When you think of Italian desserts, what comes to mind? Perhaps tiramisu or cannoli. But there’s a hidden gem you might be overlooking: Italian almond meringue cookies. Light as air, delicately crisp on the outside, and softly chewy within, these cookies embody the magic of Italian baking.
What makes them truly special? They’re steeped in tradition, with recipes passed down through generations, each bite telling a story of Italy’s rich culinary heritage. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a curious beginner, mastering these cookies connects you to centuries of Italian artistry.
In this post, we’ll uncover the secrets to crafting these delectable treats, dive into their fascinating history, and share expert tips for perfecting their texture and flavour. Ready to embark on a sweet journey through Italian tradition? Let’s get started!
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The History of Italian Almond Meringue Cookies
Did you know that Italian almond meringue cookies have roots in medieval Italy? Known as "amaretti," these cookies are a testament to Italy’s long-standing love affair with almonds, introduced by Arab traders centuries ago. The original recipes used ground almonds, sugar, and egg whites to create a crisp-yet-chewy texture. Today, they are synonymous with celebrations, often paired with sweet wines or espresso for an authentic Italian experience.
What Makes Italian Meringue Unique?
Italian meringue differs from French and Swiss techniques due to its precision and stability. By cooking sugar into a syrup and whipping it into egg whites, the meringue achieves a glossy texture and firm structure. This process not only prevents deflation but also lends itself beautifully to cookies like amaretti, ensuring their signature crunch outside and softness inside. Mastering Italian meringue is a hallmark of pastry expertise, setting a foundation for desserts beyond cookies—like tarts, cakes, and soufflés.
Choosing the Right Almonds for Authentic Flavour
The secret to great Italian almond meringue cookies lies in the almonds. Authentic recipes call for blanched almonds or almond flour with no skins to achieve that smooth, uniform texture. Toasting the almonds slightly enhances their flavour, creating a nutty depth that balances the sweetness of the meringue. Opt for Italian-grown almonds like Pizzuta d’Avola, prized for their intense aroma, to truly capture the spirit of the dish.
Troubleshooting Tips for Perfect Cookies
Even seasoned bakers encounter challenges with meringue. Here’s how to overcome common issues:
- Grainy texture? Your sugar syrup may have crystallized—ensure all sugar dissolves completely before whipping.
- Flat cookies? The meringue wasn’t whipped long enough. Achieve stiff peaks before incorporating the almond mixture.
- Sticky bottoms? Reduce baking temperature slightly or extend baking time to dry the cookies out fully.
By refining these techniques, you’ll produce cookies that rival those of Italian patisseries!
How to Serve and Pair Italian Almond Meringue Cookies
These cookies shine on their own but become a showstopper when paired with complementary flavours. Serve with a glass of Vin Santo, a sweet Italian dessert wine, to highlight their almond notes. Alternatively, enjoy them with a robust espresso or cappuccino for a classic Italian café experience. For special occasions, present them alongside panna cotta or gelato for a stunning dessert platter.
Toasting the Almonds
Almond meringue cookies need almonds, so that is where we are going to start. Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat and add to it half a cup of almonds. Do not add oil to the pan. Keep the almonds moving as much as possible while they are toasting. Cook them for about 4-5 minutes or until they turn golden brown. You can do this in the oven at 350°f for about 10 minutes, for a more even roast. However, I prefer to toast nuts in a pan, rather than in the oven because I have more control, even if the toast isn't as uniform. Once the nuts are toast, pour them out of the pan on to a plate and let them cool to room temperature.
How to make Meringue
The almonds are toasted and cooling. Now it's time to make the meringue. Use four egg whites that have been sitting at room temperature for about half an hour. It is essential that there is no egg yolk at all in the whites. The fat from the egg yolk will prevent the whites from reaching the volume they need to make these cookies. It is also vital that the mixing bowl not have any oil or grease in it at all. I find it helps to rub the inside of the mixing bowl with lemon before making the meringue. The acid from the lemon will break down any small amounts of grease that are on the bowl. However, make sure not to rub the bowl with the lemon rind. Natural lemon oils will come out and cling to the sides of the bowl, ultimately defeating the purpose.
Put the four egg whites in the bowl of the mixer and mix on medium speed for 2-3 minutes or until the egg whites start to foam. At this point, add in the salt, lemon juice, and almond extract. Turn the speed of the mixer up to high and slowly add the sugar about a third of a cup at a time. When all the sugar is in the meringue, step back, leaving the mixer on high, and set a 10-minute timer. When the timer goes off, the meringue is ready.
A note about the amount of sugar.
There is 1 cup of sugar in this recipe, which may seem like a lot. Do not cut this back. If you do, the meringues won't set properly. This recipe makes 24 cookies, minimum so, even though it seems like a lot of sugar, it is only half a teaspoon in each cookie.
Making Italian Almond Meringue Cookies
When the meringue is ready, and the almonds have cooled, you can combine the two. Put the almonds in the bowl with the meringue, and using a spatula, gently fold them into the meringue to evenly spread them throughout. Put the meringue in a large piping bag with an opening big enough for the almonds to come out. I was out of piping bags, so I used a large ziplock bag with one corner cut out. This worked reasonably well.
Pipe the meringue cookies on to two parchment paper-lined baking sheets. I find it helpful to spray the sheet pan with cooking spray before putting the parchment down. This helps hold the paper in place and prevents it from rolling. You can also set a dab of meringue on each corner of the sheet pan before putting the parchment down. The meringue in the edges of the pan will have the same effect as the cooking spray, but it can be a bit more challenging to clean afterwards.
Bake the cookies at 225°F for two hours. Remove them from the oven and let them cool completely before putting in an airtight container. If the meringue cookies are left unsealed for too long, they will start to pull moisture from the air and get soggy and sad. These cookies will last in an airtight container for about a week before they begin to go stale.
Conclusion
Whether you have some company over, want something nice and light to have with your afternoon tea or coffee, or just feel like something sweet, these Italian Almond Meringue Cookies are the perfect thing. Yes, they take a while to bake, but there is very little active time involved. You can put a batch of these together in a few minutes, pop them in the oven then go about your day. I promise, two hours after these go in the oven, you will be dying for something sweet and past you will have delivered.
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Ingredients
- 4 Egg Whites Room Temp
- 1 cup Sugar
- pinch of salt
- ¼ teaspoon Lemon Juice
- ¼ teaspoon Almond Extract
- ½ cup Slivered Almonds
Instructions
- Pour the slivered almonds into a hot, dry pan and toss to toast them until they are golden brown. Remove the almonds from the pan, and let cool to room temp.
- Slowly whip the egg whites until they start to foam.
- Add the salt, almond extract, and lemon juice and turn the mixer on to high.
- Slowly pour in the sugar and whip on high for 10 minutes.
- Fold the toasted almonds into the meringue and spoon into a piping bag with a wide opening.
- Pipe the meringue into 2 tablespoon mounds onto a parchment-lined sheet pan.
- Bake in the oven at 225°F for two hours. Remove from the oven and let cool completely then put in an airtight container and eat within one week.
Cynthia says
Recipe was simple to put together, and the resulting cookies were divine! I’m adding the recipe to my cookie repertoire and holiday cookie list.
Anonymous says
This is quite detailed but you still need to remind people about the fundamentals of Italian meringue (peaks, speed of adding sugar etc)
Anonymous says
Great recipe with great details. They turned out perfectly. They taste even better after a few days in the fridge or freezer.
Thank you!
Chef Ben Kelly says
Thank you!!