I’m sorry, there has to be a better name for these. Apart from the double entendre, the fact that they don’t contain any nuts is confusing (almond extract is typically made from peach pits, which is useful to know when your sister is allergic to tree nuts). Generally speaking, the cookies known as nut balls do contain pecans or walnuts or something like that.
I’ll say this: if you bite into a nut ball and find a cherry in the middle, quite a few things have gone wrong.
So, any suggestions for a better name?
From a box sold in Canby, Oregon
Nut Balls
2 cups flour, unsifted
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. shortening
1/2/ c. white sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
Yolk [of] 1 egg
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. almond extract
Mix as plain cookies and roll in small balls, then dip in unbeaten egg whites and roll in coconut. Press 1/2 cherry in center. Bake 375 deg. 15 min.
Cookie method (provided by Yesterdish)
Generally speaking, this is what happens with cookies, so apply this to the “mix as plain cookies” instruction above.
- Cream the butter, shortening, and sugars together until fluffy.
- Stir in egg yolk and almond extract until just incorporated.
- Mix flour, baking soda and cream of tartar together.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir until just combined.