Description
Pignoli Cookies are traditional Italian almond cookies featuring a chewy almond paste center coated in crunchy toasted pine nuts. These delicate, sweet treats combine almond flour and almond paste for a rich flavor and soft texture, perfect for a sophisticated dessert or a special snack with tea or coffee.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 (7-ounce) package almond paste (sliced or broken into pieces)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg white
- ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup almond flour
Coating
- ¾ cup pine nuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure the cookies don’t stick and bake evenly.
- Make almond paste mixture: In a food processor, combine the almond paste, granulated sugar, powdered sugar, egg white, and sea salt. Pulse until the mixture forms a thick, smooth paste, creating a uniform dough base.
- Add almond flour: Transfer the smooth paste to a medium bowl and stir in the almond flour until fully incorporated, which helps create the cookie’s structure.
- Prepare pine nuts: Place the pine nuts in a small bowl. Using heaping tablespoons of dough, roll them into balls by hand. If the dough is too soft, chill it in the refrigerator for 5 minutes to firm up. Then roll each ball lightly in the pine nuts so they stick well.
- Shape and flatten cookies: Arrange the pine nut-coated dough balls on the prepared baking sheet spaced at least an inch apart. Press down gently on the tops to slightly flatten them for even baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 18 to 22 minutes, or until the edges turn a light golden brown, indicating they are cooked through but still tender inside.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes to set before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely for the best texture.
Notes
- If the dough feels too sticky or soft to roll, chilling it briefly will make it easier to handle.
- Using fresh pine nuts helps enhance the nutty flavor and crunchy texture.
- For a slightly sweeter cookie, you can adjust the sugar quantity but be careful not to overpower the almond flavor.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- These cookies pair wonderfully with coffee, tea, or a light dessert wine.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Pignoli Cookies, Italian cookies, almond cookies, pine nut cookies, gluten free cookies, traditional Italian desserts
