PEPPERIDGE FARMS MILANO COOKIE COPYCAT

Steps:

• Toast almonds- spread on baking sheet and insert in preheated 350*F oven, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes or until nuts are lightly toasted to pale golden brown Process almonds in food processor with the 3 tbs of sugar until almonds are finely ground.
• Set aside.
• Sift the flour, baking powder and salt onto a sheet of wax paper or into a bowl.
• Set aside.
• Cream butter with remaining 3/4 cups sugar until mixture is light in colour and texture (at least 3 minutes).
• Beat egg and almond extract;then the almond mixture into to butter mixture until just smooth.
• On a low speed, beat in flour mixture until just smooth.
• Cover dough tightly in plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate at least 2 hours (or until well chilled) or up to 5 days.
• Position racks in oven to center and top third of oven and preheat to 350*F.
• Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly butter them.
• Portion dough into 80 pieces, about 1 tsp each.
• Roll into balls.
• (I have heard that you can put two bits of dough in one hand and roll them into 2 balls between your palms, which will cut your rolling time in half.) Place balls about 1 1/2 inches apart on baking sheets.
• Do not crowd.
• It is likely that 3 sheets will be needed to bake all of the cookies.
• Bake, switching the position of the sheets from top to bottom and front to back after about 5-6 minutes.
• Cook another 5-6 minutes, or until lightly browned all over.
• Let cookies cool on the sheets for about 3 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks and cool completely.
• Melt chocolate (a double boiler is recommended, but any method is fine).
• Spread about 1/2 tsp on the underside of a cookie, then lightly sandwich between another cookie.
• Alternatively-a parchment cone can be filled with melted chocolate and the chocolate can be piped onto cookies before being sandwiched.
• Refrigerate cookies breifly to set chocolate, but they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for some time.
• **Fora fancier cookie** Lightly brush each cookie with an egg glaze (beat 1 egg+ 1 tsp water) and top with a few sliced almonds before baking.