• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
She Loves Biscotti
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • My Store
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Maria
  • My Store
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Italian Cookies » Soft Amaretti Cookies: Tested until Perfect!

    Soft Amaretti Cookies: Tested until Perfect!

    November 21, 2017 , Updated June 19, 2020 Maria 313 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    Soft amaretti cookies on silver tray.

    Soft Amaretti Cookies are a moist & chewy classic Italian cookie. This recipe has been tested until perfect making it the best ever gluten free recipe for amaretti morbidi. You are going to love them! 

    A large tray of amaretti cookies.

    Soft Amaretti Cookies

    Soft Amaretti Cookies

    Amaretti (plural) are almond flavored Italian macaroons that can have a texture ranging from soft and chewy to crispy. Amaretti can be found throughout Italy with each region claiming to have “the best” version of this cookie.

    Without a doubt, the most famous commercially sold Amaretti are made by the Lazzaroni family in the city of Saronno located in the Northern area of Lombardy: Amaretti di Saronno. They are beautifully wrapped amaretti that come packaged in an easily recognizable red tin can. The Lazzaroni family have been making these Italian almond cookies since 1719.

    Gift packaged amaretti cookies.

    Amaretti morbidi are, without a doubt, perfect for your holiday cookie platter. They also make great hostess gifts. There are endless variations that can be found for Italian Amaretti Cookies, but today I’d like to share my tested until perfect recipe.

    If you speak a bit of Italian, you will have probably guessed that the word amaretti is derived from the word amaro, which means bitter. And so in order to get the true authentic taste of an amaretti, you must use bitter almonds. They aren’t readily available in North America, so I replaced them with bitter almond extract.

    This Italian almond cookie recipe also calls for almond flour (if you recall, we also used almond flour in this other version of amaretti Cookies). The finely ground almond flour will provide a smooth texture that will taste like marzipan.

    If you prefer a coarser texture, you can use blanched almonds, and grind your own. This will provide you with amaretti biscuits that still have that same great flavor, but with a less refined texture.

    The pretty cracks on the surface of the Soft Amaretti Cookies.

    That perfect smooth texture and those pretty cracks on the surface of these chewy amaretti cookies depend on incorporating exactly the right amount of egg whites into the ground almond mixture.

    That’s the challenge!

    Come and take a look at how to make this amaretti cookie recipe… it’s a lot easier than you think!

    Different steps are shown on the preparation of the amaretti mixture.

    How to make soft amaretti cookies

    I have divided the process of making amaretti cookies as follows:

    The dry ingredients:  The dry ingredients consist of almond flour, sugar and lemon zest. It’s important to whisk the almond flour and the sugar really, really well together.  We also need to add the finely grated lemon zest. Once everything is whisked together, set it aside while we whisk the egg whites.

    The wet ingredients: The wet ingredients consist of 3 egg whites and bitter almond extract. With a whisk, beat the egg whites to the soft peak stage (ie: when the whites begin to curl). I then add the bitter almond extract, and whisk for another minute or so.

    The combination: Gently incorporate the egg white mixture with the dry ingredients. In just a few minutes, the almond flour will absorb the egg whites and you will obtain a nice sticky mixture.

    Rolling the soft amaretti cookies in sugar.

    The rolling of amaretti: Begin by portioning the amaretti dough. I like to use a small ice cream scooper, that way, all of the amaretti biscuits will be the same size. I will then dampen my hands and press my palms into a plate of sugar (I picked up this trick from one of my favorite blogs, Jovina Cooks. Thanks Jovina 🙂 )

    I like to roll them a little bit more in the sugar and then onto the baking sheet and into the oven.

    That’s it! Simple right?

    The only thing left to do is get the coffee ready because in just 25 minutes, you will not believe what will come out of your oven! The most delicious amaretto cookies!

    A full tray of amaretti cookies.

