- Recipes
- Recipes By Course
- Desserts
- Cookies
These horseshoe-shaped crescents have a moist and chewy interior that yields under a crunchy almond coating.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__mt-static__support__uploads__yvonne3-52695ae1ba714f25b8ad3a5b099513c3.jpg "Chocolate Dipped Almond Horns Recipe (1)")
Trending Videos
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__recipes__images__20120312-196764-Chocolate-Dipped-Almond-Horns-8389ab2d6ec24361bdb39ef3096f5af9.jpg "Chocolate Dipped Almond Horns Recipe (2)")
Why It Works
- Adding more ground almonds to the marzipan helps the dough keep its shape, giving it a moist and chewy interior.
The first time that I had these ridiculously delicious cookies was while I was working at a bakery in Poughkeepsie, NY. Made from almond paste (finely ground almonds and sugar), sugar, egg whites, almond extract, and almonds, these horseshoe-shaped crescents (the "horn" name eludes me) have a moist and chewy interior that yields under a crunchy almond coating. They areinsanelyalmond-y because there's not a bit of flour in them (yes folks, gluten-free!). The best parts of the cookies are the tips, which are dunked in decadent bittersweet chocolate.
While I worked the bakery counter, the heady scent of chocolate and almonds would drift around the store, driving me absolutely crazy. I spent a good part of my meager paycheck on these cookies—slamming down one or two on my drive home, almond crumb projectiles flying all over my seat. Since then I'd satisfy my craving whenever I visited NYC, where Jewish bakeries hawk giant versions of my cookie infatuation.
Because these cookies are such a cinch to whip up, I figured I'd just bake a batch myself (a big plus for my greedy belly which can easily eat a dozen of 'em). Then, a reality check (and no it's not my waist): almond paste, the main ingredient, is mysteriously elusive here in Singapore, even in baking supply stores. I could find heaps of marzipan, but almond horns arenevermade with marzipan. Though similar, marzipan is sweeter, more refined, and less almond-y than almond paste. Marzipan is best not in baking, but rather for covering cakes or rolling into bite-sized Anne Geddes babies.
"I finally succumbed and bought a package of marzipan, fooling myself into thinking, 'It can't bethatmuch different.'"
After five or six trips to different markets, I finally succumbed and bought a package of marzipan, fooling myself into thinking, "It can't bethatmuch different." So I forged ahead with my old recipe for almond horns— decreasing the sugar a little to compensate for the sweet marzipan. The dough looked and tasted right, so I shaped the logs and baked. When the timer went off and I opened the oven door, I was greeted with a pan of cookies that had melted into one big, flat pancake. Ugh. There must have been too much sugar in the dough for the cookies to hold their shape.
I made them again, this time omitting the sugar entirely. Flat again and decidedly less sweet. Nuts! I compared the percentage of almonds in almond paste versus marzipan and found that it differed byat least12%. The extra almonds in the almond paste, along with its grainier texture, add enough body to the dough to help the logs keep their shape.
After a third trip to the store to buy supplies (I was seriously not a happy camper at this point), I churned out yet another batch of dough, this time adding a smidgen of sugar and a few ounces of finely ground almonds. My hope was that the extra almonds would bulk up the dough in a way similar to that of almond paste. Determined not to get burned on an entire pan of cookies for yet a third time, I baked just one lone cookie as a tester. Presto! My tweaks worked. The cookie was pleasingly sweet, the texture was even lighter than the original almond paste version, and it had a wonderful nuttiness through and through. Now who says you can't use marzipan?
March 2012
Recipe Details
Chocolate Dipped Almond Horns Recipe
Ingredients
10 ounces marzipan, broken into 1-inch pieces
4 ounces finely groundalmonds
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 large egg white
1 1/2 teaspoons pure almond extract
1 cup sliced almonds
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
Directions
Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, mix marzipan, ground almonds, and sugar on low speed until combined (mixture may appear dry). Mix in egg white and almond extract until combined.
Place sliced almonds in shallow dish and lightly crush with hands. Divide dough into 12 equal portions (about 1 rounded tablespoon each). Working one at time, roll each ball into almonds as you shape it into 4 1/2-inch ropes with blunt ends. Shape rope into U shape and place on prepared baking sheet. Continue with remaining balls of dough, evenly spacing apart from each other.
Bake cookies until just beginning to turn golden, about 15 minutes. Let cool on pan 10 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes.
In microwave or in medium bowl over pan of barely simmering water, melt half of chocolate, stirring gently, then add remaining chocolate and stir to melt. Dip ends of almond horns in chocolate and place back on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Chill cookies in fridge until set. Serve cookies at room temperature.
Special Equipment
Rimmed baking sheet, stand mixer
Notes
Almond paste may be used instead of marzipan with the following changes: 12 ounces almond paste, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, and 2 ounces finely ground almonds.
- Cookies
- Chocolate
- Almonds
- Christmas Cookies
| Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
|---|---|
| 269 | Calories |
| 17g | Fat |
| 26g | Carbs |
| 6g | Protein |
Show Full Nutrition Label
×
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 12 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 269 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 17g | 21% |
| Saturated Fat 4g | 18% |
| Cholesterol 16mg | 5% |
| Sodium 58mg | 3% |
| Total Carbohydrate 26g | 9% |
| Dietary Fiber 4g | 14% |
| Total Sugars 19g | |
| Protein 6g | |
| Vitamin C 0mg | 0% |
| Calcium 78mg | 6% |
| Iron 2mg | 13% |
| Potassium 236mg | 5% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)
