Ricciarelli Italian Almond Cookies Recipe (2024)

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Ricciarelli – classic Italian Almond Cookies recipe with a chewy but light center and a perfectly toasty crust of thinly sliced almonds. Reminiscent of macaroons but originating from Siena Tuscany not France, these melt in your mouth biscuits are the perfect Christmas cookies. Naturally gluten free, dairy free and so easy to make, enjoy alongside a fresh espresso or cappuccino!

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Ricciarelli Italian Almond Cookies

Brutti Ma Buoni – Ugly but Good Cookies! Pronounced ric-cia-rel-li and related to amaretti but softer and chewier, these classic Italian Christmas cookies are made with an egg-free dough that uses aquafaba instead of egg whites. Whipped just until frothy it lends them a divine and light center with the perfect chewiness.

Dust with some powdered sugar for a whimsical wintery presentation, one of the easiest and most delicious cookies you’ll ever make.

Not to be confused with Cantuccini – a hard, dry and crunchy almond biscotti which means “twice-baked” even though all biscuits are called biscotti in Italian. It is what it is!

Ingredients Notes

  • Sliced Almonds or Mandorle – these are for coating the cookies before baking and it’s what lends them that divine nutty crisp and Brutti exterior. Alternatively pine nuts / pignoli can be used. If you leave out the nuts you’ll end up with a meringue like cracked surface which is fine if you are after that perfectly crackled ricciarelli. In this case you’ll need to roll the dough balls in powder sugar before baking. During baking the dough will expand and break through the exterior of the cookies and those golden cracks will show through the powdery white sugar.
  • Sugar – I used caster sugar also known as baker’s sugar which is just a superfine grind but not powdered sugar. You can make your own by grinding granulated sugar for a few seconds in the grinding machine. Alternatively you can just use regular sugar.
  • Almond Extract – You’ll need this to get that unique flavor. Yes you can use vanilla extract instead but your cookies will be more like vanilla cookies.
  • Orange Zest – Classic citrus touch to balance out the nuttiness of the cookies. Lemon zest works fine too.
  • Apricot Jam – This really helps with the overall texture of the macaroons and keeps the center chewy and moist. Alternatively honey can be used if you can source it locally from a honorable organic bee keeper in your area.
  • Almond flour vs almond meal – Not exactly the same thing. Almond flour is made from blanched ground almonds (skins removed) and has a fluffy texture finer than almond meal. Using almond meal will make your cookies too dense since it is made from almonds with their skins on.
  • Variation – Even though these really are almond cookies you can be a total rebel here and make them walnut or hazelnut cookies by simply swapping the almond flour for hazelnut flour and the coating for chopped hazelnuts. Add some dried fruit to the batter like cherries, raisins, apricots or cranberries, even dip them in chocolate if you want! I know, I said what i said!

How to Make Ricciarelli Italian Almond Cookies

  1. Whisk the dry ingredients together until combined.
  2. Beat the aquafaba until frothy then fold in the dry ingredients.
  3. Chill the cookie dough for 20 minutes then form 18 round balls.
  4. Coat in almond slices / flakes using your hand to help press and stick into the dough.
  5. Bake @375″F for 12 minutes.
  6. Allow the cookies to cool then dust with icing sugar for a whimsical Christmasy look.
Ricciarelli Italian Almond Cookies Recipe (5)

5 from 2 votes

Ricciarelli Italian Almond Cookies

Ricciarelli - classic Italian Almond Cookies with a chewy but light center and a perfectly toasty crust of thinly sliced almonds. Reminiscent of macaroons but originating from Siena Tuscany not France, these melt in your mouth biscuits are the perfect Christmas cookies. Naturally gluten free, dairy free and so easy to make, enjoy alongside a fresh espresso or cappuccino!

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:12 minutes mins

Chill the dough:20 minutes mins

Total Time:42 minutes mins

Instructions

  • In a medium size bowl combine the almond flour with the sugar and orange zest until incorporated. Set aside.

    2 cups almond flour, 1/2 cup caster sugar, 2 tsp orange zest

    Ricciarelli Italian Almond Cookies Recipe (6)
  • In a separate bowl whisk the aquafaba with a small pinch of salt until frothy. Add the almond extract and the jam and combine.

