Amaretti cookies

Amaretti Cookies are traditional Italian cookies made primarily with ground almonds, sugar, and egg whites. Their texture is crispy on the outside and slightly chewy on the inside, with a characteristic sweet flavor and a delicate bitter note that comes from the use of bitter almonds or almond extract. They are very popular in the northern region of Italy, especially in Lombardy and Piedmont, where they are part of numerous desserts and recipes.

The name amaretti comes from the Italian word amaro, which means "bitter," referring to the slight flavor contributed by the bitter almond. In gastronomy, these cookies are used both to accompany coffee and tea and to incorporate them into various preparations, from mousses and tarts to ice creams or as a base for classic desserts like tiramisu.

Regarding their properties, amaretti cookies provide energy mainly from their carbohydrate content and the healthy fats from almonds. Furthermore, almonds are a good source of vitamin E, magnesium, and antioxidants. However, being a sweet, baked product, their consumption should be moderate within a balanced diet.

In different Spanish-speaking countries, amaretti cookies may also be known as "almond cookies" or simply "amaretti", although the original Italian term is the most commonly used in the gastronomic context. In some places, they may also be called "amareta cookies", slightly adapting the name.