Cashew Sugar Cookies

These cookies are similiar to shortbread and go great with just about anything, anytime! Have them with juice, tea, or coffee, morning, noon, or night!!

• Ready In: 43 mins
• Serves: 21
• Yields: 42 cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄4 cups flour
• 1⁄2 cup  ground lightly salted cashews or 1⁄2 cup  ground almonds
• 1⁄4 cup granulated sugar
• 1⁄4 cup  packed brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup vegan butter or 1⁄2 cup margarine
•  granulated sugar (topping) or   coarse sugar (topping)
•  whole cashews (topping, about 42 nuts) or   blanched  whole almond, toasted (topping, about 42 nuts)

Directions

1. Go ahead and toast the whole cashews or almonds if not already done. Place on shallow baking pan and bake for 5-10 minutes at 350F until light golden brown, stirring if needed.
2. In a medium bowl combine flour, ground nuts, the 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and the brown sugar. Cut in the margarine with a pastry blender until it forms fine crumbs. Form the mixture into a ball and knead gently until smooth.
3. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough until 1/4 inch thick. Using a 1 1/2 inch cookie cutter cut into desired shapes. Place 1 inch apar on ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with additional sugar and press a whole nut in the center of each cookie.
4. Bake in a 375F oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer to wire rack & cool.