2 c All-purpose flour
1 ts Double-acting baking powder
1/4 ts Salt
1/2 c Unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 c Walnuts
2/3 c Plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2/3 c Almond paste; (about 7
-ounces)
1 Stick unsalted butter;
-softened (1/2 cup)
1 ts Vanilla
2 lg Egg whites
In a bowl whisk together the flour, the baking powder, the salt, and
the cocoa powder. In a food processor grind fine the walnuts with 2
tablespoons of the sugar, add the almond paste, and grind the mixture
until it forms a paste. In the bowl of an electric mixer cream
together the butter and the remaining 2/3 cup sugar, add the nut
paste and the vanilla, and beat the mixture until it is combined
well. Beat in the flour mixture at low speed until a dough is formed
and beat in the egg whites until they are incorporated.
Working with half the dough at a time, roll out the dough 1/4 inch
thick between sheets of plastic wrap, cut out diamond shapes with a
2-inch-wide cutter, and arrange them 1 1/2 inches apart on buttered
baking sheets. Press ridges into the diamonds with the tines of a
fork and bake the cookies in batches in the middle of preheated 350F.
oven for 10 minutes. Let the cookies cool on the sheets on a rack for
2 minutes, transfer them carefully with a spatula to racks, and let
them cool completely. The cookies may be made 3 days in advance and
kept in airtight containers.
Makes about 40 cookies.
Yields
1 servings