These amaretti cookies are an Italian cookie perfect for the holidays. The outside of this almond cookie is slightly crisp and the inside is soft and chewy.
Love Italian cookies? Try our scrumptious mini almond biscotti as well.
Amaretti cookies have an undoubtedly unique texture. This chewy almond cookie not only tastes amazing but is gluten-free as well.
Amaretti cookies are often made with amaretto (almond liqueur). I’ve tried to make them with and without amaretto. I personally prefer them with almond extract. Its also a lot easier to find almond extract over amaretto liqueur.
Amaretti cookies
What are Amaretti cookies?
Amaretti cookies are an Italian gluten-free cookie made of egg whites, sugar, almond flour, and almond extract.
Different types of Amaretti cookies
There are two types of Amaretti cookies; the soft kinds and the hard kinds.
- The soft version is also known as amaretti morbidi. They are very chewy.
- The crispy type is made the same way but held in the oven longer to obtain a crunchier texture.
Ingredients for amaretti cookies:
- egg whites
- almond flour
- granulated sugar
- vanilla extract
- almond extract
- powdered sugar
How to make amaretti cookies
- Separate the egg whites into a large bowl. Add a pinch of salt and beat them with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
- Sift almond flour and sugar together.
- Add a third of the almond-sugar mixture and fold it in with a spatula. Then pour in the vanilla extract and almond extract.
- Continue adding the second third of the almond mixture. Then and fold it in again. Sift in the last third and fold it in once more.
- Scoop the dough and roll it into granulated sugar. Then roll the dough ball into powdered sugar. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and lightly press each cookie with your hand. Bake for 25 minutes at 325°F.
Looking for more GLUTEN-FREE cookies? Give these a try!
Chocolate Espresso Macarons– Coffee flavored macarons sandwiched between chocolate ganache.
Easy Meringue Cookies– Quick vanilla meringue with chocolate cream and berries on top.
Chocolate Meringue Cookies– Chewy and chocolatey cookies with chopped walnuts.
Amaretti Cookies
Ingredients
- 5 eggs whites
- Pinch salt
- 4 1/2-5 cups almond flour (depending on size of eggs) I find that 5 cups works best
- 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1-2 tsp almond extract (I prefer 2 tsp)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 powdered sugar
Instructions
- separate 5 egg whites into a bowl then add a pinch of salt.
- using an electric mixer beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
- Set that aside and sift 5 cups of almond flour with 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar into a bowl.
- Add about 1/3 of the almond flour mixture into the egg whites and fold it in gently with a spatula.
- Now go ahead and add 1/2 tsp vanilla extract and 2 tsps of almond extract. Then quickly fold it in.
- Add the second third of the almond flour mixture to the egg whites and gently fold it in again.
- Sift in the remaining third of the almond flour mixture and fold it in one last time. at this point, the cookie dough should have a thick paste like texture.
- Scoop out mounds of the cookie dough and place them into a plate of granulated sugar. Roll the scoop of cookie dough into the sugar, then take it into your hands and round it out to a ball.
- Drop the ball into a bowl of powdered sugar and evenly coat it.
- 10. Place the cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and lightly press each cookie with your hand. Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 18-20 minutes.
Nutrition
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Rose Marie says
The best amaretti cookies I have ever made. They’re delicious!!
simplyhomecooked says
Thank you, Rose! We are obsessed with these amaretti cookies. They are always on the dessert menu for parties.
Kaysejean says
My friend brought these on our first in person visit since the coronavirus stay at home orders were issued. They were amazing. I loved the texture difference of the outside vs the chewy inside. If I made them myself, I might back off on the sugar or extracts just a bit, but i think that’s just my personal preference.
simplyhomecooked says
I am happy to hear that you enjoyed these amaretti cookies Kaysejean! Thank you for the feedback 🙂
Colleen says
These look amazing!
I’m wondering if I can use egg whites from a carton for these?
simplyhomecooked says
Thanks Colleen, I have never tried using egg whites from a carton to make amaertti cookies. But I think it should work. Let me know how it goes.
Victoria says
I’m so excited to try these cookies! I’ve had the chewier kind before and I’d love to make those kind. What would the timing look like if were to try and accomplish that?
Thanks so much!
simplyhomecooked says
Hi Victoria, These are pretty chewy, so I am not too sure what exact texture you’re going for. It’s hard to give you an exact bake time. Do you mean you like the crispier type of amaretti cookies?