Almond Jelly Cookies

These cookies taste like a tender shortbread with a nutty flavor. You can use any kind of jam or jelly but I prefer to use red and green, this time I used crab apple and mint. Another delightful cookie for the Christmas cookie tray.  Recipe, courtesy of Best of Country Cookies.

• 1 1/2 cups butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups ground almonds
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Jelly or jam of your choice

1. Cream butter and sugar in a mixing bowl

2. Add ground almonds, vanilla and mix well

3. Combine flour and salt and gradually add to creamed mixture

4. Refrigerate the dough for 2 hours until easy to handle

5. On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough to 1/8" thickness

6. Cut half of the cookies with a round 2" cookie cutter and the other half with a donut cutter.

I used the 2" cutter for all of them and then used a little 'tree cutter' for half of the cookies.

7. Place 1" apart on a parchment lined cookie sheets

8. Bake in a 350º oven for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly browned

9. Remove to racks to cool. Once cooled spread 1/2 teaspoon jelly over the bottom of the solid cookie and place cookie with cutout centers over the jelly.

Yield: 31 'finished cookies'