Beijinhos de amêndo

Beijinhos de amêndo is a traditional dessert originating from Algarve. These little ''almond kisses'' are made with a simple combination of sugar, almonds, and egg yolks. The sugar is boiled in water, then mixed with the almonds and cooked over low heat. Once warmed, beaten egg yolks are added to the combination. The mixture is stirred constantly until the mass becomes slightly dry. It is rolled into little balls with one's fingers that have been greased with butter. The dessert is then baked until lightly browned, and a piece of almond is stuck on top of each small cake. The beijinhos are then cooled and served in paper molds. If desired, lemon peel can be added for extra flavor.