12 Days of Prunemas: Sugar Prune Amoretto Almond Cookies (Gluten Free)
Day 11 of Prune Christmas - another fast treat leading up to the big night!
This is a post for all subscribers sponsored by CAPrunes. It is the eleventh of 12 posts over 12 days, celebrating ways to enjoy delicious prunes.
Hello and Happy 11th Day of Christmastide! Nearly at the end! Traditionally the 11th day was set aside for gathering and telling stories by the fireside, with family and friends. Everyone took turns, passing the cold night in entertainment. The stories of Christmas magic, winter superstitions, a Saint who lived on top of a pillar for 40 years - wait that’s actually true. In fact during the Byzantine Empire this was - POPULAR . At least among Saints anyway, to renounce your worldly goods and live on top of a pillar. A littler pillar. And Saint Simeon was the first to do it out of great piety or maybe housing has always been a problem.
In honor of this nutty man, and because Twelfth Night is tomorrow we’re going to make a slightly boozy (optional) Prune Ameretto Almond Cookie. Basically ‘Sugar Plum’ cookies! It’s all about making things in advance of a party day. A prune loves an almond, the pit of the plum having a similar essence in aroma and flavor. In fact, they are in the same botanical family. Learn more about what it takes to nurture and grow stone fruit.
Or this podcast about the plum pudding riots in England many years ago! Anyway, again it’s all about layering flavor! We’ll soak the Prunes in Amaretto Liquor and add Almond extract to push the yum even further. This is another SUPER EASY all ages and levels bake.
The first time I shared an Amaretto cookie was for the Washington Posts Holiday Cookie roundup, it was a dream come true. Definitely make these Amoretti Cookies Dipped in Ruby Chocolate Ganache, also.
Sugar Prune Amoretto Almond Cookies
Yields 24 Small Cookies
50g prunes, minced
20g Amaretto
60g egg whites
5g lemon juice
4g almond extract
300g Almond Flour
300g cane sugar
7g salt
powdered sugar for rolling
Method:
Heat oven to 300 degrees. In a small bowl combine minced prunes and amaretto. Allow to sit and completely soak up, up to 1 hour.
Whip egg whites till soft peaks. Add lemon juice and extract and whip to glossy medium peaks. In another bowl mix all the remaining dry ingredients. Add dry mix to egg white mixture and combine till you have a sticky dough. Scoop out small cookies with a portion scooper or tablespoon, stuff a pinch of amaretto prunes into the center and close dough back around. Stuff and roll all your balls.
Grab a medium bowl and add sifted powdered sugar. Flatter balls slightly and roll to cover in powdered sugar. Place one inch apart on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake for 15-20 minutes, till puffed, cracked and lightly golden brown. Cookies keep in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 weeks.
Note: You can freeze cookies after flattening and before rolling in sugar to keep dough for up to 3 months.
Happy eleventh Night of Christmastide! I can’t believe it’s almost over! I have had so much fun together celebrating prunes. Leave a comment what day has been your favorite so far.
xoxoxo
P.s. Enjoy this could not be more perfect band to rock out to as we continue our Prunemas celebrations. It’s giving the Beatles on so much acid:
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