Iraqi Cardamom Cookies (Hadgi Badah) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/3 cups sugar
4 large eggs
2 cups ground blanched almonds (about 10 oz.)
rose water (optional) or orange blossom water (optional)
6 dozen whole almonds

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare baking sheets with a light coating of cooking spray, oil or butter. (Looks like parchment paper would also work well with these cookies.).
Sift together the flour, cardamom, salt, and baking powder.
Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar and eggs until light and creamy. Stir in the flour mixture, then the ground almonds.
Pinch off a small piece of dough and hand form into 1-inch balls, moistening your hands with rose water or orange blossom water, if desired. Place on the prepared baking sheets and flatten slightly. Press a whole almond into the center of each cookie.
Bake until lightly browned about 12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature.