Alternative Almond Snowballs - Orange, Mastic & Almond Cookies

 

Orange, Mastic & Almond Cookies

Makes 20 biscuits approx

Ingredients
2 egg whites
1 cup caster sugar
Zest of 1 orange
1 tbsp mastic liqueur *(can substitute for 1/2 tsp ground mastic powder or 1 tbsp vanilla extract)
3 cups almond meal
1 1/2 cups flaked almonds
1/2 cup icing sugar

Method
1. Preheat oven to 170°c, fan forced.
2. Line large baking tray with baking paper and set aside.
3. Into a large bowl, add the egg whites and the sugar. Whisk together until egg whites are foamy and sugar has dissolved. Add in orange zest and mastic liqueur and stir to combine.
4. Next, sprinkle in the almond meal and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined.
5. Next, using your hands, gently knead the biscuit dough in the bowl until it's nice and smooth (it will be slightly sticky)
6. Place the flaked almonds into a small bowl and the icing sugar into a separate small bowl and set aside.
7. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls then press them into the flaked almonds. Next, roll them in the bowl of icing sugar and place on to baking tray, pressing down slightly to flatten.
8. Repeat with rest of biscuit dough.
9. Place tray in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, until slightly golden.
10. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. (Biscuits will be slightly soft when you remove them from the oven, but will firm up as they cool!).

Optional glaze

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• ▢2½ teaspoons orange juice