Your Italian cookie tray is now complete with this recipe for gluten free Italian Almond Cookies. Get ready to taste the perfect amaretti recipe.
Italian Almond Cookies
It’s a quest.
That’s what it is.
The quest for the best amaretti cookies to complete your Italian cookie tray!
This recipe for these Italian almond cookies requires no introduction.
They are easily recognizable. Everyone knows them. Everyone loves them. And just about everyone is looking for that perfect amaretti recipe.
There are truly infinite variations for amaretti. As you probably know, you can find them throughout Italy, with each region claiming to have “the best” recipe.
Today, I will share a classic version of this chewy amaretti, as well as my experience making this big batch recipe. This classic recipe, by the way, has quickly moved into my top three amaretti recipes. Another one of my top three is this recipe for Soft Amaretti (previously shared with all of you).
FULL DISCLOSURE: Unfortunately, I did not have beginner’s luck with this recipe. Heck, it wasn’t until trial run number four that I was beginning to get the results I was looking for. The only reason I didn’t give up was that I knew how delicious they actually tasted!
So, I will share my experience in the hopes that you will have beginner’s luck the first time you try this recipe.
If at first you don’t succeed…
We all know that we need almonds, ground almonds to make amaretti. So, my quest began with whole almonds and my food processor.
That was my first mistake.
Allow me to clarify. I thought that either almond meal or almond flour would work well in this recipe. I found out the hard way that this was not so. Let’s take a closer look at these two ingredients:
Almond Meal:
- coarsely ground almonds
- may or may not have the almond skin on
Almond Flour:
- finely ground almonds
- the almond skin is removed -achieved by Blanching Almonds
The texture in these amaretti is such that the almonds need to be finely ground. By using coarsely ground almonds in this recipe, the refined consistency I was looking for was not achieved. Other issues of using almond meal will also be revealed…
Nevertheless, I baked the cookies (remember, this is a big batch so we are looking at over 10 dozen cookies). The less obsessed amaretti fans (according to my standards 😉 ) thought these were the best amaretti cookies ever. But my quest had just begun…
The other difficulty I had with this dough was that the coarsely ground almonds would not easily come out of my pastry tip #11. Did I mention that these cookies need to be piped? After about a half-dozen failed attempts, I gave up and switched over to my faithful scooper.
Update: I have had a few inquiries about the tip I used. Here it is. I have had this thing for ages… honestly cannot remember where I picked this up.
Another issue I experienced was that my plastic pastry bag split at the seams… twice. I was putting too much pressure when piping the cookies. Things got a little better when I doubled up on the bag.
How to Make Italian Almond Cookies:
All of these issues were resolved once I tried the recipe with commercially made almond flour. Just in case you are wondering, I tried Sunblest Almond Flour (not sponsored) available at Costco and Bob’s Red Mill Almond Flour (not sponsored). Both products worked great.
The actual recipe comes together in no time. Basically it consists of combining the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients in separate bowls. Then, just add the wet ingredients to the dry and combine together with a wooden spoon.
With the help of a pastry bag, you can then pipe the amaretti (round or long) directly on the baking sheets lined with parchment paper. You can also decorate with an almond or if you prefer Maraschino cherries.
As you can see, I decided to go with the almonds. A sprinkling of granulated sugar, right before they go in the oven is optional. Another option is a dusting of icing sugar before serving them.
This recipe provides you with well over ten dozen cookies sized about 1-1½ inches. That might seem like a lot, but these cookies freeze really well and are convenient to have when friends pop over for coffee.
Just in case you are wondering, the recipe can easily be halved.
Italian cookies we love
- Brutti ma Buoni
- Italian Lemon Knot Cookies
- Almond Biscotti
- Pizzelle
- Roccoco
- Anise Biscotti
- Mostaccioli
- Italian S cookies
Recipe origins
Over the span of my adult life, I have collected well over twenty amaretti recipes. In actual fact, my folder has twenty-two recipes. Yes, I counted them and yes, I have an amaretti folder 🙂
This quest of mine is well supported by friends and family and I am forever grateful to all that continue to share their recipes with me.
I have the privilege of working with so many amazing individuals that absolutely love food. There is a fantastic culture of sharing recipes and I have learned so much from so many of my co-workers. It was Maria, one of my colleagues, that shared this recipe with me.
I am hoping that you will all experience beginner’s luck when attempting this recipe for these Big Batch Soft Chewy Classic Italian Amaretti Cookies!
Your Italian cookie tray is now complete with this classic, naturally gluten-free amaretti.
Do you have a favorite amaretti cookie?
Would love to add it to my collection 😉
THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.
Ciao for now,
Maria
★★★★★ If you have made this amaretti recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!
Italian Almond Cookies
Ingredients
- 5 eggs room temperature
- 1 small bottle almond extract 43 mL
- 1/2 cup Sambuca
- zest of one lemon organic
- 1 kilo almond flour approximately 9 1/3 cups
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 120 almonds
- OPTIONAL: a sprinkling of sugar over the tops before they are baked.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325° F. Position rack in the center.
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs with the almond extract, Sambuca and the lemon zest. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the almond flour with the sugar.
- Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and combine with a large wooden spoon.
- Allow the dough to rest for 10-15 minutes.
- Fill pastry bag with dough.
- Pipe onto parchment paper with pastry tip #11.
- Gently press an almond in the tip of the cookie. Sprinkle tops with granulated sugar (optional).
- Bake for about 22-24 minutes or until bottom is golden brown in color.
- If desired, switch to broil the last minute to get golden tops.
- Repeat with the rest of the dough.
- Cool before storing at room temperature in airtight containers (can also be frozen).
Notes
Nutrition
Felicia
Hello Maria. Have checked out a few of your cookie recipes and they look and sound delicious. Question: have you ever tried using light brown sugar? I’m curious about how that would taste. Planning to make your almond biscotti.
Maria
Thanks so much Felicia! I will alternate between the two… I have not noticed any differences. Thanks for stopping by, appreciate it.
Lynn
Made today, Easter Sunday. Amazing -so delicious and easy to make. A devine rich almond flavor. Made half batch, also used a smaller tip, need to locate the size twelve. I avoid wheat flour so this a true treat. I know my family will enjoy!!
Maria
How wonderful Lynn! I am so happy to hear this. Thanks so much for taking the time to share, truly appreciate it ♥