Super Easy Almond Butter Balls (Cookies)
Almond butter balls
The foodie blogosphere has been flooded with Chinese New Year cookies since the past couple of weeks. Chinese New Year falls on 4th February (Thurs) this year. Cookies and sweets are a must for Chinese New Year, so is the Steamed Sticky Rice Cake (Nian Gao). It’s either you make them or you buy them. I wanted to make but have been rather busy and partly lazy.
But when I saw this super fast Almond Butter Balls at The Hospitality Guru, a lovely blog by Anna Johnston, I told myself I had to make them. If I don’t have time to make more cookies, at least I have ONE to show off……*wink wink*. Early the next morning, I got up to try them. I must have been thinking and dreaming of them in my sleep…haha. Totally agree with what Anna said, ‘Super simple’. This must be the easiest cookies I have ever made and little cleaning up, too. They are very delicious. My children coated them with lots of icing sugar before tucking them into their mouths. By the end of the day, almost all were gone!
Almond balls with peanut butter filling
But that was not all. I wanted to make them again. It was so easy and fun to make. I thought it would be good to have a little twist to it. So I changed the recipe slightly….using oil instead of butter (less pots to clean), adding some corn flour and adding peanut butter filling. The cookies came out very delicious, a more melt-in-the-mouth feel with the lovely peanut butter taste and flavour. They go so well with a cup of tea.
Here is my Almond Butter Balls recipe by Anna Johnston.
Ingredients A
2C almond powder
2C self-raising flour
1/2C icing sugar
1C melted butter (1 used 180g butter and melted it)
1t vanilla essence
a few drops of almond essence (I don’t have so I omitted it)
extra icing sugar (for coating the balls)
Mix dry ingredients
Put almond powder, self-raising flour and icing sugar in a bowl. Whisk it up.
Cookie dough
Add the melted butter and vanilla essence. Mix up with a spatula until crumbly. Then mix by hand until it comes together into a ball.
Ready to bake
Pinch into small balls and put them on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
Baked almond butter balls
Bake at 170 degrees Celsius for about 20 minutes or lightly browned. The time depends on the size of the almond balls.
Roll in icing sugar
Cool down for about 5-10 minutes. Then roll them in icing sugar. Enjoy.
Almond Balls With Peanut Filling
Here is my Almond Balls With Peanut Butter Filling recipe, a twist from the Almond Butter Balls recipe above.
Ingredients A (cookies)
2C almond powder
1 &1/2 self-raising flour
1/2C cornflour
1/2C sugar
3/4C olive oil
1t vanilla essence
pinch of salt
Follow the same as above.
Ingredients B (Filling)
smooth peanut butter
roasted peanuts (ground)
Mix Ingredients B together until smooth. I didn’t measure it. You can adjust the ingredients until it is quite a paste that can be used as filling. You can also crush up some peanut cookies to mix with the peanut butter to use as fillings.
Add peanut butter filling
Take a spoonful of dough, flatten it and put some filling in the centre. Place another piece of dough on top. Press together and roll in your hands gently into a ball. Place on the baking tray lined with greaseproof paper. When all is done, bake at 170 degrees Celsius for about 20 minutes or until they look light brown. The time depends on the size of the almond balls.
These almond balls with peanut filling are quite delicate. They cracked quite easily. So, they have to be handled carefully when adding the filling. I found that making them bigger is much easier.
Hope you enjoy both types of the cookies. If ever I need cookies fast, this would be the ones that I will make. They are super simple, easy and quick to make. Give a try. I’m sure you will smile all the way like me!
Do visit Anna Johnston’s blog for more mouth-watering recipes and interesting stories. Anna is a very friendly lady. Please leave comments on her blog when you visit. I’m sure she will appreciate very much.
Here, I would like to wish all my Chinese readers
A Very Happy And Prosperous New Year!!!
And, to all others, I hope you have a wonderful day everyday. Thanks very much for visiting. I hope you enjoy every visit.
Other cookies recipes that you may be interested in:
Popular Pineapple Tarts
Chinese Almond Cookies
Butterscotch Buttons Cookies
Double Chocolate Cookies
Scotland Thistle Flower Shortbread
Chocolate Crinkle Brownie Cookies
Buckingham Palace Shortbread
Quote of the day……
“The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel determines the way you act. “
- Rick Warren
Keep Learning Keep Smiling
47 Comments
j3ss kitch3n on February 1st, 2011
Mary this cookie is insanely melty! i hereby wish you and your family a Happy and Prosperous Lunar New Year!
Small Small Baker on February 1st, 2011
Wow, the almond balls with peanut filling looks very delicious. Happy Rabbit Year to you! 
penny aka jeroxie on February 1st, 2011
gong xi gong xi fa cai!!
