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Indulge your sweet tooth and embark on a delightful culinary journey to Italy with a taste of Soft Amaretti Cookies. These tender, chewy almond-infused treats are a classic Italian confection that captures the essence of la dolce vita. Join us as we explore the history, flavors, and the joy of making these delectable cookies in your own kitchen.
Characteristics of Soft Amaretti:
- Texture: Soft and chewy with a slightly crisp exterior, they offer an irresistible contrast.
- Flavor: Almond-forward, with a hint of sweetness and a delicate, pleasant bitterness.
- Appearance: Can be presented in different colours or with a crackled, powdered sugar-coated surface.
Top tips for making these cookies:
- Use a Sturdy Piping Bag: Invest in a sturdy piping bag or use a reusable silicone one to handle the sticky and thick amaretti dough. Make sure it’s in good condition to avoid any potential bursts during piping.
- Choose the Right Piping Tip: Select a round piping tip with a relatively large opening, such as a 1A or 1M tip. This will help you achieve the classic amaretti cookie shape.
- Pipe Evenly: To ensure uniformity in size and appearance, pipe the amaretti dough onto the baking sheet evenly. You can use a template or mark the parchment paper with circles as a guide.
- Allow for Some Spacing: Amaretti cookies will spread slightly as they bake, so leave some space between each piped cookie to prevent them from merging into one another. Usually, about 1-1.5 inches (2.5-3.8 cm) of space between cookies is sufficient.
- Monitor Baking Time: Keep a close eye on the cookies as they bake. The goal is to achieve a crisp exterior while maintaining a soft and chewy interior. Bake them until they develop a light golden-brown color and a few cracks on the surface. This usually takes about 12-15 minutes at 325°F (160°C). Overbaking can result in cookies that are too dry, so be cautious not to exceed the recommended time.
Here’s a list of equipment you may need for this recipe:
- Mixing Bowl
- Hand or Stand Mixer
- Sturdy Piping Bag
- Piping Tip
- Baking Sheets
- Cooling Rack
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Soft Amaretti Cookies
Indulge your sweet tooth and embark on a delightful culinary journey to Italy with a taste of Soft Amaretti Cookies. These tender, chewy almond-infused treats are a classic Italian confection that captures the essence of la dolce vita. Join us as we explore the history, flavors, and the joy of making these delectable cookies in your own kitchen.
Ingredients
- 2 egg whites
- ⅔ cup sugar (134 g)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup packed ground almond (about 145 g)
- 2 tbsp flour
- whole almonds
- food colouring optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Beat egg whites, sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form.
- Add in the ground almond and flour and beat on low until combined.
- Mix in small amounts of food colouring at a time, until the desired colour is reached.
- Transfer the batter to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
- Pipe rounds about 1½ inches wide onto a lined baking sheet. Insert an almond into the center of each cookie.
- Bake for about 10 minutes, until just slightly browned on the edges.