Almond Biscuit Delight with Chocolate and Coconut

Ingredients

For the Biscuit Base:

• • 150 g of butter (about 1 cup)
  • 80 g of powdered sugar (2/3 cup)

• • 2 tbsp of oil (vegetable or any neutral oil)
  • 1 egg
  • 8 g of vanilla sugar (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)

• • Pinch of salt
  • Pinch of baking powder
  • 300 g of flour (about 2 ½ cups)

For the Filling:

• • 1 cup ground roasted almonds
  • 2 cups crushed biscuits (any plain biscuits, like graham crackers or digestive biscuits)
  • Chocolate cream (Nutella or any chocolate spread of choice)

For Topping:

• • Chocolate (melted or grated, for drizzling or covering)
  • Peach jam (for spreading)
  • Roasted grated coconut (for sprinkling)

Baking Instructions:

• Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 25 minutes.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Biscuit Dough

1. 1. Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat 150 g of butter and 80 g of powdered sugar until light and fluffy. You can use an electric mixer for better results.
   2. Add Wet Ingredients: Add 2 tbsp of oil, 1 egg, and 8 g of vanilla sugar (or vanilla extract) to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix until everything is well combined.

1. Add Dry Ingredients: Sift in 300 g of flour, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of baking powder. Gradually fold in the dry ingredients, forming a soft dough.
2. Rest the Dough: Let the dough rest in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to firm up. This will make it easier to shape.

Step 2: Shape and Bake the Biscuits

1. 1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).

1. Form the Biscuits: Roll the dough into small balls, flatten them slightly, and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
2. Bake: Bake the biscuits in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes, or until they turn a light golden brown. Remove them from the oven and let them cool completely.

Step 3: Prepare the Filling

1. 1. Grind the Almonds: In a food processor, grind 1 cup of roasted almonds until finely ground.

1. Crush the Biscuits: Crush 2 cups of plain biscuits (like graham crackers or digestive biscuits) into fine crumbs. You can use a rolling pin or food processor for this step.
2. Mix the Filling: In a bowl, combine the ground almonds, crushed biscuits, and a generous amount of chocolate cream (Nutella or any chocolate spread) until it forms a thick, cohesive mixture. This will be the filling for the biscuits.

Step 4: Assemble the Cookies

1. 1. Sandwich the Cookies: Take two baked biscuits and sandwich them together using the almond and chocolate filling. Repeat until all biscuits are filled

1. Add a Layer of Peach Jam: Spread a small amount of peach jam on top of each sandwiched biscuit.

Step 5: Finish with Chocolate and Coconut

1. 1. Melt the Chocolate: In a double boiler or microwave, melt the chocolate (about 100-150 grams), stirring until smooth.
   2. Coat or Drizzle: Either dip the top of each biscuit sandwich in the melted chocolate or drizzle the chocolate over the tops.

1. Sprinkle with Coconut: While the chocolate is still warm, sprinkle roasted grated coconut over the top for a crunchy and aromatic finish.

Step 6: Cool and Serve

• Allow the chocolate to set before serving. You can speed up the process by placing the cookies in the refrigerator for about 10-15 minutes.

Cooking Tips

1. 1. Use Room-Temperature Ingredients: Ensure that the butter and egg are at room temperature to create a smoother, well-combined dough.

1. 1. Customize the Nuts: You can swap the almonds with other nuts like hazelnuts or walnuts, depending on your preference.
   2. Adjust the Sweetness: If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the amount of sugar in the dough or filling. The chocolate and jam provide plenty of sweetness, so adjust according to taste.
   3. Filling Variations: For a different twist, replace the chocolate cream filling with a fruit-based filling or even a combination of both.