Treat and Trick on February 1st, 2011
Yummy! Love the changes you’ve made Mary. Happy Lunar New Year to you and family…
elisabeth@foodandthriftfinds on February 1st, 2011
Mary-I love your adaptation of these wonderful cookies. Love the peanut butter creamy goodness in the middle, and your use of olive oil, instead of butter. What a fabulous job you did on these cookies!
You commented on my blog, but missed the award that has your name on the list. Please stop by my blog to grab the award!
lequan on February 1st, 2011
yay! i love that you made something from Anna’s blog. two of my faves on one blog, what a delight. i remember reading about these almond butter balls. both your version and her version sound wonderful. great option to add peanuts into these, they look delicious (even though i’m allergic). i’m not deathly allergic so i’d probbaly try some if these were put in front of me. i know, i have no will power when it comes to such yummy food.
btw, i’m liking this posting time change a lot more. i get to be one of your first commenters…teehee. how is it working out for you so far?
wishing you and your lovely family a Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Years!
suituapui on February 1st, 2011
I think they use ghee here. Used to love those…
suituapui on February 1st, 2011
P.S. They’re called kuih makmur here…and no peanut butter filling.
Jess @ Bakericious on February 1st, 2011
Mary, I like the version with peanut filling, yummy. Wish you and your family a Happy Lunar New Year, Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Ginny Hartzler on February 1st, 2011
These look so good. And very unusual, I’ve never seen them. Now we have peanut butter kiss cookies, and rum balls, but these look better than both of those.
Belinda @zomppa on February 1st, 2011
So light and delightful - a perfect new year treat!
Mary on February 2nd, 2011
@anncoo - Haha….lovely to hear it melts our heart, too. I should make them heart shapes for you 
Love the mandarin words.
@j3ss kitch3n - Thanks very much!
@Small Small Baker - Thanks very much for visiting and lovely comment!
@penny aka jeroxie - Same to you, Penny!
@Treat and Trick - Thanks very much!
@elisabeth@foodandthriftfinds - Thanks very much for your lovely compliments and also the award! That’s so sweet of you. Appreciate it very much….big smiles
@Aipi - Thanks very much, Aipi!
@lequan - Never mind, LeQuan, you can eat the ones without the peanut butter filling while I eat the other ones…haha. This timing is perfect for me, too. It’s just a matter of scheduling the posting time. It goes on air when I am sleeping! I think it’s good for those in the East and also the West.
@suituapui - Oh yes, it reminds me of those ghee balls. So long I have not eaten them. But I think ghee balls don’t use almond powder. So I think mine is still better…hehe 
Oh yes, kuih makmur. My gosh, I have forgotten most of my Malay vocab! You can be my BM teacher
@Jess @ Bakericious - Thanks very much, Jess!
@Ginny Hartzler - Now I am so tempted to make those peanut butter kiss cookies and rum balls Sounds very delicious…mmm
@Belinda @zomppa - Thanks very much, Belinda!
@somewhere in singapore - Thanks very much, Sharon!
Jessica on February 2nd, 2011
These sound great! I am going to have to try them soon!
Katerina on February 2nd, 2011
They look perfect. Happy Chinese New Year!
Priya on February 2nd, 2011
Pretty looking almond balls..
Jeannie on February 2nd, 2011
Mary, I too only bake Almond cookies for this CNY and glad that I did, they are indeed super easy and super delicious too! Yours with the peanut butter fillings should be even more delicious! Gong Xi Fa Cai to you and family:D
peteformation on February 2nd, 2011
Happy Chinese New Year to you and your family! Cheers!
love2cook on February 2nd, 2011
Owhhhh I can imagine the cookies melting in my mouth!!!
Happy Chinese New Year to U and family. There’s a greeting card for U at my blog 
5 Star Foodie on February 2nd, 2011
These look lovely and I like the idea of the peanut filling too, very creative and delicious!
Simply Life on February 2nd, 2011
oh wow, these look great!
Faith on February 2nd, 2011
I’m also a huge fan of Anna’s blog and her recipes! The cookies look delicious, Mary, and I especially love that peanut butter filling! Happy Chinese New Year to you and yours!
Namitha on February 2nd, 2011
Wow…they look superb..Happy Lunar new year Mary !
RamblingTart on February 2nd, 2011
How clever to fill them with peanut butter!! I love Anna’s blog too, and am so glad her recipe was such a hit with your kids.
teresa on February 2nd, 2011
they look so tender and yummy!
Mary on February 2nd, 2011
@Jessica - Thanks very much, Jessica! Have fun baking
@Katerina - Thanks very much, Katerina!
@Priya - Thanks very much, Priya!
@Jeannie - So, I am not alone then. Jeannie, you sure made me feel better Must be so much fun on your side. The firecrackers must be deafening.
@peteformation - Same to you, Pete!
@love2cook - Thanks very much for the greeting card! Appreciate very much!
@5 Star Foodie - Thanks very much, Natasha!
