Owl Cookies Almond Beaks M&Ms (Printable Version)
Tender almond cookies shaped like owls, decorated with halved almonds and brown M&Ms for a playful touch.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dough
01 -
½ cup whole meal almond meal (80 g)
02 -
½ cup confectioner’s sugar (67 g), divided
03 -
1 ½ cup all-purpose flour (187.5 g)
04 -
¼ teaspoon salt
05 -
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
06 -
¾ teaspoon almond extract
07 -
¾ cup unsalted butter, slightly softened (165 g, 1 ½ sticks)
→ Decoration
08 -
8 almonds, halved for beaks
09 -
16 brown M&Ms or Skittles for eyes
# Step-by-Step Guide:
01 -
Grind ½ cup whole almonds with 1 tablespoon confectioner’s sugar in a food processor until finely powdered, avoiding almond butter formation.
02 -
In a medium bowl, combine the ground almond meal, remaining confectioner’s sugar, all-purpose flour, and salt; mix thoroughly and set aside.
03 -
Using a stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat softened butter with vanilla and almond extracts until smooth and creamy.
04 -
Gradually add the dry mixture to the butter blend and gently mix until a cohesive dough forms.
05 -
Divide dough into two discs, wrap tightly, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight for optimal texture.
06 -
Remove one dough disc 20 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). On a lightly floured surface with parchment, roll dough to ¼ inch thickness in a round shape.
07 -
Cut rounds using a 2 ½ inch cookie cutter. Create wing shapes by making two deep cuts from opposite sides without completely slicing through the dough; place on parchment-lined baking sheet.
08 -
Place small dough pieces (⅛ teaspoon size) at eye positions, pressing halved almonds at center for beaks, then press a brown M&M or Skittle onto each eye dough piece.
09 -
Use a fork to gently imprint texture patterns on the lower wing areas to enhance detail.
10 -
Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until edges are golden brown. If dough softens during handling, chill for 1 hour to facilitate shaping.
# Additional Notes:
01 -
Refrigerating the dough overnight improves handling and flavor development.