A cousin to the ubiquitous amaretti cookie, ricciarelli were invented in Tuscany in the 14th century, and are served to this day at Christmastime. Chewy and crunchy, these flourless almond cookies keep for weeks in a sealed container, making them ideal for baking ahead.
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 1 hr 10 min |
| Active: | 20 min |
| Yield: | 2 1/2 dozen cookies |
Ingredients
- 3 cups whole almonds
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F, and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Add the almonds, baking soda, salt and 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar to a food processor. Process until finely ground, about 1 minute.
- Whisk together the honey, vanilla and egg. Add to the almond mixture and pulse until a stiff dough forms.
- Roll tablespoon-sized portions of dough into balls, and coat in the remaining cup confectioners’ sugar. Place at least 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake, rotating halfway through, until cracked and solid to the touch, 18 to 20 minutes. Slide the parchment off the baking sheets and allow the ricciarelli to cool completely before peeling off the paper. Store cookies in a tin or airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 30 servings |
| Calories | 129 |
| Total Fat | 7 g |
| Saturated Fat | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 14 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 12 g |
| Protein | 3 g |
| Cholesterol | 6 mg |
| Sodium | 55 mg |
Reviews
I have made this a couple years now periodically. It’s a family favorite already. Widely requested. My mom is planning on giving them a Pittsburgh Wedding Cookie Table debut next weekend.
Love them. Watch to be sure they don’t burn. The bigger you make them, the chewier they’ll be @ the rate quoted for bake time. Relatively savory and NOT over the top sweet. Yum.
Question not a Review….. could I use almond flour? And if so how much?