Cookie: 1 cup softened butter
¾ cup sugar
1 tsp almond extract
2 cups all purpose flour
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt

Glaze: 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
1 tsp almond extract
4-5 tsps water

sliced almonds


* Heat oven to 400 degrees. Combine butter, sugar and almond extract in large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy (1-2 minutes). Reduce speed to low; add all remaining cookie ingredients. Beat until well mixed (1-2 minutes).

* Roll dough into 1 inch balls; place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Flatten bawls to ½ inch thickness with the bottom of a buttered glass dipped in sugar. Bake for 7-9 minutes or until edges are very lightly browned. Cool 1 minute and remove from cookie sheet. Cool completely.

* Stir together all glaze ingredients in a small bowl with a wire whisk. Decorate cooled cookies with glaze and sliced almonds. (About 3 sliced almonds per cookie.)

Makes 3 ½ dozen cookies.