Herbal World Tour Cookie Recipes

Earlier this month we took a culinary herbs tour around the world with Naturescaping members.  We looked at herbs cooks use in many regions of the world and how SW WA local area cooks have been influenced historically by people who moved here since our beginning in 1820 (around the time Fort Vancouver was established). As part of the tour, there was an opportunity to taste several cookies with flavors from other countries.  Below are the recipes for those three cookies so anyone can make some and share them with others.  Enjoy!
(sorry there are no pictures - these were all just that tasty that none were left!)

Chinese Almond Cookies – traditional holiday cookies said to bring good luck in the New Year.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Ingredients

• 1 1/3 C almond flour
  
• 1 C butter- room temperature
• 1 eggs
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 1 ¾ C white flour
• 1 C plus 2 Tbsp sugar
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
  
• Sliced or whole almond for decoration. Brush with egg glaze before baking.

Beat almond flour, sugar, salt in mixer.  Add eggs and extract, beat until smooth. Pat dough together into a disc.  Chill for 2 hours.  Roll dough into ¾”balls, press slightly into coin shapes, top with almond.
Egg glaze:   1 egg
                    1 Tbsp cool water
         Beat egg and water until smooth. Brush on cookies before baking
Bake cookies for 13-15 minutes.

Finnish “S” Cookies – during Finland’s fight for independence, these cookies served as a signal at gatherings that it was alright to speak freely
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Ingredients

• 1 egg
  
• 1/2 C sugar
• 1 C butter at room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 2 C flour

Topping:   ½ C sugar and 1 Tbsp cinnamon for rolling dough

Whisk dry ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.  Using a mixer, beat sugar and butter until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat again.  Add dry ingredients and mix slowly until stiff but comes together
Refrigerate for 2 hours.
Roll dough into long cylinders about ½” thick.  Cut into 2-3” lengths and shape into an ‘S’.  Roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture.  Bake 8-11 minutes.

Spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies – Latin cookies with an unexpected spicy kick
Heat oven to 375 degrees
Ingredients

• 1 C butter at room temperature
  
• 1 ½  C sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 T vanilla
• ½ C cocoa powder
• 2 ¼  C flour
• ½  tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp cream of tartar
  
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper

Whisk dry ingredients together and set aside. Mix butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until fluffy.   Add dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Place heaping tablespoons of dough on baking sheet.  Bake about 10 minutes