Description
These elegant, gluten-free pignoli cookies are a timeless Italian-American favorite. Featuring a dense and chewy almond paste center, each bite offers a delightful contrast between the sweet, nutty dough and the savory, golden-brown pine nut crust. Perfect for holiday platters or as a sophisticated treat with tea, this recipe uses a food processor method to ensure a professional, bakery-quality texture every time. Simple to assemble and naturally free of gluten, these cookies are a reliable centerpiece for any occasion.
Ingredients
8 oz (225 g) Almond Paste
1 cup (200 g) Granulated Sugar
1/2 cup (60 g) Powdered Sugar (plus extra for dusting)
2 large Egg Whites (room temperature)
1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
1/4 tsp Salt
1 1/2 cups Pine Nuts
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 325°F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a food processor, pulse the almond paste, granulated sugar, powdered sugar, and salt until the mixture resembles fine, consistent sand.
Add the egg whites and vanilla extract to the processor and pulse until a smooth, sticky dough forms.
Spread the pine nuts out on a shallow plate.
Scoop 1 tablespoon of dough at a time, roll into a ball, and press firmly into the pine nuts to coat completely.
Place the coated cookies on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 18 minutes or until the pine nuts are golden brown and the cookies are set.
Remove from the oven and let cool completely on the baking sheet before serving.
Notes
Ensure your almond paste is high quality without fillers for the best texture. If the dough is too sticky to roll, slightly dampen your hands with water or a tiny bit of oil. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to a month.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 18
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 35mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg