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5.0 from 63 votes

Paste di Mandorla ~ Sicilian Almond Paste Cookies

Authentic Italian almond paste cookies with lemon are perfect with tea or coffee. These soft amaretti style almond cookies are easy and delicious!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 21 cookies
Calories: 117 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

for the cookies
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • zest of 1 lemon Note: peel the lemon zest with a serrated vegetable peeler ~ you want only the yellow part, try to avoid getting the bitter white 'pith'.)
  • 2 large egg whites
  • 1 tsp almond extract
  • 2 1/2 cups almond meal or almond flour
for the coating
  • 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. To make the lemon sugar put the granulated sugar with the lemon zest into a food processor and pulse/process for about a minute until the zest is fully incorporated and the sugar is moist, pale yellow, and super fragrant. Note: If you do not have a food processor you can skip this step and just whisk the zest and sugar together.
  3. In a mixing bowl whisk the egg whites until foamy. Whisk in the almond extract.
  4. Add the lemon sugar and almond flour to the bowl and mix thoroughly. It will seem dry at first, but keep mixing until you get a moist dough with everything evenly incorporated. Don't worry about over mixing, there is no gluten in this dough so your cookies will not get tough.
  5. Using a tablespoon or small scoop, form into small balls and coat in powdered sugar. Make sure the balls are thoroughly coated with the sugar, then place on your prepared baking sheets. Flatten slightly with the back of a knife or spatula. It's ok if they start to crack along the sides.
  6. Bake for 15 minutes. The cookies will not look very different, but they will have puffed slightly and formed a few more cracks. Do not over bake.
  7. Let cookies sit on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool.

Notes

  • These are meant to be small cookies, don't be tempted to make them larger. Depending on size you'll get 1 1/2 to 2 dozen cookies.

Nutrition Information

Calories 117kcal (6%) Carbohydrates 15g (5%) Protein 3g (6%) Fat 6g (9%) Saturated Fat 0.4g (2%) Sodium 5mg (0%) Potassium 6mg (0%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 13g (26%) Calcium 25mg (3%) Iron 0.5mg (3%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 21cookies

Amount Per Serving

Calories 117

% Daily Value*

Calories 117kcal 6%
Carbohydrates 15g 5%
Protein 3g 6%
Fat 6g 9%
Saturated Fat 0.4g 2%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Potassium 6mg 0%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 13g 26%
Calcium 25mg 3%
Iron 0.5mg 3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.