Skeleton Bone Cookies

This Halloween, get in the spirit of things and create some gruesome skeleton bone cookies. While not a true meringue cookie, this recipe uses just egg whites to keep the bones white in color, and some chopped almonds to give them a creepy "bone-crunch!" Also flavored with a little orange peel.

4 egg whites
1 tsp grated orange peel
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 cups chopped salted almonds

With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat egg whites and sugar with orange peel and baking powder until blended. Gradually add nuts and flour, beating until mixture is thoroughly blended. Cover and chill until firm enough to handle, at least an hour or up to a day. Lightly flour your hands and pinch off a three-tablespoon size piece of dough.

On a lightly floured board, use the palms of both hands to evenly roll out an 8-inch long rope. Cut rope in half; roll each half out again to 8 inches. Fold an inch of each end back onto rope and pinch ends to make bone shapes. Repeat to shape all the dough. Place bones an inch apart on a buttered and flour-dusted baking sheets. Bake in a 325 F oven until cookies are lightly browned on bottoms (about 20 minutes).