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CROATIAN AMARETTI COOKIES – GLUTEN-FREE, 4 INGREDIENTS

By Delicious Recipes!Posted on
CROATIAN AMARETTI COOKIES – GLUTEN-FREE, 4 INGREDIENTS

CROATIAN AMARETTI COOKIES – GLUTEN-FREE, 4 INGREDIENTS

These traditional Amaretti cookies hail from the island of Rab in Croatia, where a similar almond tart is also popular. The original recipe uses Maraschino liqueur for flavoring, but I substituted it with a splash of pear brandy (Kruskovac) from Istria. If you don’t have a similar liqueur, simply omit it and let the cookies shine with bright lemon zest. Shape them round or as little crescents—the exterior is crisp while the centers remain soft and slightly chewy.

Wishing you happy holidays, joyful cooking, and sunny days ahead!

🕒 Prep Time: 15 min

🍳 Bake Time: 10-14 min
🍪 Yields: About 25 cookies

Ingredients

  • 200 g almond flour (or peeled whole almonds)
  • 200 g powdered sugar
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1 tbsp pear brandy (optional)
  • 25 g whole almonds (peeled or unpeeled)

Instructions

  1. If using almond flour, mix it well with the powdered sugar. If using whole almonds, grind them finely together with powdered sugar until a fine mixture forms.
  2. Add the lemon zest.
  3. Lightly whisk egg whites with a fork until foamy. Add them along with the pear brandy to the almond mixture and stir with a fork until a homogeneous dough forms. The dough will be firm and a bit difficult to stir.
    If the dough is too soft and sticky when shaping, add a little more almond flour.
  4. Coarsely grind the whole almonds to resemble coarse breadcrumbs.
  5. Pinch off portions of dough and shape into balls (about the size of Raffaello candies) or small logs. Roll the shaped cookies in the coarse ground almonds.
  6. Arrange the cookies on a parchment-lined baking tray—balls as they are, logs shaped into crescents like traditional croissants.
  7. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 10-12 minutes if shaped as crescents, or 12-14 minutes if shaped as balls. Remove when tops are lightly browned but centers remain soft. Handle carefully when removing from the tray.
  8. These cookies are delicious right away but their flavor and texture improve if left overnight.

💡 Tips

  • Using finely ground almonds ensures a smooth dough; coarse almonds add crunchy texture on the outside.
  • Dough firmness is key—add almond flour if too sticky.
  • Shaping crescents is traditional, but balls work equally well.
  • Let cookies rest overnight to deepen flavors and perfect texture.

🍽️ Perfect For

  • Gluten-free holiday baking
  • Traditional Croatian treats
  • Elegant, soft-centered almond cookies

📝 Final Thoughts

Croatian Amaretti cookies combine a crisp exterior with a soft, chewy center, enriched by fresh lemon zest and optionally flavored with pear brandy. Simple yet sophisticated, they bring a delightful touch of Mediterranean tradition to your baking table.