Servings
Font
Back
5.0 from 30 votes

Ricciarelli

Ricciarelli are traditional Italian cookies made at Easter and Christmas time. These delicious soft and chewy cookies are made with almond flour, so they are perfect for a gluten free diet.

Prep Time
45 mins
Cook Time
45 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 20 cookies
Calories: 118 kcal
Course: Dessert , Baked Goods
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 2 egg whites (room temperature)
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • Grated zest of an orange or lemon
  • 1 cup powdered/icing sugar sifted
  • extra powdered/icing sugar for dusting
  • 200 grams almond flour
  • 2 tablespoons bitter almond extract
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat oven to 320℉/160℃
  2. In a mixing bowl, rub the zest into the sugar to release the fragrant oils into the sugar. Mix in the almond flour and icing sugar.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites till soft peaks are formed. Slowly stir mix in the vanilla and almond extracts. Gently fold this into the almond flour mixture and combine to form a moist dough.
  4. (This step is optional - wrap the dough into long sausage shapes, cover and chill for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight.)
  5. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Break off small amounts of dough and form into flattened oval shapes. Dust liberally with icing sugar and leave on the counter for approximately 30 minutes to dry slightly. 
  6. Bake for 15 minutes, till small cracks form on the surface. Remove from oven and allow to cool. They should still be soft but will harden on cooling. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

  • For the traditional way of making Ricciarelli
  • Prepare the dough into sausage shapes, wrap in wax paper/saran wrap and refrigerate overnight. 
  • The Ricciarelli will crack slightly in the oven, but once cooled, will hold their shape.
  • They remain white/light golden with a rough cracked surface. 

Nutrition Information

Calories 118kcal (6%) Carbohydrates 17g (6%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 5g (8%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Sodium 5mg (0%) Potassium 7mg (0%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 15g (30%) Calcium 21mg (2%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 20cookies

Amount Per Serving

Calories 118

% Daily Value*

Calories 118kcal 6%
Carbohydrates 17g 6%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 5g 8%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Potassium 7mg 0%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 15g 30%
Calcium 21mg 2%
Iron 1mg 6%

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