Florentine Wedding Cakes

Ingredients

• 1 cup (1/2 lb.) butter, at room temperature
• 1 2/3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup minced toasted hazelnuts (see notes)
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Preparation

1. 1. In a bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, or in a food processor, beat or whirl butter, 1/3 cup powdered sugar, and the vanilla, almond extract, and flour until smooth and well blended. Stir in hazelnuts.
2. 2. Shape dough into 3/4-inch balls and place about 1 inch apart on buttered or cooking parchment-lined 12- by 15-inch baking sheets.
3. 3. Bake in a 300° oven until cookies are pale golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes; if baking more than one pan at a time, switch pan positions halfway through baking. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes.
4. 4. Place remaining 1 1/3 cups powdered sugar in a shallow bowl. Gently turn warm cookies in sugar, a few at a time, then set on racks to cool. When cool, coat cookies again with sugar. Arrange in a single layer and dust evenly with cocoa powder.
5. Note: Nutritional analysis is per cookie.