Amaretti Cookies Recipe (2024)

Amaretti Cookies are tiny almond cookies made with egg whites, almond flour, and sugar. The cookies can range from crispy like biscotti to an almost chewy texture while having the most amazing almond flavor and aroma. These Italian cookies are also gluten and dairy-free.

Amaretti Cookies Recipe (1)

Why you should make these Italian Cookies

If you love all things marzipan, almond paste, or almond you’re going to love these! The almond extract adds so much aroma and makes these Amaretti cookies irresistible.

They’re also very easy and fun to make. To make the Italian cookies youwhip the egg whites with sugar, then add the almond flour, flavoring. Divide and roll into balls, then dredge in sugar. Bake, and you’re ready to enjoy!

A good cup of coffee and a nugget of

Best Almond Flour for Amaretti Cookies

Almond flour is the main ingredient in these cookies. You can purchase almond flour or make it from whole or sliced almonds at home.

Purchased: Any finely ground almond flour will work best for this cookie recipe. Bob’s Red Mill and Kirkland (Costco) brand almond flour work very well as far as purchased options go.

Homemade: You can also make your own almond flour by processing the almonds, or better yet, sliced almonds in the food processor or Vitamix blender by pulsing them at the highest speeds. Do not process for too long, or you will get almond butter. I have worked with 1/2 a cup at a time with my Vitamix blender, producing pretty fine almond flour. After processing it, sift it through a sieve to remove larger pieces of almonds.

If you do not have a Vitamix blender or food processor, this little hand mill grater produces excellent results; it just might take longer.

Also, almonds with skin on and off are both acceptable.

Amaretti Cookies Recipe (2)

The texture of the Amaretti Cookie, where the egg whites are added straight out of the shell and mixed with the almond flour. Its just a dense, almondy texture full of almond aroma.

Two Ways to Make Amaretti Cookies

The cookies can range from crispy to chewy in texture. Even though both are made precisely with the same ingredients, whipping or adding the egg as is and baking time will determine the texture.

Here’s how the two different textures are achieved:

  • How to make Chewy Amaretti Cookies:

    Whipping the egg whites before adding them to the almond flour will add chew to this gluten-free cookie. Adding the egg whites as is will produce a more dense texture without the chew.

  • How to make Crispy Amaretti Cookie:

    Prolonged baking time will increase the crispiness of the Amaretti cookies; if baked long enough, the cookies will become biscotti-like.

The step-by-step pictures will show the whipped egg whites method (alas, the chewy textured amaretti cookies), but the printed version will have both. You can decide for yourself which one you like better.

Ingredients for the Amaretti Cookie

  • Egg whites
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Almond Flour
  • Almond Extract
  • Amaretto Liqueur

How to make Amaretti Cookies

  • In a grease-free bowl of a stand mixer, whip the egg whites and sugar for about 10 minutes or until the meringue has quadrupled in volume and has a lustrous sheen. Then, add the vanilla & almond extract and fold gently. Next, add the almond meal/flour and fold until no chunks of almond flour are seen.

Amaretti Cookies Recipe (3)

How to Form the Almond Cookies

It is up to you if you want to roll the Amaretti Cookies into balls, or just scoop with an ice cream scoop and call it a day. Either way, they will bake and taste the same.

  • Scoop up the Amaretti Cookie mixture using a 2-tbsp ice cream scoop and roll it into a ball. Then, roll it in granulated sugar first and powdered sugar second – the powdered sugar coating is optional but does accentuate the crackles as the cookies bake.

Amaretti Cookies Recipe (4)

  • Place the coated cookie balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and lightly tap the tops to flatten them. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes if you want the cookies to be soft on the inside and up to 25 minutes if you prefer the cookie’s biscotti-like texture.

Amaretti Cookies Recipe (5)

Cookies on the left have been scooped, then rolled between the palms into a ball and dipped into granulated AND powdered sugar. Cookies on the right were scooped and released into the granulated sugar, then lightly rolled in it and baked.

  • Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. The cookies can be eaten warm or cold.

Amaretti Cookies Recipe (6)

How to Store the Amaretti Cookies

Store the cookies at room temperature in a covered container or under a dome for 4-5 days. The less crispy the cookies start, the longer they retain their freshness.

How to make Low Carb Amaretti Cookies

Substitution for Sugar: Replace the amount of sugar listed in the recipe with about five tablespoons of Truvia or another granulated sweetener. The cookies will taste a bit different, but if you have any experience baking with sweeteners, you already know that 😉

More Gluten-Free Recipes

  • Basic Macaron Recipe – Italian Meringue Method
  • Boccone Dolce – Meringue Cake with Chantilly Cream and Berries
  • Hazelnut Meringue Bombs – Nutty Meringue with Dulce de Leche Cream

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Amaretti Cookies Recipe

Amaretti Cookies Recipe (7)

4.95 from 36 votes

Amaretti Cookies are small gluten and dairy-free cookies made with egg whites, almond flour, and sugar. The cookies can range from crispy like biscotti, to an almost chewy texture and have the most amazing almond flavor and aroma. They're amazing with a cup of good strong coffee.

