Delicious, almond-infused, traditional soft Italian Amaretti cookies which are naturally gluten and dairy free. Made with ground almonds, they have an almost marzipan quality to them. Perfect with a cheeky cup of coffee.
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Soft Italian Amaretti Cookies for World Cancer Day
These Soft Italian Amaretti Cookies are truly special. They were made in memory of my mother who I sadly lost unexpectedly in early 2018 to Pancreatic Cancer. But they are also a fitting tribute to the 9.6 million people who die every year from cancer worldwide, as well as to those incredible people who work tirelessly every day to find cures and treatments.
The 4th February marks World Cancer Day, which since the start of the millennium has been used to raise awareness of and take action against this deadly disease.
I have lost both my parents to cancer (my father when I was just 18), as well as many friends and colleagues over the years. Thus, World Cancer Day feels particularly poignant, and although I originally published this recipe for Amaretti cookies back in 2018, it seems the right time to update and share again.
Pancreatic Cancer – ‘The Silent Killer’
Although my mum had probably had this ugly disease for a long time, it was only a week and a half from diagnosis with Pancreatic Cancer to her death. It seems inconceivable that symptoms were not identified earlier. Her cancer must have lain ‘undiscovered’ for many months, if not years…
Pancreatic Cancer is known as the ‘Silent Killer’ with good reason. It masquerades within symptoms which could be anything but… Yet it kills with the precision of a carefully-targeted bullet and has a 5 year survival rate of less than 7% (the lowest of all common cancers).
Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer
Symptoms of Pancreatic Cancer can be vague and easily explained away. They include abdominal and back pain, indigestion, weight loss, changes in bowel habits, bloating and wind, loss of appetite, nausea and recently diagnosed diabetes.
Mum had pretty much all of them at one stage or another and over a number of years. Some were explored and tested, but all were ultimately dismissed. Shockingly, not one medical professional questioned the health of her pancreas.
I now realise that many of the symptoms were as clear as day and that the doctors simply did not look in the right place at the right time, or consider them with appropriate curiosity.
I won’t dwell on what it meant to (all too briefly) care for my mother in her final days. But I would urge you to look up how this deadly disease manifests and stay armed with that knowledge just in case you ever need to know.
Why these Italian Amaretti Cookies are truly special
It was my mother who gave us our Italian heritage and also our love of food. Born to Italian parents, she introduced us early to foods that my friends had never heard of, let alone eaten. Visits to my ‘Nana’s’ house often meant dodging fresh-made spaghetti draped around the kitchen. And I relished trips to the Italian deli to pick up ravioli shells, finely sliced salami, Parma ham, olives and the annual boxed Panettone.
There was always cake or dessert in the house too. Mum loved to bake and never needed an excuse to feed us with sweet stuff. A meal wasn’t finished until ‘pudding’ had been devoured.
In memory of my Mum and in celebration of her life and Italian roots, it seemed only fitting to make something authentically Italian and traditional. And so came about these Soft Italian Amaretti Cookies.
What are Soft Amaretti Cookies?
Traditional in Italy, Amaretti cookies are often shared as gifts and at celebrations. The soft cookies should not however be confused with their dry-baked, crunchy relations. Soft Amaretti cookies are pungent with an intense almond hit and have a chewy, cracked outer shell surrounding a soft, almost-marzipan centre.
Known in Italy as Amaretti morbidi (morbidi meaning ‘soft’), they are heavenly rapture for almond lovers. But they are also naturally dairy and gluten free, being made with little more than ground almonds, egg white and sugar. Even better, Amaretti are incredibly simple to make… A batch can be created from end to end (and probably eaten) in 30 to 40 minutes flat.
Flavour them with a generous hit of Italian Amaretti liqueur (I use Disaronno). And for a slightly more intense flavour and aroma, add a little extra almond extract. Either way, with their crisp shell and slightly gooey interior, you will find these cookies difficult to leave alone. The solution? Plan ahead and make a double batch…
When to share Amaretti Morbidi
Amaretti Cookies are total heaven alongside a cup of coffee. But they also make a perfect foodie gift, whether for Valentines Day, birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or Christmas. They also make perfect ‘comfort’ cookies.
