Amaretti
Amaretti are small, round, crunchy biscuits that originated in Italy. They are traditionally made from ground almonds, sugar and egg whites, and have a characteristic bitter-sweet almond flavour. Amaretti can be eaten on their own or used as a decoration or ingredient in desserts such as tiramisu, pannacotta or zabaglione.
These little morsels of sweetness have been around for centuries and are thought to date back to the Renaissance period. Today, amaretti are still made according to traditional recipes and remain very popular in Italy and beyond. If you haven't tried them before, why not give them a go? You might just be surprised by how delicious they are!
Prep Time: 50 Minutes
Cooking Time: 15 Minutes
Ingredients for 60 (small amaretti)
Chopped Almonds - 150g (buy whole almonds and chop them yourself)
Superfine Sugar - 110g
Egg Whites - 4
Icing Sugar - 240g
Vanilla Extract - 1/2 teaspoon
Preparation:
Let’s start by pre-heating the oven to 180°C (350°F)
Now get a baking pan and place some parchment paper on top
Now take your whole almonds and puls them in a blender for a short while (around 40 seconds), now add the sugar and blend for another minute or two. Everything should be finely ground.
Now take your eggs and separate the egg whites from the yolks with a lot of care - for this recipe we will only need the egg whites. Take your 4 egg whites and whisk them for a couple of minutes on their own, then, gradually start adding the icing sugar little by little. The egg whites should be firm. Now add the vanilla extract mixing very gently with a spatula folding the egg white mixture rather than mixing. Also add the ground almonds and keep folding.
Put your dough into a pastry bag if you have one (around 1 cm tip) - if you don’t have one you will have to make little mounds of dough by yourself on the parchment paper using two spoons. Once you have made around 60 mounds sprinkle them with some icing sugar and leave to rest for 10 minutes.
Now bake for 15 minutes (or until puffy and slightly browned). Let them cool completely before serving them - amaretti are not eaten warm they are eaten cold.
When it comes to amaretti, there is no wrong way to eat them! Whether you enjoy them as a light snack or as part of a more decadent dessert, amaretti are a delicious treat that everyone can enjoy. Here are a few tips on how to best enjoy Italian amaretti:
- Amaretti are typically enjoyed with coffee or tea. For an extra special treat, try dipping your amaretti in your favorite coffee or tea!
- Amaretti can also be used in baking. They make a great addition to cakes, cookies, and even breads!
- If you want to get really creative, try using amaretti in savory dishes! They add a lovely sweetness and depth of flavor to pasta sauces, pizza toppings, and more.