Amaretti Cookies
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These soft Italian Amaretti Cookies are melt in your mouth delicious. Nutty almond flour comes together with eggs, sugar, vanilla, and almond extract to produce a decadent sandy cookie full of flavor. Rolled in powder sugar and topped with sliced almonds, you can’t go wrong!
The soft almond cookies make a perfect homemade holiday gift or addition to Christmas cookie trays. For another Italian Christmas cookie recipe, give our Italian Anise Cookies a try.
I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon than by cozying up on the couch with a cup of hot tea or coffee with these delicious soft Italian almond amaretti cookies by my side. They are sweet and soft, and you will want to savor every bite!
An added bonus – they’re naturally gluten-free.
That’s right, these Italian amaretti cookies are gluten-free, made with almond flour and the perfect balance of sugar, for a soft and crumbly, cookie that you won’t want to put down!
My almond amaretti cookies recipe is easy to follow – the hardest part is waiting on them to bake so that you can enjoy them!
Why You’ll Love This Soft Italian Almond Amaretti Cookies Recipe
- They make a great gift! These amaretti cookies can be stored in an air-tight container for up to five days. Just wrap them up, tie them with a bow, and gift away!
- They are naturally gluten free! This is a big plus for anyone who may have dietary restrictions. Plus, you’ll have everyone who tries them asking for your recipe!
- These amaretti cookies will make your taste buds think that you’re in the middle of Italy at a quaint (and delicious) street corner bakery.
- They look beautiful on a festive platter. These amaretti biscuits (as they are called over in Europe) make a great centerpiece for a dessert table.
- These soft Italian cookies are a very versatile treat. They can be enjoyed as an after-meal dessert, an afternoon snack, or paired with a cup of tea or coffee.
Ingredients For Your Amaretti Cookies
This section includes ingredient notes and substitution options. Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
- almond flour – gives the cookies a smooth texture and marzipan-like taste
- sugar – while superfine or caster sugar would be ideal, regular granulated sugar will work as well
- salt
- egg whites – egg whites of two large, or 3 medium room-temperature eggs
- almond extract – If you would like a stronger almond flavor, up the almond extract to 1 teaspoon.
- vanilla extract
- confectioner’s sugar – for rolling
- flaked almonds – optional, for topping the cookies. Chopped almonds would work as well.
Baking Supplies
How to Make Soft, Crumbly Italian Almond Amaretti Cookies
This section shows you how to make the recipe with step-by-step photos and instructions. For the full printable recipe, see the recipe card below.
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine almond flour, sugar, and salt. Set aside.
Step 2: In a second bowl, beat the eggs whites until soft peaks form. Then, mix in the almond and vanilla extracts.
Step 3: Gently stir the egg whites into the dry mix to form the cookie dough.
Step 4: Add confectioners sugar to a shallow bowl. Coat your hands in some confectioners sugar and roll 1 tablespoon of dough into balls. Roll the cookie balls in the confectioners sugar then place on a lined baking sheet, 1 inch apart. Top with flaked almonds if desired, pressing them slightly into the dough balls.
Step 5: Bake as directed in the recipe card below. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool fully.
Storing Your Amaretti Cookies
These Soft Italian Almond Amaretti Cookies keep well in an airtight container for up to 5 days. They can be stored at room temperature. These cookies do not freeze well, but they are so delicious that you won’t have leftovers for long enough to even think about it!
Tips For Making The Perfect Amaretti Cookies At Home
- If you would like your soft amaretti cookies to have a cracked effect and they don’t seem to be doing it on their own before baking, try squeezing gently on each corner until cracks begin to form.
- If you decide to top your Italian amaretti cookies with almonds, be sure to push them in a little before baking so that they do not fall off.
- If you want to go 100% authentic buy whole almonds and grind them in a food processor until they are a sandy texture. This will also give your cookie more of that sandy, disintegrate in your mouth feel.
What To Serve/Pair With Your Soft Amaretti Cookies Recipe
- These almond cookies pair perfectly with a cup of hot tea or coffee. Try dipping them in – you won’t regret it!
- Craving chocolate? Dip these amaretti cookies in a warm chocolate sauce.
- Do you want to feel like you’re really in Italy? Pair these gluten free cookies with a chilled glass of Limoncello.
Italian Amaretti Cookies FAQs
Amaretti cookies are Italian, naturally gluten-free cookies that are usually made with amaretto, which is an almond liqueur. Some people choose to make them the traditional way, but I find that they taste much better with the almond extract (and it is more easily accessible).
Yes. While I think that this recipe provides the perfect texture for these cookies, some people do prefer them crunchy. If that is your taste, keep them in the oven for a couple of extra minutes, but make sure that you check them frequently so that they don’t get too crunchy.
Yes. This recipe is actually fairly simple to make keto friendly – just switch out the sugar for a low carb sugar substitute.
Technically, no. For this amaretti cookie recipe to be authentic, you will need to use almond flour. BUT, if you have people in your household that have almond allergies, you can make a variation of this recipe with another nut like walnuts or pecans. While you can’t truly call them amaretti cookies, they will still have the same mouth feel and texture.
Don’t forget to come back and tell me how your Soft Italian Almond Amaretti Cookies turned out!
More delicious cookie recipes
- Gingerbread Men Cookies
- Sugar Cookie Bars
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Classic Cut Out Sugar Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
- Soft Frosted Christmas Cookies
Amaretti Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups almond flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar or superfine / caster sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 large egg whites room temperature
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar for rolling
- flaked almonds optional topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 330°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine almond flour, sugar, and salt. Set aside.
- In a second bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment to beat the eggs whites until soft peaks form. Then, mix in the almond and vanilla extracts until well combined.
- Gently stir the egg whites into the dry mix to form the cookie dough.
- Add confectioners sugar to a shallow bowl. Coat your hands in some confectioners sugar and roll 1 tablespoon of dough into balls. Roll the cookie balls in the confectioners sugar then place on a lined baking sheet, 1 inch apart. Top with flaked almonds if desired, pressing them slightly into the dough balls.
- Bake for 20-22 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool fully.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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These are too delicious and to easy to make! lol Absolutely scrumptious gluten free cookies!
This is my new favorite cookie recipe! I’ll definitely be adding some of these to my cookie tray this year at Christmas.
It says2eggs but the picture shows 3 which is it
The written recipe is correct, 2 egg whites.