Posted By Mary Freeland on December 3, 2010

Though the Holiday season can also be deemed the “Season of baking” our favorite Italian treats are great year round. Simple to make with a big flavor punch these little cookies are great nestled next to a hot cup of cappuccino or hidden under a layer of marscapone in a Tuscan trifle.

Amaretti

Ingredients

* 2 ½ cups of almond flour (if you can not find almond flour 3 cups of blanched almonds put through a food processor until fine makes a good substitute)
* 3 egg whites
* 1 ¼ superfine sugar (or substitute regular sugar put through the processor, on high, for 30 seconds)
* ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract (do NOT use imitation vanilla)
* 1 teaspoon of almond extract
* Sugar, for decoration

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Prepare baking sheets with parchment paper or silpats.

Place all dry ingredients into a food processor (or a large bowl for hand mixing) and combine. Work in extracts until slightly moistened. One at a time, slowly add in eggs and work through until the dough becomes smooth.

Drop dough by teaspoons onto the baking sheets, dust with sugar. Bake for 24-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on racks before serving. Yield: approximately 30 cookies.

Categories: Holidays, Italian Recipes
Tags: Italian, Italian Recipes, tuscan