X-Files cookies
These cookies made with lime and almonds are a sure-fire hit with children. They enjoy the amusing shape, of course, but also the delicious flavour.
115 K 4.1/5 (17 reviews)
3 hours 35 min.
Easy
20 cookies
8 IngredientsLast modified on: May 27th 2012
For 20 cookies, you will need:
- 1
1 cup flour - 2
¼ cup icing sugar - 3
½ cup butter - 4
1 egg - 5
1 pinch fine (or table) salt - 6
1 lime - 7
2 tablespoons whole almonds - 8
5 drops food colouring
Change these quantities to make:
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 1 hour 5 min.
Resting: 2 hours
Cooking: 30 min.
All in all: 3 hours 35 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 5 min.
Put into a food-precessor bowl: 1 cup flour, ¼ cup icing sugar, ½ cup butter cut into small pieces, 1 egg, 1 pinch fine (or table) salt, 5 drops food colouring, and the juice and zest of 1 lime.
Stage 2 - 5 min.
Knead on slow speed until evenly mixed.
Stage 3 - 5 min.
Tip the dough out onto a sheet of stretch plastic film.
Stage 4 - 2 hours
Fold the film over and press the dough into a flat cake.
Refrigerate for 2 hours.
This cooling time is essential as the dough is very soft at room temperature. The time in the fridge will firm up the dough.
Refrigerate for 2 hours.
This cooling time is essential as the dough is very soft at room temperature. The time in the fridge will firm up the dough.
Stage 5 - 5 min.
After this time, roll out the dough with a rolling pin to just under 1 cm (0.4 inch) thick.
Stage 6 - 5 min.
Now comes the tricky momnt: cutting out the "alien" shapes. I used a calisson cutter for the pointed end.
Stage 7 - 5 min.
Then I cut the top of the head using a normal round cutter.
But you can cut them out perfectly well with a small knife.
But you can cut them out perfectly well with a small knife.
Stage 8 - 5 min.
Shape the rounded part if necessary by pushing around the edge with your finger.
Stage 9 - 5 min.
Make the eyes with 2 whole almonds, the pointed end towards the centre. Press them lightly into the dough to make them stick.
Stage 10 - 20 min.
Use up all the dough like this, placing the cookies on a baking sheet as you go.
Preheat the oven to 180°C (360°F).
Preheat the oven to 180°C (360°F).
Stage 11 - 5 min.
Put the offcuts onto a baking heet, shaped or not. Here I've made Star Trek logos (yes, I know, this is an American TV series recipe...).
Stage 12 - 30 min.
Bake for around 30 minutes. Watch carefully for colouring towards the end of the cooking time to keep the lovely green colour. So don't overcook them.
Remarks
Green is the obvious colour to use, but they look good in pink, too (in which case, leave out the lime).
Keeping: Several days in an airtight tin. .
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 30 RDI=10 % | 160 RDI=20 % | 110 RDI=20 % | 1,690 RDI=90 % | 7,090 RDI: 90 % |
| Per 100 g | 5 RDI=2 % | 30 RDI=3 % | 20 RDI=3 % | 360 RDI=20 % | 1,520 RDI: 20 % |
| Per cookies | 1 RDI=0 % | 7 RDI=1 % | 5 RDI=1 % | 80 RDI=4 % | 350 RDI: 4 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 20 cookies : 1.80 €
- Per cookies : 0.10 €
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Flour
Like these other recipes: Grapefruit cake, Almond mug cake for Mary, Leek and tuna loaf, Muffin dough, Corsican tarts, ... See them all 201
Butter
Like these other recipes: Pretzels, Toffee apple upside-down cake, Mornay onion tart, Béarnaise sauce, Bisto-style canapés, ... See them all 472
Icing sugar
Like these other recipes: Hazelnut and orange cake, Pink Reims biscuits, Millefeuille, Paris-Brest, Stuffed prunes, ... See them all 61
Whole almonds
Like these other recipes: Praline rochers, Praline, Crusty pistachio, almond and apricot flan, Toasted almond cake, Frozen nougat, ... See them all 23
Other recipes you may also like
Chestnut cake
This delightful cake is doubly chestnutty: it contains chestnut flour, and sweet chestnut purée.May 8th 2020341 K5 1 hour 15 min.
Fruit crumble
A fruit pudding: very easy to do and delicious: just a layer of fruit with a golden crunchy topping.February 21th 2011362 K4.0 1 hour 15 min.
Epiphany galette
Here is the recipe for the very classic but delicious "galette des rois" (Epiphany galette) in puff or flaky pastry (pâte feuilletée) with almond cream or frangipane . You will also see some professional tips to easily handle the dough, and obtain a nice and regular galette.January 1st 2025297 K 24.5 3 hours 8 min.
Caramelised apple pie
Apple pie made with caramelised apples.September 11th 2018262 K4.3 1 hour 55 min.
Toasted almond cake
A layer cake, with toasted almonds in the chocolate part.July 5th 2016246 K4.4 2 hours 2 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-07-06)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.