Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Drop the almonds into 1 quart of boiling water for 1 minute. Drain and remove the skins by squeezing each almond between your thumb and forefinger. The skins should slip off easily.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine butter, confectioners’ sugar, granulated sugar, and salt. Beat on medium until well combined. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat two minutes more. Add the flour and mix on low speed just until incorporated. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill until firm, about 20 to 30 minutes.
Pinch off pieces of dough that weigh about ½ to ¾ oz. – just a little bit smaller than the size of a ping pong ball. Work with once piece of dough at a time, keeping remaining dough covered with plastic wrap and chilled. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece back and forth with your palms into finger shapes that are about 4 inches long. Place each finger on baking sheet. Push an almond, tip side up, into the top of each finger and press down until it is securely embedded in the dough. Pinch each finger in two places to form knuckles. Score each knuckle lightly with a paring knife. Bake for 12 minutes. Once the cookies are completely cooled paint the almond on each finger with red food coloring using a small paint brush.