Russian Tea Cakes

Ingredients

Unsalted butter

1 cup, softened

Powdered sugar

1/2 cup, plus more for coating

Vanilla extract

1 teaspoon

All-purpose flour

2 cups

Ground almonds

1 cup

Salt

1/4 teaspoon

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter and 1/2 cup of powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
3. Add the vanilla extract and mix well to incorporate.
4. Gradually add the all-purpose flour, ground almonds, and salt to the butter mixture, mixing until well combined and a soft dough forms.
5. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving some space between each cookie.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden. The tops should remain pale.
7. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet.
8. Roll the warm cookies in powdered sugar until fully coated.
9. Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack, then roll them in powdered sugar again for a second coating to achieve that signature snowy finish.
10. Serve and enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee!