Chinese Five Spice Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 2/3 cup finely chopped almonds
• 1 tablespoon Chinese five spice powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 16 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 tablespoon milk
• Sliced almonds, for garnish

Directions

1. Whisk the flour, chopped almonds, five spice powder, and salt in a medium bowl until the mixture looks evenly combined.
2. In a large bowl, beat the butter with the sugar until the mixture turns pale, soft, and fluffy.
3. Add the almond extract and milk, then beat again just until everything is blended in.
4. Pour the flour mixture into the large bowl and beat until the dough starts to gather together. It may look a bit dry, but you should be able to press it together easily with your fingers. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
5. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
6. Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Shape it into 1 inch balls, then press each one flat between your palms. Set 1 sliced almond in the center of each cookie as a garnish.
7. Bake the cookies until they turn golden, about 12 minutes. Cool them on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then move them to a wire rack.