ALMOND STICKS

This recipe is a family favorite...My mother used to make these every year for Christmas, and now her tradition is passed down to me and my girls. The recipe makes a lot and can be halfed. If you are into cookie dough - this one is delicious!

2 Cups Butter

4 Cups Almond Meal or Ground Raw Almonds (you can get Almond Meal at Trader Joe's for a reasonable price)

4 Cups All Purpose Flour

1 tsp Salt

2 Cups Sugar

6 Eggs

1 tsp Almond Extract

1 tsp Baking Soda

Yellow Food Coloring (optional)

Multi-Colored Ball Sprinkles

Do not preheat your oven - this dough needs to chill.

Cream Butter and Sugar. Add in Eggs and Flavoring and mix until well blended. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients (Almond Meal, Flour, Salt, Baking Soda). Add dry ingredients to wet a little at a time until all is incorporated. You can add some yellow food coloring if you prefer your cookies a little blonder.

Form dough into several rectangular loaves about a half inch thick by placing a line of dough onto slightly floured wax paper and then fold the wax paper around the slightly floured dough line pressing down to flatter. I realize now that a picture of this step would have been helpful so I will try to add one...

Chill dough overnight.

Preheat oven to 350 Fahrenheit. Cut the loaves into thin sticks and gently press one side into the sprinkles. Place cookie sprinkle side up onto cookie sheet covered with parchment or a silpat liner.

Bake for approximately 12 minutes - these cookies do not get very brown. Remove from cookie sheets immediately after baking.