Why not give them a try? They are really easy to make, so no excuses are needed… And if you do make them, let me know! I’d love to hear how you like them. Pop a comment below or tag me on social media. You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest. Come follow me! Or subscribe using the box below for all the latest from Gluten Free Alchemist.
love these Amaretti cookies? you’ll love my other nutty cookie recipes Too :
- Soft Nutty Cookie Mounds
- Gluten Free Lebkuchen Cookies
- Baci Di Dama (Ladies Kisses)
- Melt-In-The-Mouth Hazelnut Biscuits
- Nutella Thumbprint Cookies
- Blackcurrant & Dark Chocolate Macaron
- Raspberry & White Chocolate Macaron
- Pistachio & Vanilla Shortbread
- And for ALL the gluten free biscuits, why not explore our Cookies & Biscuits Index?
For everything else, we now have an amazing pictorial Gluten Free Recipe Index for you to browse and be inspired.
Soft Italian Amaretti Cookies (gluten free; dairy free)
Key equipment
- Oven
- baking trays
- baking paper
- Kitchen scales
- measuring spoons
- large mixing bowl
- electric whisk
- large mixing spoon
- 2 shallow bowls
- food gloves (optional)
- wire cooling rack
Ingredients
- 2 large egg whites (approx 70g)
- 190 g ground almonds (almond meal)
- 170 g caster sugar
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- 20 ml Amaretti liqueur and/or ½ teaspoon almond extract
To Coat
- 2½ tbsp caster sugar
- 2½ tbsp icing sugar
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 170 C/325 F/Gas 3. Line a couple of baking trays with baking paper.
- In a large very clean bowl, whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks.
- Fold in the almonds, sugar and vanilla.
- Gently stir through the liqueur and/or almond extract. You should now have a very thick, sticky dough.
- Tip the caster sugar and icing sugar for coating the cookies into two, separate shallow bowls.
- Scoop out walnut-sized chunks of the dough using teaspoon and roll into balls using your hands (the mix is very sticky, so food gloves may be helpful).
- Roll each ball as you make it in the caster sugar followed by the icing sugar and place on the baking tray, leaving a slight gap between them.
- Very slightly squash the top of each ball with your finger.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until crisp on the outside, but still quite pale in colour.
- Leave to cool on the baking tray for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Soft Italian Amaretti Cookies shared with :
- Meatless Monday with Confessions of a Mother Runner and A Whisk and Two Wands
- What’s for Dinner with The Lazy Gastronome
- Cook Blog Share with Crumbs & Corkscrews
- Baking Crumbs with Apply to Face Blog
This post was originally published on 9th February 2018 and updated on 3rd February 2020
Previously shared (2018) with : Cook Blog Share with Easy Peasy Foodie; Inheritance Recipes with Coffee & Vanilla and Pebble Soup; Baking Crumbs with Only Crumbs Remain; Cook Once Eat Twice with Searching for Spice; Free From Fridays with Free From Farmhouse; Brilliant Blog Posts with Honest Mum; Fiesta Friday #210 with Angie
What a lovely recipe and a lovely way to remember your mother. Pancreatic cancer is such a horrible disease which i lost my father to. We had a whole 3 months between diagnosis and death still far too quick and like your mother the other symptoms were there. That was 12 years ago and I still miss him but I remember him whenever I’m baking he was a Master Baker so he lives on in my memories, through my inherited love baking.
Thank you Jacqui. I am so sorry to hear that you lost your father to the same disease. Food and the foodie memories passed down to us by our parents are so strong and powerful. I think the nurture they convey is also so significant. It’s wonderful to take on that legacy x
Thanks for sharing at last week’s What’s for Dinner party – hope to see you there again this week. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
You’re welcome Helen x
What a wonderful tribute to such an inspiring lady. It sounds like her love still surrounds you all through her foodie legacy. That is exactly what I try to do with my children. The idea that they can still feel my love when I am no longer here is important to me. It lasts a lifetime and how amazing if it carries on through the generations. A true gift.
I’m so sorry that you lost her so early. Sending love.
Thank you so much for linking up these beautiful Italian Cookies to #BakingCrumbs
Thank you for your kind words Jenny.
The foodie legacy is such a powerful thing and the nurture and love it conveys are so important when someone is lost. I am very lucky to have had that x
So sad, but also so lovely that your recipe is in memory of your Mum. I have a lot of recipes that hold memories of my Dad and my Granny, when I bake them it brings smiles and tears, but keeps them with me. Sending hugs! Thank you for sharing #CookBlogShare
Thank you so much Lou.
Those food memories can be so powerful yet so cathartic. Such a great way to remember x
Such a sad and yet heart warming post, Cancer is horrific for anyone to go through and takes no prisoners. That said, its so lovely to think this recipe is in memory of you mum, so many recipes hold memories for us, it’s important to keep them alive.
