Traditional Almond and Raisin Cookies from Portugal

These delightful Biscoitos de Amêndoa e Passas (Almond and Raisin Cookies) represent the very heart of Portuguese comfort baking, they are soft, tender, and bursting with the kind of flavours that make you want to curl up with a good book and a steaming cup of coffee. Unlike their crispy American counterparts, these are classic Portuguese soft cookies that practically melt in your mouth, offering a texture that’s more like between a cookie and a cupcake with a satisfying crunch.

What makes these cookies particularly special is their perfect timing with Portugal’s beloved Saint Martin’s Day celebration on November 11th, when the entire country comes alive with festivities centered around new wine, aromatic spices, and an abundance of dried fruits. The tradition beautifully aligns with these cookies’ starring ingredients, the sweet raisins and fragrant almonds that echo the season’s bounty. During this time, Portuguese families gather to taste the year’s first wine, roast chestnuts over open fires, and share plates of seasonal treats that celebrate autumn’s harvest, just these cookies.

The beauty of these cookies lies in their rustic simplicity and the way they capture the essence of Portuguese home baking, these are simple to make and delicious to eat, they might not look sophisticated but they are delicious with every bite delivering the perfect balance of nutty almonds and plump raisins, creating a cookie that’s simple to make for any special occasions yet comforting enough to enjoy with your morning coffee on any ordinary Tuesday, lets check the recipe!

Traditional Almond and Raisin Cookies from Portugal

Servings: 12
Time: 40mins
Difficulty: Normal
Rating: ★★★★★
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How about a delicious crumbly soft cookie lightly sweeten with almonds and raisins, perfect for a tea or celebration.

Ingredients

Flour – 290g
Baking Powder – 5g
Butter – 130g
Sugar – 160g
Milk – 10ml
Vanilla – 5ml
Egg – 1
Egg yolk – 1
Almonds – 100g
Raisins – 100g
Salt – A Pinch

Directions

Preheat the oven to 180ºC and line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper.

Start by whisking the butter at room temperature with the sugar until creamy, then add the egg and egg yolk and whisk a little more.

Now add the vanilla and milk and mix a little more, then add the sifted flour and baking powder with a pinch of salt and mix until you have a dough.

Finally, add the slivered or chopped almonds and raisins, mix, then use two spoons to form balls of dough and place them on the baking sheet.

Bake for about 20 minutes until the cookies are golden brown, and that’s it, enjoy!

Notes: If you want a more mature version, just soak the raisins on wine or brandy. You can also roast the almonds a bit to make them taste more smocky, toasty and crispy.

If you are not in a rush, you can chill the dough, that will help you mold it into disks, balls and make them more cute or use a cookie cutter to make into any shape you want.

This recipe for Traditional Almond and Raisin Cookies from Portugal was originally created on BakeAfter.com. Esta receita de Biscoitos de Amêndoa e Passas foi publicada em português no Iguaria.com.