Italian almond cookies, Sicilian style

Speaking of making variations of the same thing, if it's not chocolate cake, it's often some kind of almond cookie of the chewy, almond-paste variety.  I really do just adore almond pastries of all kinds!

So this version comes from the great David Lebovitz, so you know it's going to work and it's going to be good.  And it is.  I added the "Sicilian style" title to these because they're supposed to mimic almond cookies often found in Sicily and plus, they help me differentiate this recipe from other ones I've made before.  And I had fun making (and eating) this batch of almond cookies.  For a switch, these are made with almond meal instead of almond paste.  You kind of make the almond paste yourself when you take the almond meal and combine it with egg whites.  

For another twist, these cookies have a few spoonfuls of apricot jam in them.  Right away, I'm behind this idea because anything involving almond paste/almond cream and apricot jam is always delicious (honestly, I have tested this out many times and it's been proven true over and over again)!  The jam adds extra moisture and makes me think of apricot kernels that are in some amaretti cookies; it's probably why I associate almond pastries with apricot.

These cookies are easy to make.  Once you make the dough (no mixer needed), you shape little rounds into ovals and roll them in some lightly beaten egg white.  Then, roll the cookies in sliced almonds or pignoli nuts (which are great but very expensive), or you could even leave them plain or "nudi".  Instead of oval, you can certainly shape simple rounds but I have to say the shape is a little whimsical and fun to me.  

I thought these cookies turned out so cute!  Maybe it's their gnocchi-like shape (particularly when it comes to the "nude" ones, which I made for my son who had some teeth extractions and needs to avoid nuts for about a week), or the fact that the almond encrusted ones look like little porcupines.  I'm not altogether sure but they made me smile and then made me very happy when I tasted them! These cookies are all kinds of chewy and dense, yet soft and moist...just how I like them!

You don't need to plug in your mixer for this recipe.  A whisk and a sturdy rubber spatula will be the best tools.  Start by combining almond meal and sugar in a bowl. Next, lightly whip egg whites until they build up to a soft fluffy mound; you are not aiming for stiff peaks.

Fold the egg whites into the almond meal mixture.  It's fine for the whites to deflate; it will just moisten the almond meal and make it start to come together. Next, add some smooth apricot jam (if you use apricot preserve like I did, you can warm it up and then strain it) and a few drops of almond extract.  I know we're not supposed to go overboard with almond extract but I love it so much that I find myself reaching for the bottle to add a couple more drops.

Stir the mixture together.  A stiff rubber spatula is great for the job.  Sure enough, a sticky dough forms.  If necessary, you can use your hands to bring it together.

Now we really get our hands in there.  Grab enough dough to make a 1 1/4 inch round, then shape it into a rough oval, setting the shaped cookie dough onto a plate as you go.  

Finally, roll the cookies into some lightly beaten egg whites and then give them a turn in sliced almonds (or pignoli nuts), pressing the nuts generously and firmly onto each cookie before setting onto a lined baking sheet.  

I got 13 cookies out of my small batch, with a little baby cookie bonus I considered a baker's treat right out of the oven.  Bake these in a low 325 oven for about 20-25 minutes, or until the cookies and/or nuts are golden brown. 

If you make plain cookies, still roll them in egg white, allowing the excess to drip off (so the liquid doesn't pool at the bottom of the cookies).  The egg whites give them a nice golden hue and sheen.  They really do look like little gnocchi, right?

These cookies smell so wonderful.  They have a nice crust but they yield and are tender - and so chewy - in the center.  If you are a fan of almond cookies, put your almond meal to good use and make yourself a batch of these.  They are a real welcome treat for us almond lovers!

Recipe:  

Italian Almond Cookies (Sicilian Style)

From David Lebovitz

- Makes about 25 to 30 cookies - 

For cookie dough:

3 cups (290g) blanched almond meal  

1 cup (200g) sugar

3 large egg whites, at room temperature

Pinch of salt

3 tablespoons smooth apricot jam*

few drops of pure almond extract

* If using apricot preserves or you need to smooth out the jam, you can heat it until warm, then strain it through a fine mesh sieve.  You can also omit the apricot jam and add an additional 1/4 cup (50g) sugar. 

To finish the cookies:

1 large egg white

1 1/2 - 2 cups (120-160g) sliced almonds, blanched or unblanched (or pignoli nuts)

In a large bowl, mix the almond meal and sugar together.  In a separate bowl, whisk the 3 egg whites with a pinch of salt until they start to mound and look like softly whipped cream (they should not be stiff).  

Fold the egg whites into the almond mixture (they will lose volume, which is okay). Fold in the apricot jam and few drops of almond extract (I'd say up to about 1/4 teaspoon).  Mix the dough until it comes together in a smooth ball, using your hands to knead the dough if necessary.  

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicon baking mats.  

Pinch pieces of dough about 1 1/4-inch in diameter and rolling each into a ball.  Then shape each into an oval using your hands (you can leave them as rounds if you prefer).  Set the dough ovals on to a plate as you work.

In a small bowl, lightly stir the egg white with a fork for about 10 seconds to loosen it. Place almond slices on a plate.  Roll each cookie dough in the egg white, then roll it in the almonds.  Generously coat each with almonds, gently pressing them to make them stick to the cookies.  As you work, set each onto the prepared baking sheets, evenly spaced apart.

Bake cookies, rotating the pans midway through baking, until cookies and nuts are lightly golden brown, about 25-30 minutes (though I found mine were done closer to 20-25 minutes).  Let cookies cool before serving.  Once fully cooled, cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.

Alternative: You could omit coating the cookies with nuts.  Just roll the shaped dough with egg white, letting the excess drip off before setting on the baking sheets and baking.