Amaretti Biscuits

How to Make Amaretti Biscuits

Amaretti biscuits are a staple in many Italian homes, but everyone’s recipe is different! This Amaretti recipe has been passed down through generations and is my favourite. Join my mother-in-law, Maria, as she shares her family recipe for these delightful almond bites that are a little crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Amaretti are great for entertaining – or even gift-giving this festive season.

Amaretti are delicious little bites of heaven. They’re crunchy on the outside, with a soft and chewy centre. And they’re made with just a few simple ingredients – almonds, sugar, egg white and vanilla extract. They also have a gorgeous aroma that fills your kitchen as they bake in the oven. Amaretti are one of my favourite Italian desserts. They are easy to make but require some patience and skill.

The most important thing is to wait until they cool completely before you try one! If you don’t have the time or patience to wait for them to cool, I recommend trying another recipe instead. Amaretti are the perfect accompaniment to espresso or cappuccino. But they’re also great as a snack or after-dinner treat. They’re delicious with ice cream and fresh fruit, too.

Watch Amaretti Biscuits video recipe:

How to Make Gluten Free Almond Amaretti Cookies Like An Italian

amaretti biscuits

Nonna Maria’s Top Tips To Make Amaretti Biscuits

Just add some extra

Add some extra almond meal if the mixture is too wet and sticky.

Dip and Spread

If your hands are getting too sticky to roll the amaretti, get a bowl and place some water inside, dip a finger into it, and spread it to both palms to help smoothen the process.

Use parchment paper

Line your baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent the amaretti biscuits from sticking and to make for easier cleanup.

Let them cool completely.

After baking, let the amaretti biscuits cool completely on the baking sheet before removing them. This will help them to set and become crispy.

Amaretti Biscuits

Vincenzo's Plate
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Servings 20

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Medium mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Teaspoon
  • Baking Tray
  • Baking Paper

Ingredients
  

  • 500 grams Almond Meal 5.2 cups
  • 300 grams Caster sugar 1.33 cup
  • 5 Egg whites Use free range eggs that are room temperature
  • 1 bottle Almond essence 1.07 Oz
  • Bowl of icing sugar plus extra for dusting!

Instructions
 

  • To start making your Italian amaretti biscuits, separate 5 egg whites from the yolk into a medium mixing bowl and whisk them well.
  • Once there are lots of bubbles at the top of the egg whites, add the almond essence and whisk gently once again so it completely infuses them.
  • Mix the almond meal and caster sugar together in a separate bowl until the sugar seems to disappear.
  • Next for your amaretti biscotti, pour the egg white mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix through using a large spoon.
  • Once this has all started to bind, use your hands to combine everything even more and make sure that everything mixes really well together, still keeping it all inside the large bowl.
  • Don’t try and make it into a ball, just squeeze down with your hands so it stays ???
  • Now you can let the amaretti mixture rest for an hour (or overnight in the fridge).
  • If you’re making them on the same day, wash your hands, and once this has had time to rest, get ready to roll!
  • When it’s time to make the amaretti biscotti, prepare a large flat baking tray by spreading baking paper on top and pre-heat your oven to 180 degrees celcius/356 F.
  • Using a tea spoon, scoop up a heaped amount of mixture, roll it around using the palm of your hand, and make it into a ball.
  • Place the ball gently into a bowl of icing sugar and repeat until the bowl is almost full.
  • Roll each amaretti ball around in icing sugar and then gently place it on the baking tray.
  • Line the balls up, making sure you don’t place them too close together.
  • Once the tray is completely full, with enough space in between each one, flatten out your hand, and press down gently onto each ball making the surface flat. This will create some cracks and provide the perfect form for your amaretti biscotti!
  • Dust with one more sprinkle of icing sugar all over before placing them in the oven for approx. 15 minutes – but check them after about 12 minutes as all ovens vary!
  • E ora si mangia, Vincenzo’s Plate….Enjoy!

Video

Keyword Easy, family recipe
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

How to serve Amaretti Biscuits

Leave the amaretti to cool, or enjoy it nice and warm with a cup of tea, coffee or hot cocoa!

 

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24 Responses to Amaretti Biscuits

  1. TrutrdyTrtrudytt5rtr December 17, 2022 at 2:23 PM #

    5 stars
    Just made the biscuits and they were so easy and delicious, thank you for the recipe. ♥♥

    • Vincenzo's Plate April 28, 2023 at 5:39 AM #

      Homemade biscuits can be a wonderful addition to any meal and can be enjoyed in so many different ways. I hope you get to enjoy them again soon!

  2. Barb June 17, 2023 at 6:17 AM #

    Is this correct – 5.2 cups almond flour? Seems like an awful lot for 20 cookies!

    • Vincenzo's Plate July 17, 2023 at 8:28 PM #

      The recipe calls for 5.2 cups of almond flour, which is a lot for 20 cookies. However, almond flour is a very absorbent ingredient, so it takes a lot of it to make a dough that is the right consistency.

