Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup sugar, plus
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1⁄2 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 3 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1⁄2 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 2 1⁄2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 3 ounces water
• 4 ounces powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon hot water (more “or” less, depending on humidity)
• 4 ounces powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon cocoa
• 1 tablespoon hot water (more “or” less, depending on humidity)

Directions

1. Mix all dry ingredients together.
2. Mix together water, milk, eggs, and extracts.
3. Cream butter.
4. Mix in sugar, a little at a time.
5. Add liquid ingredients, mix well.
6. Add dry ingredients in several steps, blend well after each.
7. The dough needs to be fairly firm, not like cookie dough but drier than cake dough, if it is too runny add a little more flour.
8. Put dough about two tablespoons on a greased cookie sheet, don’t place too close together as this will spread.
9. Bake in a preheated 300ºF to 325ºF oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
10. After about 10 minutes in the oven brush the exposed side with some milk.
11. Finish baking till the dough turns a golden brown, don’t overbake.
12. Light Glaze: Mix powdered sugar with enough water to make a spreadable mass, you can’t mess this one up, too thin- more sugar, too thick- more water.
13. Dark Glaze: Mix powdered sugar and cocoa and proceed as for light glaze.
    Glaza the underside of the Amerikaner with either or both glazes.