Sicilian Almond Cookies (Sicily)

Desserts

Ingredients

Sweet Almonds - 1/2 cup

All purpose flour - 8 cups

Granulated sugar - 1 2/3 cups

Ground cinnamon - 2 1/2 tsps

Baking powder - 5 tsps

Powdered cloves - pinch

Butter and flour for baking sheet

Toast the almonds, without peeling them, in a slow oven (350F) for about 15 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally. Take from the oven, rub off the peels and chop the almonds finely.

Sift the flour into a mound on a pastry board, make a well in the center and add the almonds, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and cloves. Mix together, then gradually add enough warm water to make a firm dough. Knead until smooth and elastic. Roll out about 1/2 inch thick. Cut the rolled out dough into strips 4 inches long. Make a criss cross pattern on the dough by pulling the tines of  fork down the length of the strips and then across them.

Grease a baking sheet with butter and sprinkle with flour. Place the cookies on the sheet and bake in a moderately hot oven (400F) for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until a pale golden color. Cool before serving.