Pignoli Cookies Recipe

(10)

Recipe Intro From lisathompson

These pine nut cookies are truly the MVP of the Italian holiday cookie spread. A chewy almond-scented dough comes together easily in a food processor with just 7 ingredients. Roll each scoop in some raw pine nuts (also known as pignoli nuts), then bake until lightly golden brown. Pignoli nuts are notoriously expensive and have a rich, buttery flavor. The place to buy them for the best price is at Trader Joe’s, where it is around $10 for an 8-ounce bag. Note: While the recipe itself does not contain any flour, you will need to check the package on the almond paste you purchase if you need to keep these absolutely gluten-free, as some do contain traces of wheat.

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  • Pignoli Cookies Ingredients
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Pignoli Cookies Ingredients

Prep time 10mins
Cook time 13mins
Serves or Makes: 26 cookies

Recipe Card

ingredients

  • 1 (7-ounce) tube almond paste
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large egg whites
  • 1 1/4 cups blanched almond flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)

Method

  • Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

  • Step 2

    Add sugar, almond paste, and salt to a food processor. Process until the mixture looks like wet sand.

  • Step 3

    Add egg whites, almond extract, and almond flour. Process until dough is homogenous.

  • Step 4

    Scoop dough into 1 tablespoon-size portions, then roll each dough ball in pine nuts.

  • Step 5

    Bake, for about 13 minutes rotating halfway through.

  • Step 6

    Let pignoli cookies cool completely, then dust with powdered sugar, if desired.