These Almond Filled Cookies are made with a buttery shortbread dough wrapped around a sweet almond paste. Once baked to perfection and cooled, they're dipped in an sweet almond glaze and finished off with sprinkles making them a great cookie for holidays and other celebrations.
These cookies have are simple to make but the flavor is anything but basic! Rich, nutty, buttery, and with just the right amount of sweetness, they're a treat you'll crave any time of year.
This was inspired by my love of almond filling in my King cake recipe on this site. and pairs well with this amazing Amaretto coffee recipe.
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Why You'll Love Almond Filled Cookies
Almond Lovers' Dream - The almond paste filling, almond-flavored glaze, and hint of crunch from the sprinkles make these cookies a triple almond threat.
Great for Gifting - These cookies are pretty and durable, making them the perfect treat to share with friends and family during the holiday season.
Last-Minute-Friendly - Since they don't need complicated chilling or assembly, you can whip them up when you want something special without the wait.
Ingredients
The shortbread cookie dough couldn't be more simple! Flour, sugar, butter and vanilla come together to make a super buttery shortbread and the almond filling is as easy as opening a tube of almond paste.
- All purpose flour
- Butter
- Granulated sugar
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Almond paste
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Almond Filled Cookies
Almond filled cookies are so easy to make! Just follow the simple steps below:
Cream butter and sugar
Place butter and sugars in a medium bowl, and mix together using an electric hand mixer until creamy.
Make the dough
Mix in the the flour and milk using the hand mixer on low speed, until a dough is formed.
The almond filling
Portion the almond paste out into 30 equal pieces.
Fill the cookie dough
Roll a tablespoon of cookie dough in your hands to shape a ball. Make a dent in the center of the ball and place one almond paste ball in the center. Enclose the almond paste and roll dough into a ball.
Prepare for baking
Place cookie dough balls on an ungreased baking sheet leaving about in inch between each cookie ball.
Bake the cookies
Bake cookies at 375 for 13 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
Make the glaze
Mix together the powdered sugar, almond extract, and milk, until a smooth glaze is formed.
Glaze the cookies
Dip the top of each cookie into the almond glaze then place on a wire rack and sprinkle with sprinkles. Allow glaze to dry completely before storing.
Hint: place a sheet of aluminum foil beneath the cooling rack to catch any glaze that drips off the cookie.
Substitutions
Below are some substitutions that will work for ingredients you don't have on hand.
- Almond paste - Marzipan can be used in place of almond paste.
- Make it boozy - substitute amaretto liquor for the milk for a boozy bite!
- Date filled - wrap the cookie dough around a small, pitted date instead of the almond paste.
Variations
Below are a few ways to make these almond filled cookies in different ways!
- Chocolate-Dipped - Dip these cookies in melted chocolate instead of the almond glaze for a chocolate almond treat.
- Fruit Twist - Add a small spoonful of raspberry or apricot jam instead of the almond paste for a fruity pop that plays perfectly with the almond flavor.
- Nut Crust - Roll the dough in finely chopped almonds before baking for a little extra crunch. Drizzle the baked cookies with the glaze instead of dipping them in it.
- Spice It Up - Add a sprinkle of cinnamon to the dough to give the cookies a warm, spicy edge that's perfect for the holiday season.
See this Raspberry Thumbprint with Almond Glaze on my other website!
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- Mixing bowls
- Electric hand mixer
- Rubber scraper
- Cookie scoop
- Teaspoon
Storage
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days. Can be stored in the freezer up to 3 months. Thaw before serving.
Top Tip
- Glaze When Cool - Wait until the cookies have cooled completely before dipping them into the glaze. This keeps the glaze smooth and prevents it from running.
- Store in Layers - If you're stacking these for storage, use parchment paper between layers to keep them from sticking together.
Related Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
When you make this Almond Filled Cookie recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Almond Filled Cookies
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Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup confectioner's sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 3 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 tablespoons milk
- 7 ounces almond paste
For the Glaze:
- 1½ cups confectioner's sugar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 4 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375. In a large mixing bowl, add butter and sugars. Mix on medium speed until butter mixture is creamy and smooth.
- Add the flour and milk to the sugar mixture and mix at medium-high speed until a semi stiff dough has formed.
