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

Print

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.

Print

Amaretti Cookies Recipe (8)

Thank you for following me on Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest!

Hashtag your photos #LetTheBakingBeginBlog so I can see your creations and for a chance to be featured!

Amaretti Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why did my amaretti cookies flatten? ›

Why are my amaretti cookies flat? Deflated egg whites = flat amaretti cookies. If you don't beat the egg whites enough, there won't be enough air whipped into them to get soft peaks, which helps the cookies puff up while baking.

What is a substitute for amaretti cookies? ›

Your question about amaretti biscuits is a good one, and frankly I think just about any crumbled cookie would work fine here. Famous Chocolate Wafers would be an especially good choice as would gingersnaps, both of which would be available in the cookie aisle of most grocery stores.

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 are amaretti cookies made of? ›

Amaretti morbidi is what they're known in Italy, morbidi meaning 'soft' in Italian (not morbid, I promise these are anything but). They're naturally gluten-free, made with little more than almond flour, sugar and egg white with a splash of almond extract to amp up the almond flavor.

What is the secret ingredient to keep cookies soft? ›

Light corn syrup is another ingredient that you can add to cookie dough that will help it stay softer longer. The corn syrup you buy at the grocery store is not the high-fructose corn syrup that soft drinks are made with; it's a sugar that is liquid at room temperature and helps other sugars say liquid at high heat.

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

Baking powder or flour in excess will cause cookies to rise more, making them more fluffy and cakey. Increased sugar will make them caramelize more and increased fat will make the dough heavier and richer, all increasing retention of water in the dough- these all add up to chewier cookies.

What is the difference between biscotti and amaretti? ›

Amaretti comes from the word amaro, which means bitter. These biscotti are not bitter, though some recipes do add a small amount of bitter almonds (or essence of bitter almonds), or lemon zest or cinnamon or even a tablespoon of brandy.

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's the difference between amaretti and cantuccini biscuits? ›

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.

What does amaretti mean in Italian? ›

The Italian word "amaro" means "bitter," and as these little biscuits are flavoured with bitter almonds, they were called "amaretti" - literal translation "the little bitter ones."

Are Frangelico and amaretto the same? ›

Frangelico and amaretto are the most popular nut-flavored liqueurs. They're comparable in color and used in similarly styled co*cktails. In drinks, the two can be used as substitutes for one another as you understand the difference in flavors. Amaretto's almond taste is more subtle than Frangelico's hazelnut.

Is Disaronno no longer amaretto? ›

The product was called Amaretto di Saronno (Amaretto from Saronno) until 2001, when it was rebranded as "Disaronno Originale" for marketing reasons. Disaronno can be served neat as a cordial, on the rocks, or as part of a co*cktail mixed with other alcoholic beverages, cola, ginger ale, or fruit juice.

What part of Italy are amaretti cookies from? ›

Liguria, Sicily, Tuscany, Piedmont... numerous regions of Italy claim ownership of amaretti, a delicious cookie that can satisfy the desire for sweets guilt-free, thanks to its delicate taste. To date, there are several regions with specific variations of the traditional recipe.

What is the fat in amaretti cookies? ›

Soft amaretti cookies by SHOPRITE TRADING COMPANY
Nutrition Facts
Total Fat 8g10 %
Saturated Fat 2g10 %
Sodium 15mg1 %
Total Carbohydrate 14g5 %
25 more rows

What is the best amaretti in Italy? ›

MOST ICONIC Amaretti di Saronno
  • D.Lazzaroni & C. Antica Pasteria. Lainate, Italy.
  • Chiostro di Saronno Paolo Lazzaroni & Figli. Saronno, Italy.

Why did my cookies come out completely flat? ›

If your cookies consistently come out flat, you may have selected the wrong baking temperature. If you bake cookies using too much heat, the fats in the dough begin to melt before the other ingredients can cook together and form your cookie's rise.

Why did my cookies come out flat? ›

The Problem: Your Oven Is Too Hot

If your cookies repeatedly turn out flat, no matter the recipe, chances are your oven is too hot.

Why did my cookies turn out flat? ›

Too much sugar can cause cookies to come out flat and crispy instead of soft and chewy. This goes for both white sugar and brown sugar. Not enough flour could also be the culprit. Especially with baking, there's much less wiggle room when it comes to having the proper ingredient ratios.

How do you keep cookies from flattening? ›

Use a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Coating your baking sheet with nonstick spray or butter creates an overly greasy foundation, causing the cookies to spread. I always recommend a silicone baking mat because they grip onto the bottom of your cookie dough, preventing the cookies from spreading too much.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terence Hammes MD

Last Updated:

Views: 6533

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terence Hammes MD

Birthday: 1992-04-11

Address: Suite 408 9446 Mercy Mews, West Roxie, CT 04904

Phone: +50312511349175

Job: Product Consulting Liaison

Hobby: Jogging, Motor sports, Nordic skating, Jigsaw puzzles, Bird watching, Nordic skating, Sculpting

Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.