Thank you lovely. I love that those recipes and the food we eat still give that connection long after someone has been lost x
These look fabulous. I love anything almondy and my daughter is huge fan of marzipan so I know they will be a big hit here! So happy to find these via #cookblogshare 🙂
Thank you Helen. You are so welcome. Enjoy x
These look simply delicious!
Thank you for linking up with us and sharing, gives me a reason to pick up more amaretto. 😉
Thank you. I hope you enjoy them x
These look easy and delicious! I love Amarretto in desserts. Thanks for linking up for Meatless Monday. Hope you will check out the other recipes as well
Thanks Deborah. They are so easy to make…. but way too delicious! x
Kate, forgive me for the delay – I have not been blogging much recently, so am slow at coming by these days. I am ever so sorry to learn of your mother passing away. January has been a terrible month in our home too, with loss of a dear close friend. My heartfelt wishes and warmest of thoughts are with you during this hard time. We are left with memories and your talking of your Italian heritage and sharing these delightful light cookies is a great way to honour your mother for years to come x
Oh Shaheen, I am sorry to hear of your loss too. Bereavement has a knack of pulling the rug from under the feet and motivation is hard to find here too!
Thank you for your kind words….. I am so far behind on visiting blogs too! I hope you feel better soon x
I am so sorry or your loss. I have also lost both my parents to cancer and like you I do worry when there seems to be something wrong.
Your Amaretti Cookies sounds absolutely divine! And you make them sound so easy! Take care! x
Thank you so much for your kind words. Cancer is a terrible lottery it seems, but when it strikes twice and leaves us 'orphaned' it becomes particularly scary xx
Kate, I'm very sorry to hear about your mum! �� And thank you for sharing this beautiful tribute to her Italian roots with the Inheritance Recipes.
Thank you Margot. My pleasure x
Dear Kate, I am really sorry to hear that your mum has passed away and so suddendly too. I can only imagine how hard it must be for you right now. Your mum left you with some lovely memories and an Italian heritage and I can see that, your amaretti here look incredible and so are (once again) your fabulous pictures.
Take care Kate, time will heal the wounds and if you want to talk about Italian things or just have a coffee perhaps we could meet up one day. I live in Tunbridge Wells not too far from you (I think).
Lots of love xx
Thank you Alida for your kind words. I am proud of my Italian roots and the food that comes with it and I will try to ensure I pass that down to my daughter.
It would be lovely to meet up some time. Tunbridge Wells is really near, so we should definitely make a plan x
Im so sorry about the rough start to the year!
Thank you Patrick. I am hoping things will improve x
Kate, my heart goes out to you and I am sending my deepest condolences to you and your family, what a truly sad start to 2018; the end of 2016 was the same for me, when just before Christmas, I lost my dad, so I know how it feels. Please take time to grieve, and also, be sure to talk about your mum, in order to keep her memory alive, it helped me. May happy memories of your life with her and all she did for you sustain you through the sad times…..much love being sent to you, Karen xxx
Thank you Karen for your kind words and thoughts. They are much appreciated x
Oh Kate – what a lot you've been through. Your poor thing. It's sad to lose anyone…but to lose your mum so quickly and suddenly to such a nasty disease must have been especially horrible. But what a lovey tribute to her, these amaretti look amazing…and we can be sure that your mum's cooking legacy will continue to live on in all your wonderful bakes…and Miss GF's too!! And thanks for linking up to #CookBlogShare. Eb x
Thank you Eb. I think it was the speed of the deterioration that was most shocking and quite surreal. With terminal cancer you always think that you have at least a few weeks, so this has left us quite dazed.
The family food legacy will definitely stay with us though and I am sure will bring us much comfort x
I'm so sorry to hear of your Mum's passing Kate.
What a lovely tribute to her, they look absolutely divine and given that you describe them as having marzipan qualities I am imagining them to be very very moreish. You've done her memory proud 🙂
Take care lovely,
Angela xx
Thank you for your kind words Angela. I hope Mum would be proud. Either way, the cookies are definitely very very moreish x
I'm so sorry for your loss Kate, I hope that making these beautiful cookies in memory of your mum has helped with the grieving process. Baking can be great therapy. Sending lots of love!
Thank you Kat. Baking is definitely great therapy….. I may end up putting on a lot of weight! x
I am so sorry again for your loss, Kate.
These cookies look awesome! Thanks for sharing at FF party!
