I saved this recipe for molded cookies to hang on our tree from the September 1970 Sunset Magazine. My little girls had fun shaping the animals and decorating them with twists, wads, and balls of dough–even pushing dough curls for the lamb’s wool through a garlic press–and pricking or pressing with a fork, toothpick, knife blade, and using whole cloves for pear stems or eyes.
I made my own easy almond paste with Bob’s Red Mill Almond Meal/Flour: 1 cup almond meal, 1 1/2 tablespoon egg white, 1/3-1/2 cup sugar (powdered is o.k.); process or stir; knead & chill.
DOUGH: Beat together until creamy 1 cup butter, 1 cup almond paste (see above), 3/4 cup sugar; beat in 1 egg. Gradually mix in 3 cups flour until smooth. Shape & decorate. Cloves work as hangers with a doubled thread tied on, or make a little hole for hanging the cookie on the Christmas tree if you want. Bake at 325º till lightly brown on bottom.