- Scoop about ¾ teaspoon of almond paste and roll into a ball shape. Do this with all of the almond paste. You should have 30 pieces..
- Using a tablespoon, scoop out a tablespoon of dough. Shape dough into a ball. Make an indent in the center of the dough and place almond place in center. Shape dough around the almond paste, enclosing completely.
- Place cookie dough balls on baking sheet and bake 13 minutes, or until cookies are set and lightly golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet and cool completely.
- Make glaze and and dip top of cooled cookie into glaze. Place on wire rack and sprinkle with decorator sugars. Allow glaze to dry completely before storing.
Shelby Law Ruttan says
I LOVE the bites of almond paste baked in the center of these cookies. They were easy to make and are so festive on my cookie tray.
Anonymous says
I just made these and they are fantastic! I added black food coloring to the bonbon and shaped them like squares. They look like cute little lumps of coal! I will be bringing them to a cookie exchange in a few days! Thank you for the wonderful recipe!
mommy on a mission says
they look great im going to make them to night
sweets in bulk says
These really looks good and delicious.Bon-bon refers to any of several types of sweets, especially small candies enrobed in chocolate.
The first reports of bonbons come from the 17th century, when they were made at the French royal court. In modern French, the term simply refers to any type of small candy.
Gera@SweetsFoodsBlog says
I know that bonbons have my name inside not almond - superb!
Cheers,
Gera
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme says
Such pretty cookies! They totally look like Christmas. And that filling...wow! Delicious!
Hester Casey says
They're so pretty and so almondy - my kind of bonbon. The decorations are very dainty. They'd make stunning foodie gifts.
Kim Kelly says
Absolutely amazing! We have a bakery downtown that makes a number of almond confections. I love them all, but have never really made many of my own. I've also stayed away from melting white chocolate as I've not always had the best experiences, until this year. I made a bon bon sort of candy for Christmas an using Guittard chips (can't find them now!) it all worked like a dream.
These little bon bons will definitely be on our tray!
Your photos are stunning... the little pieces of sugar are so sharp, nicely done!
Ah,... and congrats on a well deserved top 9 as well!!
Patsyk says
I love these cute little bonbons! Almond is one of those addictive flavors for me... I wouldn't be able to stop at just one!
Evan B says
Congrats on Top 9! These look absolutely delicious.. I can't wait to add them to my cookie list!! 🙂
briarrose says
These look wonderful and delicious. There is nothing more cheerful than a lovely plate of holiday cookies. 😉
meltingbutter.com says
wow, these look so precious! great work!
RJ Flamingo says
How interesting! They look just like the Bon Bon Cookies I posted about last weekend, except that I modified the 1956 Betty Crocker recipe by adding cocoa to make the cookies chocolate, and used peanut butter cups as the fillings. I even wrote about dipping them in the plain frosting.
I guess great minds think alike, and this may be the year of the Bon Bon!
Debbie says
I also love different cookies - something out of the ordinary. Those look delicious! I'm still trying to decide which Christmas cookies I want to make this year.
Mags @ the Other Side of 50 says
I'm a boozy kinda gal myself. These look delicious... and so pretty!
moderncomfortfood says
Bonbons? Amaretto? Almond paste? Yes please!
I thought I had my Christmas cookie list already sorted, but I must add these to the list too. The flavor sounds addictive, and they are so very pretty too!
Nichi says
Those look delicious... I must make some! Thanks for sharing!
Ingrid says
We love almond filled anything!
~ingrid
Maria says
Love these! They are so cute and festive!
susies1955 says
Awesome. They look great.
Hope you are doing well downstate. 🙂
Susie
Cookin' Canuck says
These are so pretty! The almond paste inside looks so good.
Megan says
What a fun cookie. I love almond flavor and would love to try these with the almond paste!
Jamie says
These look so yummy. What a perfect cookie for the holidays.
jm says
these are so incredibly cute and festive! 🙂
bellini valli says
I make a chocolate chunk shortbread cookie that has toasted flour...so good. I love sea salt caramel too. These bon bons of course would be perfect for the holidays.
amanda @ fake ginger says
Those look fantastic! I can't wait to make them!