SPIDER COOKIES RECIPE RECIPES

Steps:

• For the cookies: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.  Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on medium until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla extract, salt and almond extract. Beat on medium speed until well combined, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to low and add flour, beating until just incorporated. Cover and place the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill.  Using a cookie press, stamp the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets using the desired decorative templates. If the dough becomes too warm, chill it for 15 to 30 minutes and then continue stamping. If desired, sprinkle some of the cookies with Christmas sprinkles. Bake the cookies until light golden, 9 to 12 minutes, rotating baking sheets halfway through the cook time. Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes.  For decorating: Place the semisweet chocolate chips and white chocolate chips in 2 separate small microwavable bowls. Microwave on high for 1 to 1 ½ minutes, stirring every 20 seconds, until melted and smooth. Drizzle the melted chocolate on the cookies as you like, topping with sparkling sugar, finely shredded coconut and Christmas sprinkles, if desired. 

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk to combine the almond flour, all-purpose flour, and ground cinnamon. Place the softened butter and sugar in a medium bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer). With a hand mixer (or stand mixer with a paddle attachment), beat until creamy and light, 2-3 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla extract and lemon zest and mix well to combine. Add the flour mixture in 3-4 batches, mixing on low to combine completely in between each addition. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl as needed.  Divide the dough into 2 portions and pat into 2 discs, about 1” thick.  Wrap each tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour until firm (or up to 2 days). Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. The dough should still feel cold and slightly firm but soft enough to leave the imprint of your fingers. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Flour a surface very well and place one disc of dough on top (leave the other disc wrapped in plastic wrap). Roll into a large, thin sheet (between 1/16 - 1/8-inch thick.) Using a circle or shaped cutter (about 2 ½” wide), cut shapes from the dough. Place the cookies on large baking sheets lined with parchment paper, about 1-inch apart. Gather up any remaining scraps, wrap with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Repeat with the remaining sheet of dough and any remaining, chilled dough scraps. Cut small shapes from the centers of one-half of the cookies. (You can add this dough to the re-roll pile, or bake off little mini cookies). Bake for 9-11 minutes, just until the edges of the cookies are lightly golden. Let cool for 5 minutes on the sheet pans before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely. Top the whole cookies with 1-2 teaspoons of jam and spread all over the center of the cookies. Place the cookies with cut-outs on a sheet tray and sift powdered sugar over top. Carefully place the sugared cookies over top of the cookies with jam. Serve immediately or store in a single layer in an air-tight container, between sheets of parchment paper, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.