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Cardamom Almond Cookies

This recipe for Cardamom Almond Cookies was originally published in January 2013, and 3 years later I’ve given it a refresh – updated the text, improved the recipe after making many more batches and taken new photos. Enjoy!

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I love cardamom… it smells like a warm, spicy hug and I drink several cups of cardamom tea a day to get my fix of its wonderful scent and taste. After this post by my fellow blogger David from Cocoa and Lavender (check out his site – great stories accompanied by amazing photos!), I was inspired to experiment with this spice in cookies (used a very similar base as the Shirini Keshmeshi (Persian Raisin Cookies). These cardamom almond cookies are studded with crunchy toasted almond slices, and has the perfect cardamom-y finish without being overwhelming. The extra bonus is that as they’re baking, the cardamom smells amazing.

Cardamom Almond Cookies

Cardamom Almond Cookies

These cookies are puffy and pillow-y and the almonds give them a crunchy texture all together with the wonderful fragrant cardamom – these are the perfect snack to munch on with tea or coffee! Fun fact: did you know that cardamom is the 3rd most expensive spice in the world? After saffron and vanilla… read more here. Bake up a batch the next time you have friends over for brunch and enjoy these wonderful cardamom almond cookies!

Cardamom Almond Cookies

Cardamom Almond Cookies



Cardamom Almond Cookies
 
Author: 
Nutrition Information
  • Serves: 20
  • Serving size: 1 cookie
  • Calories: 106
  • Fat: 5
  • Saturated fat: 3
  • Carbohydrates: 14
  • Sugar: 9
  • Sodium: 47
  • Protein: 1
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: Persian
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Soft but crunchy with the perfect spicy hug from the cardamom, these cookies are great for the holdiays! Persian style cardamom almond cookies.
Ingredients
  • 4 oz / 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • ⅞ cup sugar
  • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup almond slivers
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon rosewater(optional - adds extra depth of flavor. Rosewater is called golab in Farsi)
  • Pinch of salt
Instructions
  1. Optional - toast your almond slivers in a non-stick pan on medium-low heat about 5-7 minutes until golden brown. Set aside to cool.
  2. Mix the butter, vanilla, cardamom, salt and sugar until combined. Add the rosewater here if you're using it.
  3. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix until smooth.
  4. Fold in the flour a bit at a time until it's all combined - take your time.
  5. Fold in most of the almond slivers, but save some for garnishing.
  6. Chill dough in fridge for about 15-30 minutes.
  7. Preheat oven to 325 F degrees.
  8. Scoop the dough in small scoops (teaspoon to teaspoon and a half) and roll between your hands into balls. Leave a generous amount of room between scoops as these spread out quite a bit.
  9. Take a pinch of the remaining almond slivers and push it into each dough scoop.
  10. Bake 14-18 minutes, until the edges are golden brown.
  11. Serve and enjoy!

 

{ 35 comments… add one }
  • Anonymous January 1, 2013, 11:50 pm

    Did you mean serve and enjoy all 60-70 cookies?!!!!! I wanna a Shirini or two please. Of the cardamom-y kind please!!!!

    PJJ

    • ahu January 3, 2013, 9:58 pm

      Yes – one can never have too many cookies!

  • Shannon Grande January 2, 2013, 2:38 pm

    love cardamom, these would surely be a hit in my household!

    • ahu January 3, 2013, 9:59 pm

      Let me know if you try them out – if you love cardamom you will probably like these cookies! 🙂

  • Dining Alone January 2, 2013, 5:15 pm

    I did not know about it being the third most expensive spice! These cookies look tasty, I need to try some cardamom soon.

    • ahu January 3, 2013, 9:59 pm

      Me either until I was reading about it on wikipedia! I’m not sure your husband will like these but hopefully you will. 🙂

  • Angie's Recipes January 3, 2013, 11:21 am

    These cookies must be fantastic! I love cardamom.

    • ahu January 3, 2013, 10:00 pm

      Thanks! Hope you get to try them out!