    1/4 cup aquafaba, 1 tsp almond extract, 1 pinch salt, 2 Tbsp apricot jam

  • Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry mix. Use a spatula and fold until combined. Refrigerate the dough for about 20 minutes or so until chilled.

  • Once the dough is chilled use a tablespoon to scoop some out and shape into balls, they should look similar to golf balls. Repeat with the rest of the dough.

  • Place the sliced almonds into a small bowl then roll each dough ball in them until covered. Use your hands to help press them into the dough. (Do not worry about the shape you are creating at all)

    1.5 cups sliced almonds

  • Meanwhile preheat your ovum to 375”F.

  • Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and place each cookie on top without touching each other.

    Ricciarelli Italian Almond Cookies Recipe (7)
  • Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12 minutes and up to 14 minutes if you like the nuts extra toasty.

  • Remove the cookies from the oven and allow to cool before sprinkling them with some powder sugar or tossing to coat if a thicker coverage is desired.

  • Store uncovered at room temperature for up to 5 days or in a lidded container / cookie jar for up to 2 weeks. Watch for those rascal squirrels 😉

    Ricciarelli Italian Almond Cookies Recipe (8)

Video

Notes

  • Sliced Almonds or Mandorle - these are for coating the cookies before baking and it's what lends them that divine nutty crisp and Brutti exterior. Alternatively pine nuts / pignoli can be used. If you leave out the nuts you'll end up with a meringue like cracked surface which is fine if you are after that perfectly crackled ricciarelli. In this case you'll need to roll the dough balls in powder sugar before baking. During baking the dough will expand and break through the exterior of the cookies and those golden cracks will show through the powdery white sugar.
  • Apricot Jam - This really helps with the overall texture of the macaroons and keeps the center chewy and moist. Alternatively honey can be used if you can source it locally from a honorable organic bee keeper in your area.
  • Almond flour vs almond meal - Not exactly the same thing. Almond flour is made from blanched ground almonds (skins removed) and has a fluffy texture finer than almond meal. Using almond meal will make your cookies too dense since it is made from almonds with their skins on.
  • Variation - Even though these really are almond cookies you can be a total rebel here and make them hazelnut cookies by simply swapping the almond flour for hazelnut flour and the coating for chopped hazelnuts. You could add some dried fruit to the batter like cherries, raisins, apricots or cranberries, even dip them in chocolate if you want! I know, I said what i said!
  • Storage - store the cookies uncovered at room temperature for up to 5 days or in lidded containers / cookie jar for up to two weeks.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 211kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 142mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 1mg

Course: Baked Goods

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: almond cookies, Christams cookies, Italian cookies, ricciarreli

Servings: 18 cookies

Calories: 211kcal

Author: Florentina

Italian Desserts:

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  1. Ricciarelli Italian Almond Cookies Recipe (18)
    I adore these cookies! I’ve been making them for maybe the past year or so and everyone I make them for loves them too. They are perfect with a cup of coffee. They don’t last long in our house! 🙂 Thank you for this lovely recipe! xo

    Reply

    1. Thank you for reporting back Caroline, this makes me so happy. My favorite cookies ~ Florentina Xo’s

      Reply

  2. Can I use egg whites if I prefer? Or meringue powder?

    Reply

    1. You could, I just wanted it the cookies to be vegan 🙂

      Reply

  3. What is aquafaba?

    Reply

    1. The liquid from cooking chickpeas, you can use it from a can of chickpeas.

      Reply

  4. Ricciarelli Italian Almond Cookies Recipe (19)
    Better bake a double batch of these cookies for Christmas or you’ll be really sorry. They are the best!

    Reply

  5. Pingback: Nut Roll Recipe • CiaoFlorentina

  6. Pingback: Italian Lemon Ricotta Cookies Recipe • CiaoFlorentina

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Ricciarelli Italian Almond Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between amaretti and Ricciarelli? ›

Ricciarelli are Tuscan cookies related to amaretti; they're made with an egg-white based dough that lends them a light, fluffy character. Texture-wise, these cookies are softer and chewier than most amaretti. Ricciarelli cookies were born from a cultural exchange between the Middle East and Italy after the Crusades.

What does Ricciarelli mean in English? ›

Ricciarelli are traditional Italian biscuits – specifically, a type of macaroon – originating in 14th century Siena.