Author: Marina | Let the Baking Begin

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: almond cookies, amaretti cookies, italian cookies

Calories: 147 kcal

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Servings: 28

Ingredients

Amaretti Cookie Ingredients

For Coating the Almond Cookies

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Prep

  1. Line a 12 in x 16 in baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

    Preheat the oven to 325F with the baking rack in the middle.

How to make the Chewy Amaretti Cookies

  1. Whip egg whites and granulated sugar in a bowl of a mixer fitted with a whip attachment for about 15 minutes.

  2. Add the vanilla extract, almond extract, and Amaretto liqueur and carefully fold it in.Next, add the almond flour and fold it in until completely incorporated.

  3. Using a spoon or a medium ice cream scoop, scoopabout 2 tbsp of almond batter and form balls out of the dough by rolling them between the palms of your hands. Then, roll them in granulated sugar and powdered sugar and set on the prepared baking sheet about 1 inch apart.

  4. Place in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes if you like the Amaretti cookies soft on the inside, or up to 25 minutes if you prefer the biscotti-like texture.

How to make Soft Italian Cookies

  1. Add the egg whites to the sugar and whisk until well combined. Add the amaretto, vanilla extract, the almond extract andwhisk until smooth. Next, fold in the almond flour.

  2. Now continue with the instructionsfrom step 3 from the section above.

Nutrition Facts

Amaretti Cookies Recipe

Amount Per Serving (1 cookie)

Calories 147Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Sodium 5mg0%

Potassium 5mg0%

Carbohydrates 15g5%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 11g12%

Protein 4g8%

Calcium 38mg4%

Iron 0.7mg4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Amaretti Cookies Recipe (8)

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Amaretti Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a substitute for amaretti cookies? ›

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

Why are my amaretti cookies flat? ›

Why are my Amaretti biscuits flat? To start with, make sure your egg whites are at room temperature. Flat amaretti cookies could be due to deflated egg whites. Lack of whipping will prevent the egg whites from forming firm peaks, which is necessary for the cookies to puff up while baking.

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.

What are amaretti cookies made of? ›

Amaretti Cookies
  • 2 1/2 cups almond flour -or- 3 cups blanched slivered almonds, finely ground up.
  • 1 1/4 cups baker's sugar (superfine sugar)
  • 3 egg whites.
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract.
  • Extra sugar for dusting.

What is the closest flavor to amaretto? ›

You can use almond extract to replace almond liqueur or amaretto liqueur in a recipe. OliveNation Almond Extract's flavor is more concentrated than amaretto or almond liqueur. Our recommended substitution ratio is 4 to 8 times liqueur to extract.

What is the difference between biscotti and amaretti? ›

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.

How can I make my cookies fluffier instead of flat? ›

Butter keeps cookies fluffy in two ways. First, creaming cold butter with sugar creates tiny, uniform air pockets that will remain in the dough it bakes up. Second, cold butter naturally takes a longer time to melt 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.

What makes cookies fluffy vs flat? ›

The Problem: The Butter Is Too Soft

You should be able to indent it with a finger and your fingerprint should look like a clean divot. Room temperature butter is just the right consistency to incorporate air when it's creamed with sugar. These trapped air pockets result in risen, fluffy cookies.

What do Italians drink while eating? ›

For breakfast, they mostly drink coffee, tea and juices. Meanwhile, lunch and dinner are often accompanied by white or red wines. If you're searching for something different to drink with your meal, try an Italian spritz—an alcoholic co*cktail made with Campari, Prosecco and soda.

What is the difference between amaretti and Ricciarelli cookies? ›

Ricciarelli are almond-flavored macaroon-like cookies originating in the city of Siena. They are soft and chewy with a sugar-dusted exterior. Amaretti, on the other hand, are crunchy, chewy cookies made with almonds and egg whites. They are even sometimes flavored with a hint of Amaretto liqueur or almond extract.

What's the difference between amaretti and macaroons? ›

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.

What does egg white do to cookies? ›

Egg whites entrap more air while contributing more water, encouraging steam and gluten formation: perfect conditions for lean cookies that are thick and puffy. Cakey. Yolks cut the water and throw in fat, hindering both gluten development and aeration, producing cookies that are dense, tender, and rich.

What does amaretto mean in Italian? ›

The name amaretto is derived from the Italian word "amaro." It means "bitter" and is used to describe bitter aperitifs and digestifs like Amaro Averna. The suffix "etto" adds "little" to the definition, so "amaretto" is often interpreted as "little bitter."

Are ratafia biscuits the same as amaretti biscuits? ›

Light biscuits made with almond essence, very similar to the Italian amaretti biscuit but usually smaller and a little darker in colour. They can be used in trifles, crumbled into puddings or served after dinner with coffee.

What can I use instead of almond in cookies? ›

Substitutes for Almonds

Almonds are often used to add crunch and texture as well as flavor. The best stand-ins for almonds that are nuts are hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, and unsalted pistachios. It's best to substitute those with the same sort of texture (such as sliced for sliced, chopped for chopped).

What can I use instead of amaretto in a cake? ›

If you prefer a non-alcoholic version, you can use almond extract instead. For the cake, use 1/4 – 1/2 tsp almond extract (at most) and increase the milk to 1 cup. For the syrup, use 1 tsp of almond extract instead of Amaretto. Almond extract is strong and it's easy to overdo it.

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