Recipe: Almond Butter "Nut-Tea" Cookies.

Bite into an Almond Butter "Nut-Tea" Cookie and experience vanilla-almond bliss. Half scone-half cookie, they bake up thick and fluffy on the inside, with a crunch of roasted almonds in each warm bite.

TEA-rrific! Yes, these cookies go great with a cup of hot tea or chai, but that's not the only reason they are called "Nut-Tea" cookies. I've added a new level of flavor depth to the classic nut-butter cookie by adding a cup of fragrant antioxidant-rich tea to the recipe! The tea flavor is mellow, yet savory.

Almond Butter Switcheroo. Peanuts are great, but I prefer vitamin E and fiber-rich almonds. Almonds are incredibly healthy and add just enough crunch keep you mouth happy.
Click ahead for the recipe...

Almond Butter "Nut-Tea" Cookies
vegan, makes 1 dozen

1 cup tea (any flavor) steeped dark and cooled, (chamomile, orange, chai, black, Earl Grey, white. You pick!)
½ cup soy milk
2 cups whole wheat flour
½ cup natural sweetener, sucanat is great
3 tablespoon agave or maple syrup or honey
2-3 tablespoon canola oil
3 tablespoon almond butter
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoon Vital Wheat Gluten
1 cup sliced almonds, unsalted and roasted
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 lemon (for glaze)

Sweet-lemon Glaze
2 parts maple syrup and 1 part lemon juice, for brushing

Combine in Bowl:
First mix dry ingredients (exclude almonds) and add in liquids.
Mix well, until soft dough forms.
Add almonds. This should thicken the dough enough so that you can roll portions into balls with your hands. If the dough is too watery, add more flour and a tad more sugar.

On greased cookie sheet, or parchment paper:
Line up hand-rolled balls. About 1 tablespoon of dough for each.
Glaze: Apply a thin layer of the Sweet-lemon Glaze to the top of each cookie. For a sweeter cookie, sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon-sugar on each cookie top.
Press about 3-4 sliced almonds into the top of each cookie.

Top Garnish:
Glaze: Apply a thin layer of the Sweet-lemon Glaze to the top of each cookie. For a sweeter cookie, sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon-sugar on each cookie top.
Press about 3-4 sliced almonds into the top of each cookie.

Bake:
Bake at 350 degrees for twenty-five minutes or until a light crust forms on the cookies. Do not over-cook. Cookies will harden slightly once they cool.