Almond Coffee Cookies

Makes 64 small cookies

1 tblspn instant coffee 

45ml boiling water

360g almond meal

200g caster sugar

90g egg whites (3 whites)

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

Whole Coffee Beans to Garnish

Dissolve the coffee in the boiling water. Mix together all ingredients to form a paste. Roll or pipe the mixture into small balls about 2cm in size and place on the baking sheets, lightly flatten the balls and top each with one coffee bean. Bake the cookies for 15 minutes or until slightly firm to the touch and golden brown on the bottom. Allow to cool. Sandwich together with coffee cream.

Coffee cream

250g mascarpone

100g pure icing sugar

30ml strong coffee

170g cream cheese

Whip the cream cheese and mascarpone together with the coffee until light. Add sifted icing sugar and whip.