Dutch~Oma's Almond Cookies

Oma's Almond Cookies
Yield: 120 Servings

2 c Butter,softened
2 c Sugar
2 Eggs
1 Lemon,grated rind and
4 c All-purpose flour
1 t Baking powder
1 pn salt
1/2 lb Unblanched almonds,finely
Ground (or),Grated
Colored sugars,For Garnish
Optional

Preparation time: 30 minutes Chilling time: 8 hours or overnight
Cooking time: 10 minutes

1. Cream butter and sugar in large mixer bowl of electric mixer. Beat
in eggs, one at a time. Beat in lemon rind and juice. Mix flour, baking
powder and salt. Stir flour mixture and ground almonds into butter
mixture to make a soft dough. Divide dough into quarters. Refrigerate
dough, wrapped in wax paper, until firm, at least 8 hours or overnight.
2. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Have ungreased baking sheets ready.
3. Roll out one dough portion on lightly floured pastry cloth with a
rolling pin covered with stocking or roll between sheets of lightly
floured wax paper to 1/8 -inch thickness. Cut out with cookie cutters.
Return dough to refrigerator if it gets too soft. Transfer to baking
sheets, leaving 2 inches between each cookie. Sprinkle with colored
sugar if desired.
4. Bake until very light brown at edges, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to
wire racks to cool. Store in a covered tin.