    Recipe origins

    Over thirty years ago, I had the privilege of visiting Sardinia. Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean sea, and is geographically located to the west of Italy. I can still remember the landscapes and the turquoise waters- breathtaking and beautiful beyond words.

    One of the best souvenirs I have from Sardinia was a conversation I had with a local merchant – she actually shared her Amaretti recipe with me! Even back then, I was curious about cookies and I guess she picked up on that. As was mentioned, the original recipe calls for bitter almonds, which I replaced with bitter almond extract, except for one year…

    A few years ago, Vittoria (the same wonderful person that shared her Limoncello recipe with me) brought me a bag of processed bitter almonds from Italy. I used them in this amaretti recipe and the taste was incredible! For the record, you need to add about one ounce of these ground almonds. So, if ever you are in Italy, you can look for processed bitter almonds. Don’t forget to declare them at customs!

    a close up of an amaretti cookie.

    Hope you get a chance to try this recipe… would love to hear how they turned out for you.

    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 these Amaretti Cookies, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

    A tray with Soft Amaretti Cookies

    Soft Amaretti Cookies

    There are infinite variations of this classic Italian cookie. I'd like to share this simple, gluten free recipe for Soft Amaretti Cookies with all of you.
    4.95 from 92 votes
    Print Save RecipeSaved! Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 36 servings
    Calories: 62kcal
    Author: Maria Vannelli RD
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 250 grams almond flour scant 2 1/2 cups
    • 200 grams sugar approx 1 cup
    • lemon zest of one medium lemon
    • 3 egg whites
    • 1 teaspoon bitter almond extract
    • extra granulated sugar for rolling sprinkle 1/3 cup in a large dinner plate, set aside

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 325° F. Position rack in the center.
    • Line large baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • In a large bowl, whisk almond flour and sugar together.
    • Add grated lemon zest and whisk a few more times. Set aside.
    • In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites to a soft peak stage. 
    • Whisk in the bitter almond extract.
    • Gently incorporate the egg whites to the dry ingredients. Once the dough is completely moist, you are done.
    • Use the smallest ice cream scooper to portion the dough (about 1 tablespoon). 
    • With slightly damp hands, press your palms into the plate of sugar.
    • Roll each ball of dough with your sugar coated palms and then again in the sugar found on the plate. 
    • Place on the paper lined baking sheet.
    • Bake for about 25 minutes or until bottoms are golden brown in color.
    • Cool before storing at room temperature in airtight containers. Will keep for 3-4 days.
    Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon't miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

    Video

    Notes

    • Some recipes will recommend using superfine sugar.  I use granulated sugar and am very happy with the results.
    • Any almond extract that lists oil of bitter almond as an ingredient can be used.
    1 serving= 1 cookie
    Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 62kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 4mg | Sugar: 5g | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.3mg
    SIGN UP for Email updates!YES! Send me FREE RECIPES!

    This post was originally published on December 13, 2014 and republished on November 21, 2017 with updated content, photos and a video. Thanks for watching and sharing.

     

     

    A beautiful tray of amaretti cookies.

     

     

     
     

    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    • Reddit
    • Email

    Filed Under: Christmas, Cookies, Italian Cookies

    About Maria

    Maria Vannelli is a registered dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Vito

      December 02, 2021 at 6:22 am

      5 stars
      Unbelievable! These are totally amazing! Thank you Maria

      Reply
      • Maria

        December 02, 2021 at 9:26 am

        So thrilled to read this Vito! My pleasure!

        Reply
    2. Chantal Pariseau

      November 30, 2021 at 10:13 am

      Bonjour !
      May these cookies be Frozen ?

      Reply
      • Maria

        December 01, 2021 at 5:25 pm

        Allo Chantal! Oh yes! I freeze them all the time with great results. Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Debbie

      October 25, 2021 at 1:39 pm

      5 stars
      Can these cookies be frozen?

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 25, 2021 at 3:41 pm

        Thanks for your interest Debbie. Yes, they freeze wonderfully! Enjoy!

