Almond Butterwreaths

Almond Butterwreaths

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon rind grated
• 2 teaspoons orange rind grated
• 2 teaspoons anise seeds crushed in mortar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups ground almonds
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
• sliced almonds
• candied cherries cut up
• CHOCOLATE GLAZE
• 1 ounce semi-sweet chocolate
• 1 teaspoon butter

Instructions

1. Cream butter with sugar; beat in peels, anise seeds and salt.
2. Gradually beat in ground almonds, flour and egg yolks.
3. Divide dough in half; beat cocoa into one half. Shape dough into narrow ropes; cut into 6-inch lengths and form into rings. .
4. Decorate with sliced almonds and cherries.
5. Place on greased baking sheet; bake in preheated 375ºF. oven 8 to 10 minutes, or until light golden on bottom. Cool on wire racks.
6. Drizzle Chocolate Glaze over cookies. Let dry.
7. Chocolate Glaze: Melt chocolate with butter in saucepan, stirring over low heat.
8. NOTE: To grind your own almonds, start with 6 ounces whole blanched almonds (about 1 1/4 cups). Grind half at a time, stop-and-go fashion, in electric blender.