Amaretti Macaroons Recipes

AMARETTI (ITALIAN MACARON COOKIES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325° F. Line baking pan with parchment paper.
• In a stand mixer or food processor, blend the almond paste, sugar, and salt until crumbly.
• In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until very frothy. (Don't beat long enough to form peaks.)
• Gradually add almond extract, bitter almond oil, and beaten egg whites to the almond paste mixture.
• Using a small scoop, form cookies and place on prepared baking sheet.
• Sprinkle cookies lightly with confectioners' sugar and sliced almonds.
• Using three fingers, press indentations into the center of each cookie. (This keeps them from puffing up too much during baking.)
• Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, until the very edges are just turning golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

AMARETTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a food processor, grind the almonds into a fine meal. Add the sugar and continue to process for another 15 seconds. Finally, add egg whites and almond extract, continue to process until a smooth dough forms around the blade.
• Using a teaspoon, place well rounded spoonfuls of dough onto prepared baking sheets. Cookies should be at least 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Cookies should be golden. Allow cookies to cool completely on the paper before removing. Store in a dry place.

CHOCOLATE-AMARETTI TORTES

Steps:

• For tortes:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter four 3/4-cup custard cups or soufflé dishes. Dust with flour; tap out excess. Line bottom of cups with parchment paper rounds. Place on rimmed baking sheet.
• Stir chocolate in top of double boiler set over simmering water until melted and smooth. Using on/off turns, blend almonds, amaretti, cinnamon, and salt in processor until finely ground. Transfer to medium bowl. Add butter, sugar, and eggs to processor; mix until blended and smooth, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl, about 3 minutes. Add cookie mixture and melted chocolate. Using on/off turns, process just until blended. Divide batter among custard cups. Bake until tops of tortes are dry and puffed and tester inserted into centers comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 30 minutes. Transfer cups to rack; cool 15 minutes. Run small knife around edges of cups to release tortes. Turn tortes out onto rack and turn right side up; cool. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Wrap in plastic and store at room temperature.)
• For topping:
• Beat together cream, sugar, and almond extract in medium bowl until cream holds peaks. (Can be made 4 hours ahead; refrigerate.)
• Place 1 torte on each of 4 plates. Top with dollop of whipped cream, sprinkle with crumbled amaretti, and serve.

AMARETTI TIRAMISU

Steps:

• Beat together yolks and 2 tablespoons sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until thick and pale, about 2 minutes. Beat in mascarpone until just combined.
• Beat whites with salt in another large bowl with cleaned beaters until they just hold soft peaks. Add remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, a little at a time, beating, then continue to beat until whites just hold stiff peaks.
• Beat cream in another bowl with cleaned beaters until it just holds stiff peaks. Gently but thoroughly fold cream into mascarpone mixture, then fold mixture into whites.
• Pour espresso into a shallow bowl. Dip half of amaretti (15 to 20) in espresso for about 20 seconds, turning to coat both sides and letting excess drip off. Arrange in 1 layer in an 8-inch square baking dish. Spread half of mascarpone mixture evenly over amaretti. Make another layer in same manner with remaining amaretti (dipped in espresso) and mascarpone mixture. Chill at least 6 hours.