WOW scale: 10
Skill required: Cookie Baker
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 cup sliced blanched almonds
1. Line 2 mini loaf pans with plastic wrap.
2. Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.
3. Beat butter and sugar with a mixer on medium speed for 4 minutes.
4. Reduce speed to low and add eggs and spices.
5. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions.
6. Press cookie dough into pans and cover tightly with plastic wrap.
7. Freeze for 1 1/2 hours. (Can be kept frozen up to a month.)
8. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
9. Remove dough from 1 pan and let soften slightly.
10.Cut eight 1/8-inch-thick slices with a sharp knife.
11.Cover remaining dough and freeze in pan until ready to slice and bake.
12.Place slices 1 1/2 inches apart on a cookie sheet lined with a nonstick baking mat.
13.Top each with 2 - 3 almond slices.
14.Freeze until firm, about 5 minutes.
15.Bake until dark golden brown, 10 minutes.
16.Let cool on sheet on a wire rack. Repeat.
Yield: 6 dozen
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