ALMOND EXTRACT RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Combine butter, sugar and almond extract in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add all remaining cookie ingredients; beat at low speed until well mixed.
• Shape rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten balls to 1/4 inch thick with bottom of buttered glass dipped in sugar. Bake 6-8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool completely.
• Combine chocolate chips and shortening in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on Medium (50% power) 1 minute; stir. Continue microwaving, stirring every 15 seconds, until mixture is melted and smooth. Drizzle or pipe chocolate onto cookies making tree design, if desired.

Steps:

• Put the flavor ingredient (prepared as detailed in the article) in a sterilized glass mason jar. For ingredients such as leaves, press it down towards the bottom so the alcohol covers it.
• Pour the alcohol over the ingredients. Make sure the alcohol completely covers the ingredient (add more if it doesn’t). Screw on the two piece lid.
• Place the jar in a cool, dark place (such as inside a cabinet). Once a day, pull it out and give it a good shake. Make sure the ingredients are still covered with alcohol; if they’re not, add more alcohol until they are.
• After the extract has infused for the allotted time (indicated in the recipes in the article), strain it through cheesecloth or a coffee filter. Discard the food bits and save the extract.
• Using a funnel, carefully pour the completed extract into an amber-colored glass bottle (discard or compost the spent plant matter). Store in a cool, dry place.