ALMOND SHORTBREAD COOKIES (MANTECADITOS)

Almond Shortbread Cookies (Mantecaditos) image

Provided by Food Network

Categories dessert

Time 45m

Yield 3 1/3 dozen or 20 (2 cookie) servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 1/4 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon McCormick® Nutmeg, Ground
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
5 maraschino cherries, each cut into 8 pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Almond Extract

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix flour and nutmeg in medium bowl. Set aside. Beat butter, shortening, sugar and extracts in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually stir in flour mixture until well mixed. Dough should be slightly moist. If dough looks dry, sprinkle with water and work into dough. If dough is sticky, sprinkle with additional flour.
2. Spoon dough by teaspoons and shape into balls. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Gently flatten each ball with palm of hand. Press a cherry piece in the center of each cookie.
3. Bake 20 minutes or until golden. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.