Amaretto Sandwich Cookies

I have a baking unrelated story to share today, so if you don't care you can just skip on down to bottom of the post. :)

I was abruptly awoken this morning by the other half, flying into the bedroom flipping on all the lights and yelling that his car was stolen. He was right, the car was gone, and I hadn't even gotten to ride in it yet being that he had just purchased it on Friday and had gone out of town for the weekend. So I had to start my day with phone calls to credit cards and such because he had already put his gym bag in the trunk with his wallet in it, all of this before even having my first cup of coffee. Whoa. The officer ended up showing up to make the police report while we were left to figure out what to do with him being carless. Insurance takes care of a rental car so we were soon on our way to pick up a rental car until they either found his car or he bought another. Of course we found out after waiting for 15 minutes that he couldn't rent a car without a valid id, duh! what were we thinking? So off to the good ol' dps we went to get him his temporary id. After about a lovely hour long stay there we were back on our way to the friendly rental car place, that's when they called us. The SAPD had already found the car and they wanted us to meet them to pick it up, luckily for us it had a lojack system on it. We met them at a rundown apartment complex on a questionable side of town, where we found the car's steering column all broken off and believe it or not the sun shade up. You know, you’ve got to have a cool car to joy ride in, even the car thieves have to beat the Texas heat. Back in the trunk where his gym bag was everything was rifled through, all but the one pocket that contained his wallet. We couldn't believe it, everything was still there, cash and all! Whew, what a day.

Now to get back on topic....I love love love the smell of almond extract. I remember back when I was too young to drink, before I had a palate for wine or beer, I loved amaretto. That sweet nutty flavor was delicious and I put it in everything. Even though now it's a little too sweet for my taste to go and order an amaretto sour, I still love the smell and flavor, especially in baked goods. So this is an ode to one of my favorite flavors. What's your favorite flavor?

The cookie is soft and chewy, and with amaretto and almond extract in the batter it really shines though. The filling is a smooth buttercream spiked with amaretto, and for a little texture I added some of the almond flour (finely ground almonds), which I think gives it a little more of a nutty kick.

Amaretto Sandwich Cookies

Cookies

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups almond flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

1 tbsp amaretto

2 tsp almond extract

Directions

1.  In a large bowl sift together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, then whisk in almond flour.

2.  In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy.

3.  Beat in eggs one at a time until incorporated, and then add almond extract and amaretto. Add the flour mixture and mix until just incorporated. Cover and chill for 1 hour.

4.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line two baking sheets with silpat or parchment paper. Place a tablespoon of dough 2in apart.

5.  Bake until the cookies are golden around the edges, about 13 minutes. Let cool on baking sheets for 10 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.

Amaretto Buttercream

Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup + 2 tbsp almond flour (which is finely ground almonds)

3 tbsp amaretto

2 tsp vanilla

Pinch salt

Directions

1.  In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with a whisk attachment, cream butter until smooth.

2.  Add powdered sugar and almond flour a little at a time until combined.

3.  Then add salt, amaretto, and vanilla. Beat until smooth.

Green Tea White Chocolate Brownies

So it is already getting up in the 90's here in Texas. It's going to be insanely hot before we know it and it’s getting me in the mood for summertime. Swimming and BBQ’s and getting into the car that feels like you are going to internally combust, and forget it if you have leather seats, it’s like sitting on molten lava. Oh boy! It sucks for everyday life, but it’s great for going to the beach or floating the river with an adult beverage, which I need to make an effort to do more of.  There's just something about summertime though that even though it's super hot and you have to watch out for that back sweat stain on your favorite t-shirt, it's still great.

I may be kind of weird. I get excited about going to the grocery store. It's so easy to look at it as a chore, just something to add to your list of things to do that day and fight the crowd, but I just love to explore the aisles. I was doing just that at one of our local specialty grocery stores when I ran across this sweet matcha by rishi. Its matcha powder mixed with cane sugar. You can make green tea lattes with it, or cocktails, and of course you can bake with it. So I couldn’t resist picking up a bag. Look at that lovely green color it imparted into the brownies. You may notice there is no sugar in the recipe and that is because my matcha powder is sweetened. If you are using unsweetened matcha I would start by adding 1/4 cup sugar and maybe a 1/2 cup if you like your brownies really sweet. The white chocolate naturally adds sweetness. Feel free to play with the recipe.

Green Tea White Chocolate Brownies 

Ingredients: 

1 cup flour 

1/4 cup sweet matcha powder 

6 oz white chocolate 

6 tbsp unsalted butter 

2 eggs 

1/2 tsp vanilla 

1/4 tsp almond extract 

1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted 

1/2 cup white chocolate chips 

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven at 350. Grease and flour an 8x8 baking pan. (I used Pam for baking and dusted with a little extra flour) 

2. In a large microwave safe bowl, combine the butter and white chocolate and heat at thirty second intervals until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool. (about 10 minutes) 

3. Stir in eggs and matcha powder until combined, then add flour, vanilla, and almond extract just until incorporated. Lastly stir in almonds and white chocolate chips. 

4. Pour into prepared pan and spread into even layer. Bake about 20 - 25 minutes or until lightly browned. 

5. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut and enjoy.