      If you’re worried about the amount of almond flour, you can try reducing the amount by half. However, I would recommend doing a test batch first to see how the cookies turn out.

  3. Rosie Little July 29, 2023 at 7:20 PM #

    I made these and they were amazing.

    • Vincenzo's Plate August 2, 2023 at 9:56 PM #

      That’s fantastic to hear! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe. Please do try my other pastry recipes. 🇮🇹🍪😊

  4. Barbara October 2, 2023 at 4:56 AM #

    It’s my understanding that almond flour and almond meal may have different outcomes in recipes if one is substituted for the other. Is this correct? If so, does it make a difference for this recipe if almond meal or almond flour is used? Thanks!

    • Vincenzo's Plate October 2, 2023 at 7:47 PM #

      You are absolutely correct that almond flour and almond meal can have different outcomes in recipes due to their texture and consistency. Almond flour is typically finer and made from blanched almonds with the skins removed, while almond meal is coarser and made from almonds with the skins intact.

  5. Gemma Holmes November 15, 2023 at 9:27 PM #

    Can we have some more baking recipes from Nona Maria 😀👍

    • Vincenzo's Plate November 17, 2023 at 7:44 PM #

      Sure thing! Stay tuned for more soon.

  6. Gloria December 3, 2023 at 11:30 AM #

    I have been making these for Christmas every year since I first saw your video 4 years ago. Very easy to make and everyone loves getting a little box of them. I top them with a glacé cherry or a blanched almond for a festive touch.

    • Vincenzo's Plate December 8, 2023 at 4:14 PM #

      Adding a glacé cherry or a blanched almond is a fantastic festive touch—what a lovely idea. It warms my heart to know that these cookies have become a part of your holiday tradition.

  7. Martin December 8, 2023 at 5:13 PM #

    Looks amazing! And a great use of the egg whites after making a carbonara.

    If using almond extract, like we have in the US, how much should we be using? I believe it is much more potent than the essence you used.

    • Vincenzo's Plate December 12, 2023 at 5:46 PM #

      When substituting almond extract for almond essence, start with a smaller quantity, around half the amount specified for almond essence. Almond extract is indeed more potent, so you can adjust to taste. It’s always a good idea to add a little at a time, taste the batter, and adjust as needed. Happy baking!

      • Nemanja Pavlovic December 31, 2023 at 2:07 AM #

        5 stars
        Well I just made the same mistake without reading carefully and used 30g of home made almond extract and it turned out great. I found that 35x25g balls of the same taste would be too much so we added dry cherry to some and other we soaked in whites and then covered with a lot of almond flakes. Not sure if these have different name but all tasted amazing!

        • Vincenzo's Plate January 3, 2024 at 7:14 PM #

          i’m glad it turned out well for you. That sounds so delicious indeed I’ll definitely give that a try as well! Thanks for sharing your experience and so glad they all tasted amazing! Cheers to your baking adventures!

  8. Rosa December 18, 2023 at 6:07 PM #

    So we have to use almond meal in your recipe in what i understand it has the skin intect is that right Vincenzo? Can you please let me knaw very soon? Grazie.

    • Vincenzo's Plate December 22, 2023 at 12:41 PM #

      Ciao! Grazie for reaching out. Yes, you’re correct! Almond meal with the skin intact is perfect for the amaretti biscuits. It adds a lovely texture and flavor.

  9. Erin December 21, 2023 at 6:56 PM #

    What a fantastic recipe. Thank you!

    How long do they keep in an airtight container? Do you recommend freezing?

    I can’t wait to try more recipes.

    • Vincenzo's Plate December 22, 2023 at 12:42 PM #

      Hey there! In an airtight container, amaretti biscuits can stay fresh for about 1-2 weeks. If you want to extend their shelf life, freezing is a great option.

  10. Rosa December 22, 2023 at 6:27 PM #

    Ciao Vincenzo grazie tanto che mi ha risposto, adesso voglio domandarti voglio mettere colore verde nel pasto del’lamaretti quanto gocce ? It’s Queen food color- not essense.

    • Vincenzo's Plate December 27, 2023 at 6:53 PM #

      ti consiglio di iniziare con poche gocce e aggiungerne gradualmente fino a ottenere la tonalità desiderata. Prova con una o due gocce alla volta e mescola bene.

  11. Victor January 27, 2024 at 10:52 PM #

    5 stars
    The biscuits are fantastic, but please make sure your bottle of almond essence corresponds to that in the recipe! First time I used a whole bottle of almond essence had to throw the whole batch of cookies in the trash because it was not edible! I guess our bottles here in Finland are a lot stronger!
    Thank you for the recipe Vincenzo!

    • Vincenzo's Plate January 29, 2024 at 6:46 PM #

      I’m happy that you’ve given it a try. It’s crucial to adjust based on local variations. I appreciate your feedback, and happy baking on your next batch!

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