Swedish Dala Horses

Here is another entry in the Dallas Morning News Cookie Contest (decorated category). This cookie didn't win but I thought they tasted good. Here is the recipe:

Swedish Dala Horses

3/4 cup butter

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs-beaten

2 tablespoons almond paste-cut into small pieces

1 teaspoon grated orange peel

2 1/2 cups flour-sifted

1/2 cup ground almonds

2 teaspoons baking powder

Royal icing

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cream butter and sugar together. Add eggs, almond paste, and orange peel. Combine sifted flour, ground almonds and baking powder and add to wet ingredients. Stir to combine. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into desired shape. Dala Horse cookie cutters are available online or at Scandinavian shops. Simple shapes are best for this cookie as they do spread when baking. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Frost with royal icing.

Here is the link to the origin of the Dala Horse:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalecarlian_horse