@Simply Life - Thanks very much!
@Faith - I’m so glad I tried Anna’s recipe…so simple and easy! Hope to learn more simple and easy bakes
@Namitha - Thanks very much, Namitha!
@RamblingTart - Yes, this is really a very delicious cookie. Best is they are so easy to make
@teresa - Thanks very much, Teresa!
Cenwen on February 2nd, 2011
Mhumm:)
Hi Mary:)
I love these cupcakes and finally thanks to you, I’ll be able to do and I enjoy!
Thank you for this nice recipe!
I hope you’re well!
Takes care of yourself!
Kisses !:)
Drick on February 2nd, 2011
I just know these cookies are really tasty, love a good almond crisp cookie so I just might have to flatten mine out a little
gertrude on February 2nd, 2011
Wishing you and your family Gong Xi Fa Cai. May the year of Rabbit brings you health, wealth, joy and peace.
Ivy on February 3rd, 2011
Happy New Year. It’s amazing to see these cookies around different cultures. A similar Greek cookie is called kourabiedes.
Sushma Mallya on February 3rd, 2011
love the cracks on it,looks yum
pigpigscorner on February 3rd, 2011
WOw! Looks melt-in-your mouth! and I love the filling, YUM!
Anna Johnston on February 3rd, 2011
WOW Mary - you have honoured me so (I bow to you my friend), what fabulous write up, I feel all special. Thank YOU so much for posting this little recipe - it really is super easy isn’t it. I’m really liking what you’ve done by adding the peanut butter, now that’s interesting & makes me think of all the other little centres (chocolate?) you could pop in the middle - the mind boggles. Hugs to you Mary, looking forward to your future posts too
rebecca on February 3rd, 2011
great cookies as always your a great cook
PlumLeaf on February 3rd, 2011
Hey! Very clever recipe! How simple! I will try that soon! (Well, only when I muster strength to tackle another cookie! (Not managed to find time to finish making pineapple ones yet! )
Love the idea of a peanut butter filling! Wonder what else would be good…….perhaps pineapple ?
Ananda Rajashekar on February 4th, 2011
Even i have eyed anna’s cookies, glad you already tried it looks fab!
Mary on February 4th, 2011
@Cenwen - Thanks very much, Cenwen! Really hope you are doing very well, too! Muuuaaaak!
@Drick - Drick, try making one huge giant flat one! I’m sure that would be fun…both to make and to eat….hehe
@gertrude - Thanks very much for new year greetings. Same to you, too, Gertrude!
@Ivy - Oh wow…lovely to hear that! I have to check that out.
@Sushma Mallya - Thanks very much, Sushma!
@pigpigscorner - Thanks very much, Ann!
@Anna Johnston - I have to thank you, Anna, for this lovely, super easy cookie recipe Looks like I would love to put all sorts of fillings into these cookies…haha
@rebecca - Thanks very much, Rebecca! I’m still learning and TRYING to be a great cook…hehe
@PlumLeaf - Thanks very much! You can try this one. I think even little kids can make them. Definitely way easier than the pineapple tarts
@Ananda Rajashekar - Yes, they are really delicious…mmmm
PlumLeaf on February 4th, 2011
lol Mary! 5mths is a little too young to be a kitchen helper - but will keep this recipe in mind in a few years time! I will make sure I teach Minh how to cook!
Mary on February 4th, 2011
@PlumLeaf - Oooops…..haha…..I didn’t think of that. Your baby will grow fast. Just give Minh another 2 years and he can help you to make the dough into balls. I would be so excited to see it as the almond balls will be in different sizes….SO cute!
Zibi on February 5th, 2011
Happy New Year! THEse cookies sound great, the peanut butter in the middle caught me as a pleasant addition
Thas @ Cooking with Thas on February 6th, 2011
Wow, drool drool! I love almond cookies and these balls look adorable and delicious. You know what I have all the ingredients to make this, I’lll definitely try this.
Mary on February 7th, 2011
@Zibi - Thanks very much, Zibi!
@Thas @ Cooking with Thas - Thanks very much, Thas! Have fun baking
Chaya on February 8th, 2011
Happy Chinese New Year. These cookies are screaming to be eaten. They are adorable.
Mary on February 10th, 2011
@Chaya - Thanks very much, Chaya!
Yin on February 11th, 2011
Last CNY gathering, one of my friend brought back a jar of almond cookies from Singapore and I took back few of them, they tasted super yummy crunchy and sweet with almond. My boy loves it so much asking for more. I just about to google for the recipe and saw yours! I hope it tastes the same.
Next week will be the last week of CNY, happy “cap goh mei ” (15th day)
This lovely award was given by a lovely lady at 
anncoo on February 1st, 2011
WOW Mary! This almond ball cookie really melts in my mouth and in my heart too
Happy Lunar New Year to you and your family.
恭喜发财 心想事成 万事如意！！