Amaretti Cookies (2024)

While “almond” translates directly to “mandorla” in Italian, amaretto is also synonymous with the nutty flavor that we know and love. Similar in name—and taste—are amaretti, Italian cookies that are perfect for making around the holidays. Their crackly tops dusted with confectioners’ sugar make them look especially wintery, and the fact that they happen to be gluten-free means that more of your loved ones can enjoy these cookies.

To make them yourself, you’ll probably only need to pick up almond flour and almond extract. All the other ingredients are baking staples you should have at home already.

Ingredients for Amaretti Cookies

  • Egg whites
  • Almond flour
  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Vanilla extract
  • Almond extract
  • Confectioners’ sugar

Directions

Step 1: Prep the egg whites

Amaretti Cookies (1)TMB Studio

Place the egg whites in a large bowl, and let them stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Step 2: Whisk the dry ingredients

Amaretti Cookies (2)TMB Studio

Preheat oven to 325°F. In a large bowl, whisk almond flour, sugar and salt.

Test Kitchen Tip: Make sure you don’t accidentally use almond meal instead of almond flour. They’re two different ingredients! Almond flour is more finely ground than almond meal.

Step 3: Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form

Amaretti Cookies (3)TMB Studio

Beat the egg whites on medium speed until foamy. Then, beat on high until soft peaks form.

Step 4: Add the extracts

Amaretti Cookies (4)TMB Studio

Beat in the almond and vanilla extracts. Make sure to beat for only a little bit longer to avoid collapsing the egg whites.

Test Kitchen Tip: Since almond is the star here, it’s important to use a good quality extract. Our Test Kitchen found the best almond extract brands.

Step 5: Add the egg whites to the almond flour mixture

Amaretti Cookies (5)TMB Studio

Fold the beaten egg whites into the flour mixture until just moistened. The dough will be grainy and sticky. Again, don’t overmix!

Step 6: Roll the cookie dough into balls

Amaretti Cookies (6)TMB Studio

Scoop level tablespoons of cookie dough, and drop each into a bowl of confectioners’ sugar. Roll into a ball, and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, about 1 inch apart.

Step 7: Bake the cookies

Amaretti Cookies (7)TMB Studio

Bake until lightly brown and tops crack, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Amaretti Cookie Variations

While amaretti cookies are known for their almond flavor, you could swap the almond extract for another flavoring of your choice. You could roll the dough in chopped, sliced almonds instead of confectioners’ sugar. Give the amaretti cookies a little extra flair by pressing a whole almond on top of each cookie before baking—even though they’re gorgeous as is!

How to Store Amaretti Cookies

Once the amaretti cookies have completely cooled, transfer them to an airtight container at room temperature. They’re best eaten within three days—otherwise, you can freeze them for up to three months.

Amaretti Cookie Tips

Are amaretti cookies gluten free?

Yes! Since this recipe uses almond flour (as opposed to all-purpose flour), you can count on amaretti cookies as being gluten-free.

Why are my amaretti cookies flat?

Deflated egg whites = flat amaretti cookies. If you don’t beat the egg whites enough, there won’t be enough air whipped into them to get soft peaks, which helps the cookies puff up while baking. On the flip side, if the egg whites are overbeaten or stirred too much when incorporated into the rest of the amaretti cookie dough, they’ll collapse, also resulting in a flat cookie.

The egg whites are also why you shouldn’t prep these cookies ahead of time. If you were to make the dough and store it in the fridge until baking, you’re giving the beaten egg whites time to deflate.

Amaretti Cookies

1 review

Prep Time10 min

Cook Time20 min

Yield22 cookies

Ingredients

  • 3 large egg whites
  • 2-1/4 cups almond flour
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
Text Ingredients

Directions

  1. Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, whisk almond flour, sugar and salt. Beat egg whites on medium speed until foamy. Beat on high until soft peaks form. Beat in extracts. Fold into flour mixture until just moistened. (Dough will be grainy and sticky.) Scoop level tablespoons of dough and drop into confectioners' sugar; roll into a ball. Repeat with remaining dough. Place balls 1 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets.
  3. Bake until lightly browned and tops crack, 20-25 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Nutrition Facts

1 cookie: 98 calories, 4g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 34mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.

Author

Lauren Pahmeier

Lauren Pahmeier is Minneapolis-based journalist who loves writing about anything and everything food. Her work has appeared in local publications like Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, Eater Twin Cities, the Pioneer Press, and more.

