WHERE TO BUY ALMOND PASTE RECIPES

Steps:

• Place the sugar, honey and water in a saucepan and bring to a strong boil. Place the almonds in the food processor and grind until coarse. Remove the boiling sugar from the heat and pour over the coarse almonds. Blend until smooth. This may take 10 minutes or more, depending on the strength of the food processor. Remember, food processors are not usually strong enough to yield the same consistency as the almond paste that you can buy. If your mixture is too thick and the food processor is straining, you can add a little Kirsch or simple syrup to the processor. Add the liquid slowly and stop when the processor is moving more freely. The quality of almond paste is determined by how smooth the consistency is.
• Wrap the almond paste in plastic wrap and allow it to cool. When you are ready to use it, knead in the butter. The butter makes it smooth and not so sticky.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in milk and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour., Cut almond paste into 12 slices (about 1/4 in. thick); cut each into quarters. Shape into balls. Wrap tablespoons of cookie dough around almond paste to cover completely. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets., Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool completely., In a small bowl, mix vanilla icing ingredients until smooth. For chocolate icing, mix confectioners' sugar, cooled chocolate, milk and vanilla until smooth. Dip cookies in icings as desired; allow excess to drip off. Decorate with sprinkles. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. Store in airtight containers.