When we visit our hometown in Central N.Y. (Utica, New York)one of our first stops is the Italian local bakeries which are very popular while sipping a cup of espresso and also in many European bakeries all over Italy.
The flavor is rich sweet fragrant using almond paste in the dough with a crunchy outside and chewy soft baked cookie inside.
These are classic and traditionally found on most Italian wedding cookie trays and certainly, one cookie you'll have etched in your memory if you love the flavor of almond.
Their texture is similar to a macaroon using egg whites and Almond Paste which we also make from scratch, the flavor is just fabulous!
The cookie has been made in our family for over 100 years and continues to be made through the generations of bakers.
Easy to mix, and roll into balls then decorated with pinole nuts of sliced almonds.
With the addition of sliced almonds, pistachios, or pignoli nuts to the top, they are decorated to the nines and just fabulous all the way around from top to bottom in richness and flavor.
Scroll down and print off this authentic traditional Italian Almond Paste Cookie recipe for the best cafe-style cookie you will ever bake!
Almond Paste Cookies
These are chewy Italian Almond cookies.
Ricciarelli is dense, chewy Italian almond cookies originating in Siena.
They are a distant, and much less fussy, Italian cousin to the French macaron, perfect with tea or espresso!
Bakery Cookies
Growing up in Utica, New York, we had the best bakeries for Italian pastries and cookies.
This is a favorite always on the Christmas trays and as far back as the early 1960s, mom would make them for any Italian wedding tray.
If I had to choose an all-time favorite Italian cookie this is it but still, however, a close second to this one is Italian Anisette biscotti for sure!
Original Cookies Date Way Back
The origin of ricciarelli di Siena dates back to the fifteenth century and the almond paste in the form of marzipan or Marzapanetti was once very popular in the town and Siena was famous even outside its territory for its production.
The cookies made with almond paste were reserved for the elaborate banquets of the Lords because they were made of precious ingredients, mainly almonds, and sugar.
They were so valuable and refined that marzipan sweets were sold in the apothecary shops along with drugs and the most exotic spices of the time.
Ingredients You Will Need for Almond Pasta Cookies Cafe Style
scroll down to the recipe card for the exact measurements to print off
- almond paste
- egg whites
- sugar
- powdered sugar
- almond flour
- pure almond extract
- sliced almonds, pistachios, or pine nuts
Colors
The pine nuts on top can be left plain or tinted.
Most of the cafe cookies are tinted in red or green.
Since this batch was made around the Christmas holiday, I tinted them green.
Very easy, place the nuts in a bowl with a few drops of food coloring and water, let sit a few minutes, rinse and blot dry.
Almond Paste Cookie Tips
- Always place on parchment paper or Silpat mats
- Do not use a beater when mixing
- Always use fresh egg whites, not the store-bought carton kinds
- Liftoff the baking sheets after baking cool on wax paper if using cookie sheets unlined
- Use colorful tinted nuts for holidays or leave them plain for wedding trays
- Holiday time use candied cherries in red and green or green-tinted nuts of your choice
Pin for later Italian Almond Paste Cookies
More Of Our Favorite Cookies
Banana Chocolate Chip BiscottiChocolate Spice Cookies
Old Fashioned Buttermilk Cookies
Chocolate Chip Dipped Shortbread
Yield: 40
Almond Paste Cookies Cafe Style
A chewy cookie made with almond paste found on most Italian wedding cookie trays. The cookie dates back to Sienna Italy in the 15th century.
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 35 Min
Ingredients
- 16 ounces - 1 pound ( to make homemade Almond Paste Click here)
- 4 egg whites slightly beaten ( I have used the egg whites in a carton style or ex-large whites)
- 1 cup granulated sugar + 2 tablespoons
- 1 cup of powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
- Garnish: around 1 pound of pine nuts, sliced almonds, or whole pistachios
Instructions
- In a food processor add the almond paste and pulse to break it up.
- Add in the sugars, with almond flour and pulse until it looks like cornmeal.
- Add the egg whites into this mixture and pulse until it forms a dough.
- Drop by teaspoons on a lightly greased pan (I use a melon ball scoop for small and medium size for large cookies) at least 2 inches apart.
- Add sliced almonds, pistachios, or pine nuts (soaked in green food coloring for decoration) in the center of each cookie. Bake at 325 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Only bake until the edges are a little golden brown. Remove from the cookies to wax paper or wire racks immediately.
- Note:
- Using pine nuts (pignoli) on top, I put these in a measuring cup with a few tablespoons of water and three drops of green food coloring to make these for the holiday season. You can use any color you like or use plain. The aroma these have baking is just incredible. The almond paste is pure heavenly sweetness.
- 24 for more cookie recipe CLICK HERE
Nutrition Facts
Calories
117.44Fat (grams)
8.52 gSat. Fat (grams)
0.61 gCarbs (grams)
9.8 gFiber (grams)
0.58 gNet carbs
9.23 gSugar (grams)
8.41 gProtein (grams)
2.19 gSodium (milligrams)
5.27 mgCholesterol (grams)
0 mg
Pin for later Italian Almond Paste Cookies
Here are more of our favorite cookie recipes:
Cucidati Fig Sicilian Cookies
24 One-Stop Cookie Shop
Fried Bow Tie Cookies
25 Holiday Cookies
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2009. It was edited and re-published in 2019.