Around the world in 5 cakes!!

Ever since a young age I’ve had a passion for baking. My earliest memory was helping my grandmother create many wonderful desserts and treats for all the family to share, from traditional Welsh cakes to vibrant ginger Jamaican cakes. These memories have stayed with me through my adolescence and my erg for baking grew stronger and stronger as the years passed.
Baking has become not only a passion of mine but also a hobby. I wanted to incorporate my love for baking as well as the enjoyment I received when I travelled in my teenage years.
With this in mind I decided to create a 5 day blog, creating traditional dessert recipes from 5 of my favourite places I’ve visited along my journey. I will proved a step by step account on how to create these fantastic mouth watering desserts.


DAY 1
Chinese almond cookies
Chinese almond cookies are a popular treat at Chinese bakeries. Families will often make these delightfully cookies during Chinese New Year and other special holidays. They are often seen as a sigh of good luck.
Serve these traditional cookies with a nice hot cup of Green or Oolong tea.


Ingredients
• 1 cup (1/2 lb.) butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1/3 cup blanched whole almonds
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Preparation method
• In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and sugar until smooth. Add whole egg and almond extract and beat until well blended. Stir or beat in flour and baking powder until well blended. Cover bowl and chill until dough is firm, about 1 hour.
• 2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls, flatten each slightly, and place each about 1 inch apart on buttered or cooking parchment-lined 12- by 15-inch baking sheets.
• 3. In a small bowl, beat egg yolk with milk to blend. Brush cookies lightly with egg mixture; discard any remaining. Press an almond into the center of each cookie and sprinkle each with about 1/8 teaspoon sesame seeds.
• 4. Bake cookies in a 325° oven until lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes; if baking more than one pan at a time, switch pan positions halfway through baking. Let cookies cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then use a wide spatula to transfer to racks to cool completely.

These cookie are a fantastic family favourite and are guaranteed to go down a treat.