Amaretti Cookies (8)

These amaretti cookies are slightly crispy on the outside with a soft and chewy center. The classic Italian cookies are mildly sweet with a pleasant almond flavor. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Amaretti Cookies (2024)

FAQs

What are amaretti made of? ›

Amaretti are delicious little bites of heaven. They're crunchy on the outside, with a soft and chewy centre. And they're made with just a few simple ingredients – almonds, sugar, egg white and vanilla extract. They also have a gorgeous aroma that fills your kitchen as they bake in the oven.

What's the difference between amaretto and amaretti? ›

Amaretto is a sweet, almond-flavoured liqueur commonly used in co*cktails or in baking and desserts. Its flavour is derived from either almond pits, apricot pits, or both. On the other hand, Amaretti are traditional Italian almond cookies, made from almond flour, apricots kernels, sugar, and egg whites.

How do Italians eat amaretti? ›

Amaretti cookies were traditionally served with sweet dessert wine, like Vin Santo, but now they are beloved in all kinds of applications: on gelato, dipped in espresso, crumbled on desserts, and even used in crusts for cheesecakes and beyond.

Is amaretti the same as biscotti? ›

What Are Cantuccini and Amaretti Biscuits. Cantucci biscuits are also known as Biscotti. They are a dry crunchy almond biscuit from Tuscany that are made without any butter or oil. Amaretti biscuits are almond flavoured macaroons style biscuits that can be soft, chewy or crunchy depending on the recipe.

What is equivalent to amaretti biscuits? ›

If you don't like amaretti you could use crushed biscotti or crushed ginger biscuits or roasted chopped nuts.

Is amaretto just almond? ›

This liqueur has a sweet, nutty flavor that's often used to tame the bite of many spirits. Despite its almond flavor, it doesn't always contain almonds — it's made from either apricot pits or almonds or both. Amaretto is Italian for "little bitter" as amaretto has a sweetened flavor with slightly bitter notes.

Is amaretto very alcoholic? ›

It generally contains 21 to 28 percent alcohol by volume.

What does amaretti mean in Italian? ›

Origin of amaretti1. C20: from Italian amaro bitter.

Are amaretti the same as macaroons? ›

The often colourful sandwich, filled with a ganache is the French Macaroon or Macaron. Italian macaroons - also known as Amaretti, share the same base ingredients of ground blanched almonds, egg whites & sugar - but the biggest difference is the texture.

Why is amaretti so sweet? ›

History of Amaretti

Given how beautifully sweet the cookies are, the full name, which translates to “l*ttle bitter things,” seems ironic now. Amaretti are strongly flavored with a hint of bitter almonds or apricot kernels alongside egg whites and sugar.

What does amaretti taste like? ›

To Taste: Totally almond on the palate and tangy with spice to keep the nutty and candied vanilla flavors to a delicious medium-sweet. Sugar levels are beautifully balanced by the slight bitterness that almonds naturally have.

Is amaretti almond or apricot? ›

These delectable Italian cookies are traditionally made with bitter almonds otherwise identified as apricot kernels. They impart a slightly bitter flavor which is where the “Amaro” or “bitter” comes from in the name!

What do Italians call American biscotti? ›

Italians use the word biscotti when referring to products that Americans call cookies. The word cantucci is used by Italians when referring to the product Americans call biscotti.

Why did my Amaretti cookies flatten? ›

On the flip side, if the egg whites are overbeaten or stirred too much when incorporated into the rest of the amaretti cookie dough, they'll collapse, also resulting in a flat cookie. The egg whites are also why you shouldn't prep these cookies ahead of time.

Are lady fingers shortbread? ›

Ladyfingers and shortbread have a few things in common but overall are very different confections. They are both made using a handful of simple ingredients and are both delicate in flavor. But that's pretty much where it ends.

What ingredient is amaretto made of? ›

Depending on the brand, it may be made from apricot kernels, bitter almonds, peach stones, or almonds, all of which are natural sources of the benzaldehyde that provides the almond-like flavour of the liqueur. It generally contains 21 to 28 percent alcohol by volume.

Is amaretto made with real nuts? ›

Amaretto is a fragrant almond flavoured liqueur. Traditionally, the almond flavour and slight bitterness come from oil extracted from bitter apricot kernels. However, sufferers of nut allergies should be aware that some amarettos are now made using almonds.

Do amaretti contain gluten? ›

Known in Italy as Amaretti morbidi (morbidi meaning 'soft'), they are heavenly rapture for almond lovers. But they are also naturally dairy and gluten free… Made with little more than ground almonds, egg white and sugar. Even better, Amaretti are incredibly simple to make…

What's the difference between amaretti and macarons? ›

The French macaron is pillowy and slightly crunchy, whereas the Italian Macaroon Amaretti, when made true to tradition contain a lot more almond flour, about 50% per macaroon, making it a deliciously dense and chewy treat with the added benefits of more nutrients and protein because of the high almond content.

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