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.
Ingredients
Scale
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
Instructions
- 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.
- Create a uniform dry mixture by whisking almond flour, sugar, cocoa, and salt until completely blended and free of lumps.
- 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.
- 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.
- Dust hands with powdered sugar to prevent sticking, then use a cookie scoop to portion consistent dough balls approximately one inch in diameter.
- Gently roll each portion into a smooth sphere, then generously coat with additional powdered sugar to create a delicate, crackled exterior.
- Carefully place cookies on prepared baking sheets, maintaining sufficient spacing to allow for slight expansion during baking.
- Bake in a preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, watching for characteristic surface cracking and subtle bottom browning as indicators of perfect doneness.
- 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