Recipe of the Week: Almond and orange snowballs

The bomb may be fearsome on the front, but as metaphor, it’s the bomb. Chic, charming and clever are the bomb. Unlike, say, the actual bomb. Hard to grasp how something so fierce came to define some things so fine, but that’s the lingo.

Then there’s the photo bomb — intrusive, irksome and in. As fad, it’s the bomb.

We’re keen on the cold creamy layers of the ice cream bombe, the delicious pages of Cherry Bombe, and the black-and-white classic in which tall, dark and handsome plays opposite the bombshell. A night in Casablanca; that’s the bomb.

We’re also in favor of the flavor bomb. Gluttony is good, especially at the holidays. But after the feast, we marvel at miniature. Say, the cherry-size sphere of sticky almonds and candied orange, a single bite that bursts with bittersweet. Now that’s the bomb.

Orange almond snowballs

1cup plus 2 tablespoons slivered blanched almonds

1scant cup confectioners’ sugar, plus more for dusting

1/2cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/2cup diced candied orange peel, see note

1egg white whisked with 1 teaspoon water

Toss almonds, confectioner’s sugar, granulated sugar and orange peel into the food processor. Process 1 full minute to fine, orange-scented sand.

Dump sand into the mixer bowl. Drizzle in 1 tablespoon egg-white mixture. (Resist temptation to add more — too much egg white will make the little snowballs melt or explode.) Using the paddle attachment, mix on medium-low speed until dough comes together (or at least looks like damp gravel and sticks together easily), 15 minutes (yup, 15).

Pinch off clumps of dough and roll into cherry-size balls. Roll balls in confectioners’ sugar and set them on parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving a little space between balls (they shouldn’t spread much).

Slide into a 325-degree oven and bake until set but still soft to the touch, 12 to 14 minutes. Cool. Store in an airtight container. One or two tiny cookies are nice with espresso, after dinner.

Note: Buy this or make your own, starting with two large oranges.

Prep: 30 minutes. Bake: 13 minutes. Makes: About 50 small cookies.