Amaretti are delicious cookies from the Italian tradition, with a soft and fragrant heart, perfect to enjoy at any time of the day. Made with a few simple ingredients — almonds, sugar, and egg whites — they capture the taste of homemade pastries from the past. Their slightly crunchy exterior and soft interior make them irresistible at the first bite! Widely popular in many regions, there are many variations: today we offer you the classic version, easy and quick, ideal to prepare at the last minute to accompany a coffee with friends or to gift in a beautiful handmade box.
Follow our step-by-step recipe and prepare these fragrant and timeless sweets with us!
Here are more recipes with almonds:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 12
- Cooking methods: Oven, Electric oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 2.5 cups almond (unpeeled)
- 1.25 cups granulated sugar
- 1.75 oz egg white (pasteurized)
- 0.35 oz bitter almond (or essence drops 3)
- 4 cups powdered sugar (for dusting)
Tools
- 1 Food processor
- 1 Baking tray
- 1 Parchment paper
Steps
1. Prepare the almonds
Place the unpeeled almonds in a food processor and finely grind them with the sugar, being careful not to overheat them to avoid releasing oil. You should obtain a fine flour.
2. Lightly whip the egg whites
In a clean bowl, whisk the egg whites (with an electric whisk or by hand) until they become white and frothy, but not fully stiff.
3. Combine the ingredients
Add the drops of bitter almond extract.
Gradually add the whipped egg whites and mix with a spatula until you get a homogeneous, soft, and slightly sticky dough.
4. Shape the amaretti
With slightly wet hands or with the help of two teaspoons, take small portions of dough and form balls about the size of a walnut.
Gently roll them in the powdered sugar, then place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, well spaced apart.
5. Let them rest
Let the amaretti rest in the air for about 1 hour, so that a thin crust forms on the surface. This step is important to achieve the crispy outside and soft inside contrast.
6. Bake in the oven
Bake in a static oven preheated to 320°F for about 18-20 minutes, until they are slightly golden but still soft to the touch. They should not dry out too much.
7. Let them cool
Remove the amaretti from the oven and let them cool completely on a rack. They will firm up slightly while maintaining a moist and fragrant interior.
You can use bitter almonds (up to 10% of the total) for a more intense flavor, but be careful: in large quantities they are toxic, so rely only on safe sources.
They keep perfectly in a tin box for 5-6 days, maintaining their fragrance.
They are also excellent with the addition of a pinch of cinnamon or grated lemon zest.
