Recipe for Almond Cookies Chinese: 9 Lucky Bites That Melt in Your Mouth

A Taste of Tradition: Chinese Almond Cookies Recipe 🥮

If you’ve ever celebrated Lunar New Year with a plate of crumbly almond cookies on the table, you already know—these little golden rounds aren’t just cookies. They’re a piece of history. A warm, buttery whisper from the past. A quiet symbol of good fortune tucked into every bite.

This recipe for almond cookies Chinese-style has traveled across generations—sometimes with lard, sometimes butter, always with that unmistakable almond richness. We used to make them every January, standing around the kitchen with our sleeves rolled up and flour dust in the air. You knew New Year was coming when the house started smelling like toasted nuts and sugar.

Today, I’m walking you through a version that keeps the cultural heart while adding a few modern flexibilities (hi, butter fans and gluten-free bakers!).

🧺 Ingredients for Chinese Almond Cookies

This batch makes around 24 cookies—just enough to share, but not too many to polish off over tea.

Main Ingredients:

• 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter (or go old-school with lard!)
• 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (100g) ground almonds (almond meal is perfect)
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 24 whole roasted almonds, for pressing on top
• 1 egg yolk, beaten (for that signature golden finish)

🔄 Substitution Tips:

• Butter vs Lard: Butter gives you that soft, rich bite. Lard? It’s the crumbly, flaky version grandma used.
• Gluten-Free? No problem—swap in your favorite 1:1 blend. Add xanthan gum if it’s not included.
• No Eggs or Dairy? Use vegan butter and a flax egg. It still holds up beautifully.
• Lower Sugar? Try replacing half with coconut sugar for a deeper, toasty sweetness.

Tip: Toast your almond meal for a few minutes in a dry skillet—your kitchen will smell amazing, and the flavor? Unbeatable.

🥣 How to Make Chinese Almond Cookies

Let’s bring this nostalgic bite to life, one step at a time.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Cream the Fat & Sugar
   Start by creaming your butter (or lard) with sugar until light and fluffy. You’re looking for a pale, airy mix—about 2–3 minutes.
2. Add Egg & Flavor
   Mix in the egg, almond extract, and salt. This is where the cookie starts smelling like memory.
3. Mix the Dry
   In a second bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and that nutty almond meal.
4. Bring It All Together
   Slowly add the dry into the wet until it forms a soft, smooth dough. If it feels a little sticky, pop it in the fridge for 15 minutes—it helps!
5. Preheat & Prep
   Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a tray with parchment.
6. Shape Your Dough
   Roll tablespoon-sized portions into balls. Gently flatten and space them out—cookies need room to breathe, just like we do.
7. Top with Almonds
   Press a whole almond into the center of each one. It’s like putting a lucky coin on top.
8. Brush with Egg Yolk
   A quick brush gives them that golden glow after baking.
9. Bake to Perfection
   Bake for 14–16 minutes. The edges should just start to color—don’t overbake!
10. Cool (if You Can Wait)
    Let them sit for 5 minutes before transferring to a rack. I always break the first one on purpose—just to “test” it.

🍪 Optional Flavor Variations

Play with tradition—these cookies love a little twist.

• Sesame-Infused: Add 2 tsp toasted sesame seeds for an earthy crunch.
• Almond Flour Only: For a delicate, flourless feel. Just cut back slightly on butter to balance.
• Vegan Version: Swap in plant-based butter and maple syrup instead of egg. Still cozy, still crisp.
• Green Tea Glow: Stir in a teaspoon of matcha for color and calm.
• Zesty Surprise: Orange zest adds brightness—it’s like sunshine inside a cookie.

Tip: Wrapping these in red cellophane for gifting? You’re not just sharing sweets—you’re passing along good luck.

🧧 A Cookie Full of Culture: Why Almond?

Almond cookies go way beyond snack status. In Chinese tradition, the round shape symbolizes completeness, while almonds represent luck and happiness—everything you want at the start of a year, or any time you’re hoping for new beginnings.

In our home, it wasn’t Lunar New Year until the almond cookies showed up in tins. My mom would bake them in big batches, stack them between parchment rounds, and send them off with guests. They were more than dessert—they were a hug you could hold in your hand.

If you’re new to this tradition, welcome. I promise this one tastes like history.

🍽 Other Recipes You’ll Love

• Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe
• Best Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Recipe

🍂 Final Thoughts: Bake a Batch of Good Fortune

There’s something so grounding about baking cookies that feel like they’ve been around forever, isn’t there? This recipe for almond cookies Chinese-style isn’t just about making something sweet—it’s about connecting to stories, to seasons, and to people.

Bake a batch for the new year, for a quiet weekend, or just because you need a little luck on the table.

Tip: These store beautifully for a week, and they freeze even better—so go ahead, double the batch.

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🌐 Learn More

Curious about the deeper traditions behind these cookies? Check out this guide to Chinese baking traditions — you’ll find everything from sticky rice cakes to mooncakes and beyond.

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