Kourabiedes

Ingredients

• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 0.25 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons brandy
• 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 0.5 cup finely chopped blanched almonds
• 36 whole cloves
• 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar, or as needed

Steps

1. Sift flour and baking powder together into a bowl.
2. Cream butter in a mixing bowl. Gradually beat in 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar until fluffy. Add egg yolk, brandy, and vanilla; beat until very light. Stir in almonds.
3. Gradually blend in flour mixture until a soft, smooth dough forms. Cover and chill until dough can easily be handled, about 30 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (170 degrees C).
5. Shape level tablespoonfuls of chilled dough into crescents and place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Insert a whole clove into the center of each crescent.
6. Bake in the preheated oven until golden, 25 to 30 minutes, switching racks halfway through; do not brown.
7. Remove from the oven and let cool on the cookie sheets.
8. Dust generously with confectioners’ sugar.