  • Lawyer Loves Lunch January 3, 2013, 2:58 pm

    Yay, I too love the aroma of cardamom. It’s also quite prevalent in South Asian cooking. And well, you already know I’m a fan of cookies so I’m looking forward to trying these 🙂

    • ahu January 3, 2013, 10:01 pm

      Yes – a lot of Indian/Pakistani desserts have cardamom just like Persian sweets… love it! Do let me know how they turn out if you try them 🙂

  • Cathleen January 4, 2013, 2:30 am

    Wow. So many cookies. I love it. And I did not know that fun fact. Cool 🙂

    • ahu January 4, 2013, 8:19 am

      The more you know… 🙂

  • cquek January 4, 2013, 7:39 am

    Very tempting and irresistible..

  • Cocoa and Lavender January 4, 2013, 2:50 pm

    Ahu – thanks for the ‘shout out’ in your post! And thanks for this recipe! I need to bring a dessert to a party this Sunday and I think I will make these, as they will be perfect for sitting around the television watching Downton Abbey. Cardamom really needs to be used more often. In addition to cardamom tea, we have a masala drink that has saffron and cardamom and you make it with hot milk. Quite yummy! Happy New Year! ~ David

    • ahu January 5, 2013, 11:05 pm

      Of course! I need to watch Downton Abbey because apparently I’m the only person in the world who hasn’t started… 🙂 Let me know how the cookies turn out if you do try the recipe!

    • Cocoa and Lavender January 8, 2013, 12:30 pm

      The cookies were wonderful! They were the perfect ending for our dinners in front of Downton! And, yes, you should watch – I love the show!

    • ahu January 17, 2013, 3:29 pm

      Awesome! So happy to hear! And Downton is on my list 🙂

  • oliepants January 4, 2013, 5:14 pm

    Cardamom is my favorite spice! Luckily I stock up when I go to India. 🙂 I love cardamom and almond together too – these cookies look fantastic!

    • ahu January 5, 2013, 11:06 pm

      I love it too! It’s definitely under appreciated in western cooking 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

  • Paula @ Vintage Kitchen January 4, 2013, 11:19 pm

    I´m absolutely in love with cardamom! These are little wonderful cookies!

    • ahu January 5, 2013, 11:09 pm

      Thank you! So happy to see there are so many fellow fans of cardamom out there! 🙂

  • Jessica January 5, 2013, 2:41 pm

    Your blog is great. You would probably get a few more views if you posted your stuff on http://www.flauntmyfood.com I go there every day check lots of different food bloggers stuff.

    • ahu January 5, 2013, 11:09 pm

      Thank you Jessica, will take a look!

  • Anna @ The Littlest Anchovy January 7, 2013, 12:51 am

    I share in your love of cardamom. Love these cookies – I can see myself dunking one of these in my morning tea! Happy New Year Ahu!

    • ahu January 7, 2013, 4:57 pm

      I pretty much do the same exact thing! Thanks Anna! 🙂

  • lisa is cooking January 9, 2013, 11:41 am

    I’ve been using a lot of cardamom lately, and I love getting to smell it when I pull out the box of spices. I didn’t know it was the third most expensive spice! I’d love a couple of these cookies with some tea.

    • ahu January 17, 2013, 3:29 pm

      Thanks Lisa – it is truly fragrant!

  • Sara - Belly Rumbles January 9, 2013, 9:25 pm

    Cardamom is such a great spice. I had no idea it was the 3rd most expensive in the world. Cookies look and sound awesome.

  • Maeghan February 22, 2013, 1:47 pm

    These sounds delicious! Miss you around my blog 🙂

    • ahu March 18, 2013, 10:04 pm

      thanks Maeghan, I am back… was on a mini hiatus 🙂

  • Mafalda March 14, 2013, 2:42 pm

    Hello Ahu! How are you? I’ve just found your blog and loved it! Especially because I love cookies and Cardamom tea as well! I was so glad to have found this recipe!

    I often try to include tea leaves in my cookings and I’ve manage to make some tasty treats!

    I have been drinking Cardamon tea lately and I get the fascination! The fragrance and taste are so peculiar and I am amazed with its health benefits! It has helped me cope with my digestive problems, so I am quite happy to have found this tea and your blog too! I will stop by once in a while!

    http://www.therighttea.com/tea-recipes.html

  • Michele @ Alwayzbakin March 6, 2016, 11:38 am

    Ahu, these cookies sound wonderful! I love Cardamom!

  • Helen April 9, 2019, 9:56 pm

    Hi there!
    Question to your recipe for the sugar is it 7 to 8 cups of sugar?

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