Belgian Butter Cookies

We think that it is a sure thing that if something has the words “butter” and “cookies” in it, it is going to be good!This example proves our point.  With just 5 simple ingredients and less than 30 minutes of your time, you can make a delicious treat.

These cookies are what we would call the first cousins to Shortbread.  With the exception of the almonds and the salt, the ingredients are the same.  The one big difference between the way you assemble these cookies and that of traditional shortbread is that in this version, the butter is melted before it is added to the other ingredients.  Melting the butter results in a very crisp cookie.  These are slightly sweet, slightly salty, and TOTALLY delicious!

A nice cup of tea or some fresh hot coffee and some of these cookies in the afternoon, or evening can only result in love, joy and yes,  abundance!

Belgian Butter Cookies
Makes 36 cookies

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter melted
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 scant teaspoon sea salt
8 oz. sliced unsalted roasted almonds  (available at Trader Joes and other markets)*

Stir together the sugar, flour, salt and almonds.  (* Simply omit the almonds if you are allergic to nuts.  If you are using salted almonds reduce the amount of sea salt by half.) Pour the melted butter over this mixture and stir until the butter is absorbed.  The flour/sugar mixture will resemble coarse sand when you have stirred in the butter.  Press the dough into a baking sheet.

Using a sharp knife, score the dough into rectangles before cooking.

Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 18-20 minutes or until a light golden brown.  As soon as they come out of the oven slice through the lines you have already scored to make the rectangles.  Allow the cookies to cool completely before you remove them from the pan.

(Some of the cookies may crumble as you are removing them.  Save the crumbs in a ziplock bag and add them to your next graham cracker crust for a Blueberry Ice Cream Pie, or sprinkle them on top of ice cream and some homemade hot fudge sauce as a topping.)