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    TaraTeaspoon » Recipes » Cookies

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    Clementine Almond Cookies

    Published: Nov 29, 2016 · Updated: Aug 14, 2022 by Tara Teaspoon

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    clementine almond macarons pin
    clementine almond cookies pin

    Clementine Almond Cookies are a delicious citrus version of a classic macaron. The cookie is light, crispy, chewy and flavorful. And don't get me started on the filling!


    A clementine is a hybrid between a mandarin and an orange. It’s grown to be seedless and super sweet, and the zest has amazing citrusy, aromatic oils. I can get behind clementines.

    Clementine Almond Cookies on cake plate

    I remember eating my first one. Thinking how easy it was to peel, how sweet it was and how I much preferred it to the work it takes to eat an orange.

    I used to fill the crevices of my suitcases with the little fruit when I would travel home for the holidays because my family couldn’t get them yet. Not anymore. The fam procures their own tiny citrus fruit now.

    Making your own almond flour for cookies

    These crisp and chewy macaron-style cookies use the zest and juice of clementines to make the most delicious treat. I ground my own blanched almonds in the food processor. You don't need to do this, but I find it releases the almond oils and creates a more flavorful cookie. I can also blend it well with the confectioners' sugar.

    Clementine Almond Cookies get a little rest before baking, just like traditional macarons.

    The recipe calls for letting the cookies rest for an hour before baking. Some bakers swear by this practice for macarons, but others bake right away. What resting does is creates a skin or crust on the top of the cookie. It dries out just enough so that when baked, the air bubbles escape through the bottom of the cookie creating "feet." The air bubbles don't come out of the top of the cookie so it looks shiny and smooth.

    Clementine Almond Cookies on cake plate w red ornament

    📖 Recipe

    Clementine Almond Cookies

    Clementine Almond Cookies

    Tara Teaspoon
    Clementine Almond Cookies are my delicious citrus take on a classic macaron. The cookie is light, crispy but chewy and flavorful.
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Work Time 35 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    0 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 50 minutes mins
    Course Dessert
    Servings 32 cookies

    Ingredients
      

    • 6 oz blanched almonds
    • 2½ cups confectioners’ sugar
    • 2½ tablespoon clementine zest
    • 3 large egg whites
    • ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
    • ¼ cup granulated sugar
    • 6 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 1 teaspoon clementine juice
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

    Instructions
     

    • Line two baking sheets with parchment and fit a pastry bag with a ½-inch plain tip or coupler; set aside.
    • Blend almonds in a food processor until finely ground. Add 1¾ cups confectioners’ sugar and 2 teaspoon zest; pulse to combine.
    • In a separate bowl, whip egg whites and cream of tartar to soft peaks. Sprinkle in granulated sugar and whip to stiff peaks.
    • Fold almond mixture into egg whites in two batches. Transfer batter to pastry bag and pipe 1-inch rounds an inch apart on prepared baking sheets; let sit 1 hr at room temperature.
    • Heat oven to 300ºF with two racks centered. Bake, rotating position after 10 min, until cookies are golden, about 20 min. Cool completely before removing from parchment.
    • Make filling: Beat together butter, ½ teaspoon zest and juices. Add ¾ cup confectioners’ sugar and beat until fluffy, 1 min. Pipe a small amount on the bottom side of half the cookies; sandwich with the other cookies

    Notes

    The recipe calls for letting the cookies rest for an hour before baking. Some bakers swear by this practice for macarons, but others bake right away. What resting does is creates a skin or crust on the top of the cookie. It dries out just enough so that when baked, the air bubbles escape through the bottom of the cookie creating "feet." The air bubbles don't come out of the top of the cookie so it looks shiny and smooth.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 95kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 6mgPotassium: 46mgFiber: 1gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 65IUVitamin C: 0.7mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 0.2mg
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    Tara in kitchen making salad

    Tara Teaspoon

    I’ve been in food publishing for over 25 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television, food brands, & advertising. With two cookbooks under my belt and thousands of my recipes at your fingertips, I hope you'll be inspired to spend more time in the kitchen!

    More about Tara

    Recipe and Food Styling Tara Teaspoon. Photography Antonis Achilleos. Prop Styling Gerri Williams. Originally published in. LHJ 12/08.

    Comments

      4.75 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    1. Mary Bench says

      July 16, 2018 at 7:05 pm

      These look divine! What a great flavor combination!

      Reply
    2. Brittany Smart says

      July 19, 2018 at 2:43 pm

      These look so good!!

      Reply
    clementine almond macarons pin
    clementine almond cookies pin

    Hi, I'm Tara Teaspoon!

    I’ve been sharing my original ideas for years. What began as a passion, turned into a publishing career as Food Editor at Martha Stewart Living and Ladies’ Home Journal magazines.

    Now I write cookbooks, and share delicious recipes and expert cooking tips with you here! Thanks for stopping by Tara Teaspoon!

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