        Reply
    4. Foofit

      October 23, 2021 at 9:21 pm

      5 stars
      These are AMAZING! They’re slightly crisp on the outside and delightfully chewy on the inside. I’ve made them multiple times, and they are a stunning addition to any holiday cookie platter. Tip: do NOT overbake. If they bake too long, they lose that delightful texture that makes them so over the top amazing. They still taste good, but the texture of this cookie is EVERYTHING. If you aren’t blown away by these, I bet that’s the problem. Try them again, and bake for a few minutes less. Also, once baked, these freeze beautifully. They’re delicious directly out of the freezer or after coming to room temperature. Bake these! You won’t regret it!!

      Reply
      • Maria

        February 19, 2022 at 4:56 pm

        So thrilled to read this thoughtful comment! Thank you foofit!

        Reply
    5. Amber Fantini

      October 14, 2021 at 12:21 pm

      5 stars
      These are PERFRCT!! I never took the time to weigh ingredients before (usually just convert to cups) but I think the reason they’re consistently amazing (besides the fact that the recipe is SPOT ON) is because the ingredients are weighed. My Italian husband’s picky family all approve!!

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 17, 2021 at 9:11 am

        How wonderful Amber. Weighing the ingredients really does make a difference. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, appreciate it.

        Reply
    6. Bree

      October 05, 2021 at 1:37 pm

      5 stars
      Divine!! I’ve searched high and low and found this to be the most I incredible recipe! I add a touch of limoncello for additional aroma and substitute dark brown sugar for an extra chewy option. 🥰

      Thank you for sharing your recipe with us!

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 05, 2021 at 3:07 pm

        How wonderful Bree! Thanks so much for sharing! I love your substitutions!

        Reply
    7. Sydnie Chatman

      September 26, 2021 at 10:50 am

      Turned out absolutely perfect!

      Reply
      • Maria

        September 27, 2021 at 11:31 am

        How wonderful Sydnie! Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    8. Joyce

      August 30, 2021 at 11:58 am

      5 stars
      I have done these many times and they are delicious but mine spread out a bit more than yours . I wonder why? Won’t stop me baking them though . Beautiful, loved by all the family . Thank you so much

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 05, 2021 at 3:12 pm

        Thanks for reaching out Joyce. I would try removing 1 tablespoon of the egg whites and compare the results. My guess is that there maybe just a little too much moisture.
        The only other thing I can think of is the oven temperature. Have you ever validated the temperature of the oven with an oven thermometer… sometimes oven temperatures can fluctuate. Thanks again for taking the time to share.

        Reply
    9. Amanda

      August 28, 2021 at 1:14 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve tried many recipes , and this one is the best !

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 29, 2021 at 8:46 pm

        Thanks so much Amanda. They really are so very good!

        Reply
    10. Mark

      August 20, 2021 at 2:48 am

      5 stars
      Awesome cookies. I didn’t have a lemon so used mandarin rind and they’re delicious. Your almond biscotti is my go to recipe too. Thanks so much. These are so easy to make and are delicious.

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 20, 2021 at 9:38 pm

        I am so thrilled to read this Mark! Great variation. Thanks so much for taking the time to share, appreciate it!

        Reply
    « Older Comments
    Newer Comments »

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Maria from She loves biscotti

    Hi, I'm Maria! a dietitian and full-time content creator. Join me as I share traditional Italian recipes from my youth to modern twists on classics using fresh and seasonal ingredients.

    More about me →

    Subscribe and Follow

    Easy Rhubarb Recipes

    • Easy Rhubarb Coffee Cake Recipe with Buttermilk
    • Rhubarb Muffins with Buttermilk
    • How to Freeze Rhubarb – Step by Step Guide
    Banner of sites featuring She Loves Biscotti including Buzzfeed, Huffpost, etc.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About
    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 She Loves Biscotti

    Copyright © 2022

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Read moreOkNo