Italian Almond Cookies

These delicate, chewy, 6-ingredient cookies have an incredibly intense, smack-you-in-the-face almond flavor.  We go crazy for them.  For maximum flavor and chewiness, it's worth going the extra mile to find canned almond paste.  

If you can find it, canned almond paste is preferred.

On the day I did the photo shoot for these cookies, I was fresh out of canned almond paste so I had to use the foil-wrapped stuff.  It's not as soft as the canned stuff, but it works in a pinch. My particular tube was a bit dry so I grated it before I used it.  

The easiest way to do this is the use a food processor fitted with a fine grating disk.  

The food processor did an awesome job. 

To the bowl of the food processor, add the flour, sugar, and confectioners sugar.  

Pulse to combine.  

We're getting close!  

Time to add egg whites.  They're the magic glue that transforms the bowl of crumbs into the tastiest cookie dough ever!

Mmmmmm.  When you open your food processor, the aroma is going to make you salivate!

For the record, if you use canned almond paste, you can mix this dough in a stand mixer instead of a food processor.

Transfer the cookie dough to a small container.  It's really soft and sticky, but don't be alarmed.  You can scoop and bake the cookies right away, or chill the dough in an airtight container for a day or two.

Use a very small #100 cookie scoop to portion the dough blobs. For these cookies, it’s the perfect size.

Like I said, the dough is extremely soft and sticky so place the blobs directly into a bowl of sliced almonds.  Roll the blobs to coat them all over with almonds so you can pick them up and place them on a half sheet pan.

Because the dough is so sticky, I find it helps to dip the scoop in water for each cookie. 

I tested baking these cookies on silicone and parchment and even though I usually prefer baking on silicone, parchment worked better for this recipe.  

Bake the cookies until they puff up and turn golden brown.  

Allow the cookies to cool completely on the sheet tray.  Don't be alarmed when the cookies collapse as they cool - that's completely normal.  Store leftovers in an airtight container.  Cookies are best eaten on the day they're baked.  

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• canned almond paste (not marzipan of almond filling) https://amzn.to/3KV0RxI

• sliced almonds https://amzn.to/3KUnKRL

• #100 portion scoop https://amzn.to/3KVaSLe

• food processor https://amzn.to/3s6DeJQ

• flat parchment sheets https://amzn.to/3gcUFmq

• half sheet pan https://amzn.to/3HhqBC2

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Italian Almond Cookies

makes 36 cookies

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 8 ounces almond paste, canned is preferred (NOT marzipan or almond filling)

• 1/4 cup all purpose flour

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup confectioners sugar

• 2 large egg whites

• 1/2 cup sliced almonds

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F and line half sheet pans with parchment paper.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine almond paste, flour, egg whites, and both sugars. Mixture will be very sticky. Note: if almond paste is dry or hard, grate the almond paste and mix the dough in a food processor.

3. Place sliced almonds into a small bowl.

4. Using a #100 scoop, drop cookie dough into bowl of almonds; roll until coated.

5. Place 2 inches apart on parchment-lined half sheet pan.

6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until golden.

7. Cool on half sheet pans for several minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Note

• A #100 scoop equals just under 2 teaspoons.

Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti

There's something quite indulgent about sitting down for a little "me time" with a hot beverage and a lovely biscotti cookie for dunking.  Biscotti (biss-KO-tee) means "twice-cooked" or "twice-baked", and that's indeed how these cookies are made.  They're first baked in loaf form, then sliced and baked again.  The second baking is what gives them their crunchy, dunkable character.  

Start by placing flour, dutch processed cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl.

Whisk together and set aside until needed.

Next, chop the chocolate.  In our house, we like to use a really good quality dark chocolate - I used 85% cocoa here, but you could use something a bit sweeter.  Semi-sweet chocolate usually falls around 60% cocoa.  

In a small mixing bowl, combine the chopped chocolate and brown sugar together and set aside until needed.

You'll also need a couple of large eggs and pure vanilla extract.

And a little instant espresso powder mixed with some hot water.

I love how espresso powder accentuates the flavor of chocolate.

And don't forget the pistachio and craisins.  Chopped dried cherries would be a nice substitution for the craisins.

Now for the fun part - dump everything into a stand mixer fitted with a BeaterBlade or paddle attachment; mix until no traces of dry flour remain.  

The dough should look like this when done.  Now put the dough into a gallon-size zipper bag and chill for about 30 minutes while you preheat your oven. 

Chilling the dough makes it a little easier to handle, but it's still very sticky so I suggest gloving up before handling.  

Press the sticky mass into a 4x10-inch rectangle on a silpat or silicone lined half sheet pan.

See?  I told you the dough was sticky.

Bake as directed, then cool for 20 to 30 minutes, or until you can comfortably handle it.

Transfer the loaf to a cutting board and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices with a serrated knife.

Place each slice onto a silpat or parchment lined half sheet pan and put them back into the oven to bake again, flipping half-way through so both sides crisp up.  

After the cookies have finished baking a 2nd time, allow them to cool completely on a rack, then drizzle with melted white chocolate.  I melted my chocolate in the microwave before pouring it into a plastic zip-top bag.

Snip a very small hole in the corner of the bag and drizzle.  Work quickly - the chocolate will firm up fast. 

There you go.  Leftovers can be stored up to a week or more in an airtight container.  

Happy Dunking!

Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti

makes about 20 cookies

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

• 1/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt

• 3 ounces bittersweet or dark chocolate, chopped into small pieces

• 3/4 cup light brown sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder mixed with 2 tablespoons of hot water

• 1 cup shelled pistachios

• 1/2 cup craisins (or chopped dried cherries)

• melted white chocolate for drizzling

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

2. in a small bowl, combine chopped chocolate and brown sugar; set aside.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with BeaterBlade or paddle attachment, place flour mixture, chocolate mixture, eggs, vanilla, espresso mixture, pistachios, and craisins; mix on medium speed until all traces of dry flour disappear.

4. Wrap cookie dough well with plastic and chill for at least 30 minutes (or up to a week).

5. Preheat oven to 300F and line a half sheet pan with a silpat or parchment paper.

6. Press cookie dough onto prepared sheet pan, forming a 4x10-inch loaf.

7. Bake in preheated oven for 35-40 minutes.

8. Remove from oven and allow loaf to rest for 20-30 minutes before transferring to a cutting board and cutting into 1/2-inch thick slices using a serrated knife.

9. Return sliced cookies to sheet pan and bake for another 6 or 7 minutes per side.

10. Cool cookies completely on a rack before drizzling with melted white chocolate. Leftovers can be stored for a week or more in an airtight container

adapted from Entertaining with Beth