Chinese Almond-peanut Butter Cookies

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 1/4 cups shortening
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 small egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract
• 1/2 teaspoon lye water (if available)
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• red food coloring (optional)

Recipe

• 1 cream shortening, peanut butter, and sugar in a large bowl.
• 2 add flour.
• 3 make three wells in the mixture, add the egg to one well, the lye wter, water, baking powder and baking soda to the second, making sure that the mixture bubbles as these ingredients are added.
• 4 add the almond extract to the third well.
• 5 mix thoroughly.
• 6 knead for several minutes, roll into 3/4" balls.
• 7 press with forefinger and color indentation with red food coloring.
• 8 bake at 300° for 25 minutes.