Description
Delight in the magic of Italian almond cookies—a chewy, nutty treat with a citrusy twist. Perfectly coated in crunchy almonds, these cookies bring a little piece of Italy to your table, whether for a celebration or a simple indulgence.
Ingredients
- 2 cups almond meal or blanched ground almonds
- 1/2 cup caster sugar (superfine)
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
- 3 drops natural almond extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped
- 2 egg whites (from large eggs, room temperature)
- 2 teaspoons honey
Optional Almond Coating
- 1 extra egg white
- 1 1/2 cups flaked almonds
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven
- Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F) or 170°C for fan-forced ovens.
- Line two baking trays with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients
- In a mixing bowl, combine almond meal, caster sugar, lemon zest, almond extract, and salt.
- Stir until everything is evenly distributed.
- Whip Egg Whites
- Beat the egg whites and honey until soft peaks form. This takes about 2 minutes with a handheld mixer or 1.5 minutes with a stand mixer.
- Combine Mixtures
- Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the dry almond mixture until fully incorporated.
- Shape Cookies
- Scoop 1 tablespoon of dough per cookie and form 1-inch balls using spoons or your hands.
- Coat with Almonds (Optional)
- Whisk the extra egg white until foamy.
- Roll each cookie ball in the foamy egg white, then coat with flaked almonds.
- Bake
- Place cookies on prepared trays, spacing them 1 inch apart.
- Bake for 13–15 minutes or until almonds turn golden brown, checking at 12 minutes to avoid over-browning.
- Cool and Store
- Let cookies cool on the trays for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 10 days, or freeze for extended storage.
Notes
- Ensure egg whites are at room temperature for better volume.
- For a smoother dough, use almond flour instead of almond meal.
- Rest the dough briefly if it feels too sticky to handle.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian