Orange Drop Cookies

These Orange Drop Cookies are just beautiful, like little kisses of summer.  They are a delicious soft shortbread with a subtle orange flavour.  The first batch I made were gone in a few hours, before I could get a photo for this post, so I made some more the next morning!

Makes approx. 24 biscuits

1 ½ cups flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup almond meal
90g butter, at room temperature
½ cup caster sugar
Grated zest 1 orange
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
Icing sugar, to dust

Preheat the oven to 180°C.  Line a baking tray with baking paper.
Combine the flour and baking powder in a bowl, then stir in the almond meal.  In a separate bowl, beat the butter and sugar with electric beaters until thick and pale.  Beat in the zest, vanilla and 1 egg, then stir in the flour mixture until well combined.
Roll the dough into small balls (about 24).  Place each ball on the baking tray and pinch the tops twice to form a peak.
Beat the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon of water, then use to lightly glaze the biscuits.
Bake for 10 – 12 minutes until the biscuits are firm to touch but are still pale.
Allow to cool on the tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.  Dust with the icing sugar.
Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.