Stuck on last minute “Buon Natale” gifts? Make a batch of my amaretti cookies as gifts when you are visiting friends and family during the holidays. They are perfect with coffee, tea, sweet liqueurs, or your favorite gelati.

You can package a dozen with a decorative tea towel or cellophane.

My recipe yields 3 dozen.

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

3 cups almonds, plus an additional 36

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoons almond extract

2 cups of confectioner’s sugar spread on 12 inches of wax paper (for rolling)

Vegetable spray for the baking sheet (though Mom sprinkles the baking sheet with flour)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Using a food processor on pulse, chop the 3 cups of almonds until they are finely ground.

Beat the eggs, sugar, and almond extract. Add the ground nuts and gently fold them together until you have a moist mixture that you can form into balls.

Lightly grease three baking sheets. Using a teaspoon (or your hand), scoop up the batter, form balls, and roll them in the confectioner’s sugar. Place them at least an inch apart on the greased baking sheet. Prior to baking, press one almond into each ball.

Bake for about 15 minutes, or until the cookies are golden in color and firm to the touch.

Let them cool before removing them from the pan.