if I make them for my family.
Byron Thomas says
Good luck with the marathon! I saw these on pinterest just yesterday and I’ve already pinned the recipe to my secret board so that I know right where to find it. We love anything with almonds – can’t wait to make these!
Jennifer A Stewart says
What a fun cookie! I have used almond flour for making macaroons but not regular cookies. I can’t wait to try them and I think they will be a good snack for me post workout. I usually just chomp on some nuts but this will be like dessert too! Can’t wait to see the rest of the alphabet!
Srividhya Gopalakrishnan says
Perfect tea time snack.. Nicely done. Good to know how the walnut cookies changed to almond cookies. Great info.
Karen says
I love the flavor of almond. These cookies look delicious. WeekendsInMaine
Natalie says
Almond cookies are one of my favorites. My whole family loves it, especially my husband. These cookies are so easy to make and they taste fantastic, don’t they?! Sandhya, these cookies look delicious, so crunchy. Would love to have one now with my morning tea 😉
Priya Suresh says
Lovely cookies Sandhya, wat a beautiful choice and a fabulous way to start this Mega marathon. Vegan almond cookies looks absolutely incredible to munch without any fuss.
ruchi indu says
Super start to the mega marathon. Lovely cookies. They look very crunchy.