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Simmerandsage » Recipes » Vanilla Almond Smash Cookies

Vanilla Almond Smash Cookies

December 20, 2022

By simmerandsagePublished: December 20th, 2022Updated: January 1st, 2023
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These Vanilla Almond Smash Cookies are my favorite kind of Christmas cookies – they’re easy to make and don’t require decorating. These cookies have a flaky, crumbly texture with a mildly sweet, nutty flavor and a totally intoxicating vanilla scent. They’re the absolute best cookies to have with your coffee or tea!

A red Santa Claus mug with whipped cream

So, I’ve blogged a lot about how the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is the baking frenzy time. That big, heavy KitchenAid stand mixer comes out of the closet and occupies a semi-permanent spot on the kitchen counter during that six week period.

If I have a spare half hour, you can be sure I’ll be using to it bake cookies or, more accurately, make dough. Then the doughs are piled into the fridge, individually wrapped in plastic and labeled with a sticky note, until I’m ready to bake them and pack them up in gift boxes.

Vanilla Almond Smash Cookies on a black plate

My list of holiday cookies is long. It’s a mix of old favorites and new ideas. As the years go by, those new ideas are either promoted to the “perennial” category, or they get trashed. These Vanilla Almond Smash Cookies are a total perennial.

What’s in Vanilla Almond Smash Cookies

With only five simple ingredients, these cookies will be ready for enjoying in no time. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • all-purpose flour
  • unsalted butter
  • almonds
  • sugar
  • vanilla
Close up shot of a vanilla smash cookie

How to make smash cookies

You’ll need a food processor and a mixer for these cookies. Either a stand mixer or a hand mixer will do. Pulse the almonds in a food processor until they’re nice and fine. Be sure not to overprocess the nuts or you’ll end up with almond butter.

Smash cookie dough rolled into balls on a baking sheet

Then, form the dough into balls the size of golf balls. You’ll bake them that way at first. Then, a few minutes before they’re finished baking, you’ll pull the cookies out of the oven and smash them down with a fork.

A few more minutes in the oven, post-smash, will finish them off.

A silver fork pressing down onto a half-baked cookie to flatten it

Once they cool, give them a quick dip in powdered sugar and you’re ready to gift, dunk or just plain enjoy. My vote? Dunk. Always dunk.

Vanilla Almond Smash Cookies on a wire rack next to a bowl of powdered sugar

When you make these Vanilla Almond Smash Cookies, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy!

For more Christmas cookie recipes, try these:

  • Eggnog Cut-Out Cookies
  • Easy Cinnamon Chip Cookies
  • Old Fashioned Gingerbread Cookies

For more anytime cookie recipes, try these:

  • Homemade Oreo Cookies
  • Lemon Rosemary Shortbread Cookies with Lemon Glaze
  • Fluffernutter Thumbprint Cookies

Vanilla Almond Smash Cookies1 2 300x300

Vanilla Almond Smash Cookies

These mildly sweet cookies have a crumbly, buttery texture and a nutty flavor that's perfect for dunking!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Total Time 32 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 2 dozen

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups all purpose flour
  • 3 sticks of unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 cups slivered almonds
  • 2 cups confectioner’s sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Pulse the almonds in a food processor until fine. Do not overprocess. Transfer almonds to a large bowl. Add butter, sugar and vanilla and beat together.
  • Stir in the flour until combined. Form the dough into balls the size of golf balls. Place onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake 12 minutes, then remove from oven.
  • Using the back of a fork, smash the cookies down, making a crisscross pattern. Return to the oven and bake another 2-4 minutes, until slightly golden on the bottom.
  • Cool the cookies on a wire rack. Once cooled, dip them in powdered sugar to coat both sides.
Keyword cookies, dessert, holiday
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Filed Under: Dessert Recipes, Recipes

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Comments

  1. Avatar for ElizabethElizabeth says

    December 30, 2022 at 1:55 pm

    Are the almonds meant to be processed into almond flour or to be coarser than what is commercially available? If so can you provide either the weight of the slivered almonds or what the equivalent almond flour measure might be?

    Reply
    • Avatar for simmerandsagesimmerandsage says

      December 30, 2022 at 2:02 pm

      Hi Elizabeth! You want to process the slivered almonds until they’re finer, but not as fine as flour. They should have a sandy texture. The 2 cups of slivered almonds that the recipe calls for should equal about 12 ounces. Hope this helps 🙂

      Reply
  2. Avatar for Donna SommerfeldtDonna Sommerfeldt says

    January 15, 2023 at 12:56 pm

    Can I substitute walnuts for almonds?

    Reply
    • Avatar for simmerandsagesimmerandsage says

      January 16, 2023 at 10:19 am

      Hi Donna! I have not tested this recipe using walnuts, but I imagine it would be fine to swap them in for almonds. Let me know how it goes!

      Reply

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Hi! I’m Jackie.

Jackie

Welcome to my little food utopia! Here you'll find simple recipes that are usually healthy, occasionally indulgent and always delicious. I'm a self-taught cook, recipe creator and food photographer. Sometimes you might see me talking about my favorite subject - food - on QVC. Thanks for trusting me with your dinner plans!

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