Hugs,
Jhuls
Thank you Jhuls x
Kate what a lovely post in memory of your mother. I wish you greater strength and happiness with each day. These cookies both look and sound absolutely perfect and sharing them in this way will make your memories live on. Thank you so much for linking up and sharing your story at Fiesta Friday. Thanks also for the tags on FB & Insta! Hugs to you x
Thank you. You're welcome. Food inheritance is an absolute privilege x
Wow reading this I now understand how you got your incredible talent for baking which you now share selflessly here. Your mum would be so proud if you sharing this recipe. I’d love to see more Italian recipes! You’ve been through a lot so take your time to take stock. Look at what’s important in your life and do more of it. I’m thinking of you a lot…I know that doesn’t help you but tell me if there is something I can do to help. Off to share this fab recipe xxx
Thank you Vicki! Not sure how I missed this comment! I've only just seen it….. I do so appreciate your support lovely. Thank you xx
My sister was very ill when she returned here to live, from Turkey. Pancreatic cancer, massive operation, loads of chemo, so far, she is doing well. So sorry about your mum, horrible disease. Made me look up the symptoms as well. Take care my dear.
Oh goodness DC. That sounds awful. I wish your sister a safe recovery and hope she continues to do well. x
So sorry to hear about the death of your mother. My warm wishes and thoughts are with you during these difficult times – the world must feel quite different without both parents about. I love hearing about your Italian heritage and your happy memories of baking and feeding – am sure you will keep baking and remembering your mother for a long time. These biscuits sound wonderful.
Thanks for your kindness Johanna. It does feel rather strange being 'orphaned'…. even at my age. Parents are always so quick to offer care and advice and whether you want to hear the advice or not, when it is not there, it is missed! At least there are precious memories x
What a beautiful tribute. Sending love.
Thanks Laura x
I am so sorry to hear of your sudden loss. My thoughts are with you and your family. Baking is a lovely way to remember the happy memories.
Thank You Katie. x
I used to love these so I'm going to attempt them with aquafaba and honour the memory of your mum…this is a touching piece you've written here Kate and I'm all for passing on knowledge that could help others, god forbid they should ever be concerned about themselves or a loved one. Keep baking mum's recipes, it's wonderful therapy and eating the product brings the family together….all my love darling xxx
Thank you Rebecca. Baking is wonderfully therapeutic, especially when it connects you to those you have lost.
It's funny….. I was wondering as I made them how they might work with Aqua Faba. You'll have to let me know x
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. I lost my father to Pancreatic cancer 10 years ago and had just 10 weeks from diagnosis to his passing and loss my mother many more years ago within a couple of weeks of being taken ill with something altogether different but it does mean I have some idea of what you have gone . Loosing someone you love so quickly is so very hard.
I think this blog post is beautiful and a fitting tribute to your mother and your Italian roots. I am sure she would be very proud.
Thanks for your kind words and thoughts Jacqui. The speed of the loss has felt quite surreal and has left many things unsaid. But I hope she would be proud of my cookies and I know that she would have enjoyed eating them x
Oh Kate, how terribly sad and what an awful time for you. My heart goes out to you. I've never made cookies like these and I never had the pleasure of knowing your mum but I will make these this half term and will think happy thoughts of her. Thank you for sharing this recipe. Helen x
Thank you for your kind words Helen. They are lovely and very moreish cookies and indeed a fitting tribute. Enjoy x
I'm so so sorry to hear about your loss Kate. Sending you lots of hugs. At the same time it's lovely to see these beautiful cookies as a tribute to your mum and your Italian roots. Thank you so much for sharing with #CookOnceEatTwice xxx
Thanks Corina. Received!
The cookies seemed the right thing to make and were so yummy they needed to be shared x
Glad to see you do what you love after your ordeal. I mentioned in a comment on Facebook that my own mum died from the same nasty disease so I know what you went through especially near the end. You made your mum proud with these cookies, they look awesome:)
Thank you Monika. I am sorry to hear that you too have experienced the horridness of this disease. The cookies were very comforting x
I didn't know you had Italian heritage! I'm sure you must get your love and talent for baking from your mum and going back to your roots. It's lovely to have so many happy memories of time spent with her. Sending lots of love to you and your family. These look stunning and would be worthy of any delicatessen xx
Thank You Emma. Yes…. the Italian heritage has always felt very important despite being UK born and bred. I think Mum was always proud to have passed her love of cooking on, although was often bemused by some of our new fangled ingredients! x
I adore amaretti cookies because of that wonderful almond flavor. These look absolutely delicious! But more importantly, what a beautiful tribute to your Mum, Kate, and I'm heartily sorry for your loss. My heart aches for you. I hope that this year brings inner healing and much love and support from your family and friends.
Thank You Michelle for your kind words. I am certainly hoping that the year improves and that we can all move forward with our precious memories. x