Quick & Buttery Chocolate Amaretti Cookies Recipe

Chocolate amaretti cookies bring a delightful twist to traditional Italian confections.

These irresistible treats blend rich cocoa with almond-infused sweetness in a perfectly crisp yet chewy bite.

Delicate and elegant, chocolate amaretti cookies capture the essence of sophisticated dessert crafting.

Their rustic charm comes from simple ingredients changeed into something truly magical.

Crumbly exterior gives way to a soft, intense center that melts on your tongue.

Authentic Italian baking techniques elevate these cookies from mere snacks to culinary art.

Deep chocolate notes dance with nutty undertones, creating a sensory experience that feels both familiar and extraordinary.

The Appeal of Chocolate Amaretti Cookies

• Crackle and Shine: These chocolate amaretti cookies deliver a stunning visual appeal with their beautifully cracked tops dusted in powdered sugar, creating an irresistible rustic elegance.
• Rich Flavor Symphony: The harmonious blend of cocoa, almond flour, and almond extract produces a deep, luxurious chocolate taste with nutty undertones that dance delightfully on your palate.
• Foolproof Baking Technique: The recipe offers forgiving steps that make it accessible for bakers of all skill levels, featuring simple mixing and rolling methods that guarantee consistent, delectable results every single time.
• Texture Wonderland: Expect a delightful contrast between crisp exterior and soft, chewy interior that melts in your mouth, offering a sensory experience that makes these cookies utterly addictive.

What’s Inside Chocolate Amaretti Cookies

• Almond Flour: Provides a nutty base and gluten-free foundation for the cookies, choose finely ground for smooth texture.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with cookie structure, white granulated sugar works best.
• Cocoa Powder: Delivers rich chocolate flavor and deep color, Dutch-processed cocoa recommended for smoother taste.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness, use fine sea salt for even distribution.

• Egg Whites: Creates light, airy texture and helps bind ingredients, fresh eggs at room temperature work perfectly.
• Lemon Juice: Stabilizes egg whites and helps create better volume, fresh juice preferred over bottled.
• Almond Extract: Intensifies nutty flavor and adds aromatic depth, pure extract recommended.

• Powdered Sugar: Used for rolling cookies and creating delicate sweet coating, ensures beautiful presentation and light texture.

How to Bake Chocolate Amaretti Cookies Easily

Step 1: Prepare Baking Setup

Warm up the oven to 300°F. Stack two matching cookie sheets for even baking. Cover with parchment paper or silicone mat.

Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients

• Almond flour
• Granulated sugar
• Cocoa powder
• Salt

Whisk ingredients until perfectly blended.

Step 3: Whip Egg Whites

In a separate bowl, beat egg whites and fresh lemon juice. Whip until soft peaks form using a whisk or mixer.

Step 4: Create Cookie Dough

Pour whipped egg whites and almond extract into dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly until a soft, sticky dough develops. Use hands to knead if needed.

Step 5: Shape Chocolate Cookies

Dust hands with powdered sugar. Use a small cookie scoop to create 1-inch dough balls. Roll each ball smoothly, then coat in powdered sugar.

Step 6: Arrange and Bake

Place cookie balls on prepared baking sheets. Keep 1 inch of space between each cookie. Bake for 30-35 minutes until cookie tops crack and bottoms slightly darken.

Step 7: Cool and Serve

Remove cookies from oven. Let sit for a few minutes. Transfer to wire cooling rack. Allow cookies to cool completely before enjoying.

Useful Tricks for Chocolate Amaretti Cookies

• Cushion Your Cookies: Stack two cookie sheets to prevent over-browning and ensure even baking with gentle heat distribution.
• Whip Whites Perfectly: Beat egg whites and lemon juice until soft peaks form, creating a light, airy texture that helps the cookies maintain their delicate structure.
• Sugar Coat Strategically: Dust hands with powdered sugar when shaping cookies to prevent sticking and add a beautiful, delicate exterior.
• Check Doneness Carefully: Watch for cracked tops and slightly darkened bottoms as your cue that cookies are perfectly baked, typically between 30-35 minutes.
• Storage Secret: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container to maintain their soft, chewy texture and rich chocolate-almond flavor for several days.

Best Storage Tips for Chocolate Amaretti Cookies

• Refrigeration: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container, layered between parchment paper, for up to 5 days to maintain their delicate texture and prevent crumbling.
• Freezing: Place cookies in a freezer-safe container, separating layers with wax paper, and freeze for up to 3 months; thaw at room temperature for optimal taste and softness.
• Reheating: Warm cookies briefly in a 300°F oven for 3-5 minutes to restore their crisp exterior and soft interior, bringing back their just-baked freshness.

