Q: I am a huge fan of the City Cafe and Bakery in Fayetteville. It has the best sweets and pastry in the city, hands down -- and I'm not the only one with this opinion. I would love to have the recipe for Almond Horns (which are also made into smaller Almond Bars). They are to die for!

A: These large cookies would be a welcome part of a holiday sweets platter. They are easy to make and have a festive presentation.

Almond dough is rolled in sliced almonds and shaped into crescents. For added panache, melt 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate and 1 teaspoon vegetable oil in a double boiler. (The oil will give the chocolate a sheen.) When pastries have cooled, dip ends of horns into chocolate to coat. Set aside to harden. Cookies can also be cut in 1 1/2-inch-thick pieces and baked for almond bars.

-- Jeanne Besser, for the Journal-Constitution

-- Gwynne McGinnis, Fayetteville

DESSERT

Almond Horns

JOEY IVANSCO / AJC

Makes 30 cookies

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 12-17 minutes

2 (8-ounce) cans almond paste

2 1/3 cups granulated sugar

3 egg whites

1 1/2 cups sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line one or more baking sheets with parchment paper.

With an electric mixer, combine almond paste and sugar until well-mixed. Add egg whites, one at a time, until dough is just moist and holds together. Turn dough out onto a work surface. Working with about one-fourth of the dough at a time, roll into a log about 3/4 inch thick. Roll in sliced almonds. Cut in pieces 4 inches long. Bend edges to form a crescent, pinching the ends into a point. Bake for 12 to 17 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool 10 minutes before removing. Cool completely on a rack.

Per serving: 174 calories (percent of calories from fat, 40), 3 grams protein, 24 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, 8 grams fat, no cholesterol, 8 milligrams sodium.

Is there a restaurant recipe you'd like to make at home? Tell us what you're looking for and perhaps we can help you get it. If we succeed, we'll have the recipe tested and adapted for the home kitchen, if necessary. Because of volume, we can't answer all inquiries. Send your request, along with address and phone number, to: Mail: Betty Parham, Food Department, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 72 Marietta St. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30303. E-mail: menu@ajc.com. Fax: 404-526-5509.