What is the most popular Italian cookie? ›

Most Popular Italian Cookies
  • Amaretti. These lovely almond-flavoured biscotti were supposedly first made during the Middle Ages. ...
  • Ricciarelli. ...
  • Baci di dama. ...
  • Chocolate-Pistachio Biscotti. ...
  • Savoiardi. ...
  • Canestrelli. ...
  • Biscotti al Cocco. ...
  • Pizzelle.
Oct 22, 2020

What are the flavors of Ricciarelli? ›

Ricciarelli are made from almonds, sugar and egg whites, so they are a sort of macaroon, but flavoured with vanilla, orange zest and almond extract.

What is a substitute for amaretti? ›

If you would still rather avoid the amaretti biscuits then you would need to use a biscuit with a slightly dry and crumbly texture. The closest alternative we can think of would be a ginger nut biscuit and the ginger flavours would work in the Anglo-Italian Trifle.

Is amaretto and almond the same thing? ›

This liqueur has a sweet, nutty flavor that's often used to tame the bite of many spirits. Despite its almond flavor, it doesn't always contain almonds — it's made from either apricot pits or almonds or both. Amaretto is Italian for "little bitter" as amaretto has a sweetened flavor with slightly bitter notes.

Where did Ricciarelli biscuits come from? ›

Ricciarelli come from Siena and are perfect as a dessert served with a sweet wine such as Vin Santo. According to chronicles, the origin of Ricciarelli dates back to the fifteenth century: biscuits of almond paste were once very popular around Italy and reserved for the sumptuous banquet of the Lords.

How do you eat Ricciarelli? ›

One of these cookies is just perfect alongside a hot cup of Earl Grey or, if you want to live in true Italian style, a cappuccino. Think of ricciarelli cookies as a cousin to macarons.

What flour do Italians use for cookies? ›

For cookies, bars, cakes/cupcakes, biscuits, scones, or anything that needs a tender crumb, use Farina di grano tenero, 00. This is your “cake flour.” Nobody wants a chewy cake. For bread, I recommend starting off with Farina di Manitoba, grano tenero, 0; this is similar to standard American bread flour.

What is the most eaten cookie in the world? ›

Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co.

What is the #1 cookie in the US? ›

Nearly 93% of all American households serve and enjoy cookies as treats or after meals. However, it's the chocolate chip cookie that's the most popular in the U.S. and around the world. How much do youknow about chocolate chip cookies?

What is Ricciarelli made of? ›

Ricciarelli is a delicious cookie recipe originating from Italy. The main ingredients are egg whites, sugar, almond flour, and lemon. The texture is very similar to macaroons. They are soft and chewy inside, with a slightly crinkled exterior.

What are sugared almonds called in Italy? ›

In Italy and other European countries, their name is "confetti". These are sugared almonds but with a spun sugar shell.

What is an Italian sweetened almond paste called? ›

Italian almond paste is called "marzipan" in general culinary usage, but specifically in Italy, it's often referred to as "pasta di mandorle." This sweet paste is made from ground almonds mixed with sugar or honey and sometimes augmented with almond oil or extract.

What's the difference between amaretto and amaretti? ›

Amaretto is a sweet, almond-flavoured liqueur commonly used in co*cktails or in baking and desserts. Its flavour is derived from either almond pits, apricot pits, or both. On the other hand, Amaretti are traditional Italian almond cookies, made from almond flour, apricots kernels, sugar, and egg whites.

What's the difference between amaretti and macarons? ›

The French macaron is pillowy and slightly crunchy, whereas the Italian Macaroon Amaretti, when made true to tradition contain a lot more almond flour, about 50% per macaroon, making it a deliciously dense and chewy treat with the added benefits of more nutrients and protein because of the high almond content.

What is the difference between biscotti and amaretti? ›

Amaretti comes from the word amaro, which means bitter. These biscotti are not bitter, though some recipes do add a small amount of bitter almonds (or essence of bitter almonds), or lemon zest or cinnamon or even a tablespoon of brandy.

What are the different types of almonds in Italy? ›

Almond variety of italian origin. Tuono is very productive with a quick fructification and it is widely considered as one of the main self-fertile varieties.

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