Pairing Picks for Chocolate Amaretti Cookies

• Elevate with Sweet Sips: Pair these rich chocolate amaretti cookies with a creamy Italian dessert wine like Vin Santo or a smooth port. The sweet, fortified wine perfectly complements the intense chocolate and almond flavors, creating a luxurious tasting experience.
• Coffee Companion Combo: Match these cookies with a bold espresso or rich cappuccino. The intense coffee cuts through the sweetness while highlighting the deep chocolate and nutty undertones of the amaretti, making each bite more delightful.
• Dessert Wine and Cheese Harmony: Serve alongside a mild, creamy cheese like mascarpone or ricotta. The smooth, light cheese balances the cookie's intense chocolate flavor, providing a delicate contrast that refreshes the palate between bites.
• Chocolate Liqueur Delight: Enhance the experience with a small glass of chocolate liqueur like Godiva or Baileys. The liqueur's smooth, velvety texture and chocolate notes perfectly mirror the cookie's rich flavor profile, creating a decadent dessert moment.

Chocolate Amaretti Cookies with a Fun Twist

• Nutty Chocolate Crunch: Replace almond flour with hazelnut flour and add chopped roasted hazelnuts to the dough for extra texture and depth of flavor.
• Orange Chocolate Zest: Incorporate orange zest into the dry ingredients and replace lemon juice with orange juice to create a citrusy chocolate amaretti experience.
• Espresso Chocolate Kick: Mix finely ground espresso powder into the cocoa powder and add a splash of coffee liqueur to intensify the chocolate and coffee notes.
• Coconut Chocolate Dream: Fold shredded unsweetened coconut into the dough and roll cookies in toasted coconut flakes instead of powdered sugar for a tropical chocolate spin.

Chocolate Amaretti Cookies Recipe

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4.8 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Italian amaretti cookies offer a delightful blend of almond and chocolate flavors that dance across your palate. Sweet crumbly textures and rich cocoa notes invite you to savor these classic Mediterranean treats with a cup of espresso.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups (180 grams) almond flour or very finely ground almonds, sifted
• 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
• 2 large egg whites (about 60 grams)

Flavoring Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons (15 grams) Dutch-process cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• ¼ teaspoon lemon juice

Finishing Ingredient:

• Confectioners’ sugar, as needed
• 1 pinch salt

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Instructions

1. Prepare your baking workspace by arranging two matching, lightweight cookie sheets stacked together and line with parchment paper to ensure even baking and prevent over-browning.
2. Create a uniform dry mixture by whisking almond flour, sugar, cocoa, and salt until completely blended and free of lumps.
3. Transform egg whites into a light, airy texture by whisking with lemon juice until soft peaks form, creating a stable base for the cookie dough.
4. Incorporate the whipped egg whites and almond extract into the dry ingredients, mixing thoroughly to develop a cohesive, slightly tacky dough that can be easily shaped.
5. Dust hands with powdered sugar to prevent sticking, then use a cookie scoop to portion consistent dough balls approximately one inch in diameter.
6. Gently roll each portion into a smooth sphere, then generously coat with additional powdered sugar to create a delicate, crackled exterior.
7. Carefully place cookies on prepared baking sheets, maintaining sufficient spacing to allow for slight expansion during baking.
8. Bake in a preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, watching for characteristic surface cracking and subtle bottom browning as indicators of perfect doneness.
9. Remove cookies from oven and allow a brief resting period before transferring to wire cooling racks to complete the cooling process and set their delicate texture.

Notes

• Doubling cookie sheets prevents over-browning, creating perfectly textured cookies with a delicate crackled top.
• Whisking egg whites to soft peaks helps create a light, airy texture that makes these chocolate amaretti cookies melt in your mouth.
• Rolling dough balls in powdered sugar creates a beautiful crackled exterior and adds a delightful sweet finish to each bite.
• Using almond flour and almond extract intensifies the nutty, rich flavor profile, making these cookies deeply satisfying and aromatic.
• Baking at a low temperature ensures gentle cooking, preventing burning while developing a crisp exterior and soft, chewy center.
• Letting cookies cool slightly before transferring helps them set properly, maintaining their delicate structure and preventing crumbling.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 16g
• Sodium: 50mg
• Fat: 6g
• Saturated Fat: 0.5g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5.5g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 22g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 3g
• Cholesterol: 0mg