Vegan amaretti cookies

Vegan amaretti cookies

vegan amaretti cookies

While I am dreaming of a white Xmas – which, let’s face it does not look likely – I have decided to make myself a tray of snow-covered cookies instead πŸ™‚ . They are my eggless take on the famous Italian almond cookies amaretti morbidi, except that morbidi does not mean what you probably think it does. It simply means ‘soft’ as, like their traditional counterparts, they are soft and chewy on the inside and a touch crispy on the outside. Heaven! Especially with a cup of good black coffee!

Traditionally these almond cookies rely heavily on eggs, but the longer I am a vegan chef (although I never tend to think of myself as such, I am simply a fussy πŸ˜› amateur cook who enjoys a bit of creative tinkering), the more I am convinced that anything non-vegans can eat, we can eat too.

In this recipe, my trusted old friend aquafaba has done all the heavy lifting and while it’s been ages since I had the original version, I honestly don’t think anyone would be able to tell that these are vegan. Once I refined the recipe, I was thrilled with how they came out and they are now officially part of my Xmas cookie repertoire. They also make a gorgeous Xmas present and I could bet that the recipient would think that you got them in some fancy Italian deli in town.

vegan amaretti cookies aquafaba whipped

vegan amaretti cookies sugar coating

vegan amaretti cookies hand

vegan amaretti cookies gift top down

vegan amaretti cookies gift

makes
15
PREP
20 min
COOKING
17 min
makes
15
PREPARATION
20 min
COOKING
17 min
INGREDIENTS
METHOD
  1. Preheat the oven to 175Β° C / 350Β° F and line a large baking tray with a piece of baking paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, mix the almonds, sugar and baking powder.
  3. Place the aquafaba (use only 60 ml / ΒΌ cup if using amaretto*) and lemon juice in a spotlessly clean bowl – even the tiniest grease residue will inhibit the aquafaba from reaching stiff peaks.
  4. Whip the aquafaba with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form – you need to be able to invert the bowl over your head and the mixture should not move at all.
  5. Gently fold in 2 tbsp of whipped aquafaba into the mixture and then fold the rest in gently.
  6. Add Amaretto (if using), vanilla paste and almond extract. Mix really well.
  7. Form the mixture into balls (I made fifteen 26 g / 0.9 oz balls) and roll them in the icing sugar.
  8. Place the cookies on the prepared baking tray, making sure you leave enough space between them. You can leave them as they are, or gently flatten them a little with your palm. The former look cuter (I think), but the latter get a crispier shell once baked.
  9. Bake for about 17 minutes, until the tops are lightly browned and cracked in places. Allow them to cool completely to crisp up and become less fragile.
  10. Store them in an airtight jar for up to 5 days.

NOTES
*ALMOND FLOUR: What you want for this recipe is super finely ground almonds usually marketed as almond flour, but confusingly, in the UK, they are also sometimes simply called ground almonds. It isn’t the same as home ground almonds though so please don’t make that substitution or if you do, be prepared that the cookies will be different, they will most likely spread a lot.

*You can add a dash of amaretto liqueur like Disaronno for more flavour. If you do, replace 1 tbsp (15 ml) of aqauafaba with 1 tbsp (15 ml) or amaretto. Do not add amaretto until step 6.

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NUTRITIONAL INFO
calories
121
6%
sugars
9 g
10%
fats
7 g
10%
saturates
1 g
3%
proteins
4 g
7%
carbs
9 g
4%
*per cookie
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4.9
69 reviews, 133 comments
REVIEWS & QUESTIONS
Mark:
I come back to this recipe every Christmas. Foolproof so far, always loved, and flexible (we sometimes add chocolate chips and chopped dried cherries.
    Ania
    Ania:
    That's so nice to hear, thank you! Delighted that they are such a favourite for you and your family. And I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know. x Ania
Paula:
These cookies are so good! They were a big hit last Christmas! My non-vegan husband loved them. They are on my list again this year. They hold up well too!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks Paula, I am so happy to hear that these cookies went down so well with you and your family last year and that you are planning on making them again. x Ania
Lauren:
sooooo tasty, nice and crisp outer shell and soft and melt in the mouth inner! delicious!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thank you so much, Lauren! I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed these so much and I really appreciate you coming back to review - it helps my recipes be seen by a larger audience - thank you. x Ania
Eve:
I have made these several times and they always work out perfectly! They are a real crowd pleaser - for vegans and non-vegans alike! I use a fair amount of almond extract (more than the recipe indicates) and taste as I go! Thanks so much for this recipe, it’s one of my favs!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thank you, Eve! I'm delighted to hear that these are such a hit with you and our loved ones. And many thanks for taking the time to leave this lovely review - I really appreciate it. x Ania
Anna:
These came out beautifully! Just the right balance of chewy, soft and crunchy. I took a chance on making these as I don't have an electric whisk, but beating the aquafaba for a good long time with a fork seemed to work well - even though they only reached about soft peak consistency. I also added a blanched almond pressed into the top and rolled them in caster sugar before the the icing sugar coat to prevent them absorbing the icing sugar. Great recipe, thank you!
    Ania
    Ania:
    So happy to hear that they came out of well, Anna - thank you for taking the time to let me know. Oh and I love the idea of decorating them with a single almond, that must have looked so nice! x Ania
Vicky:
These worked like a dream, so easy to put together. The flavour and texture are spot on, I really enjoyed them
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thank you, Vicky! I'm so happy you enjoyed them and thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review - I really appreciate it! x Ania
Alex:
I’m Italian and my Nonna used to make these all the time. Hands down my favourite cookie. When I went vegan she didn’t know how to make them, and the store bought ones have egg of course.
This recipe may be the closest I’ll ever get to recreating her amaretti! Thank you for that :) it’s nice to have these family traditions live on, in a vegan form!
For anyone without a mixer, use double the aquafaba and lemon and put it in a food processor. Then just use half for the recipe. It is much better than whipping by hand.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks Alex, I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed them and that they brought back happy childhood memories. Ania
Holly:
Yet another excellent recipe by you! The miracle of aquafaba will never cease to amaze me. My amaretti cookies were not quite as picturesque as yours, but not at all bad looking, and they are a delight. Slightly crispy, soft and moist inside, perfect. Thank you for all your excellent recipes, you are a treasure! Please make a book!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thank you for your kind words, Holly! I'm delighted that you enjoyed these as well as my other recipes - it's very motivating to know. Thank you for taking the time to review - much appreciated. x Ania
Katja:
These cookies are addictively good, like a baked marzipan! I did not use amaretto but doubled the amount of almond extract (and skipped the vanilla). They were perfectly sweet, so the powdered sugar is not really necessary, but I do admit that it looks pretty!
Thanks for another great recipe!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Yay! That's some lovely feedback, Katja! Thank you so much, I am really happy that they did not disappoint. Happy New Year! Ania
Leigh Colombick:
An absolutely delicious tasting cookie, easy to make and so professional looking! I gifted some to a friend who announced that they were on another level entirely! I substituted Frangelico liquer in place of Amaretto as could not find in my local store, and besides, I love Frangelico! A cookie with coffee and a wee tot of Frangelico is Ace!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks so much, Leigh! That's so nice to hear that you and your friend enjoyed these so much! And Frangelico is a good sub, I am a bit fan also! Ania
Rhonna Griffin:
What a wonderful recipe this is! I have tried it both ways (using Amaretto and using more aquafaba) both work wonderful. For as delicate of a cookie (they melt in your mouth) the batter holds up to scooping and rolling icing sugar surprisingly well. I am a "good" baker but def not a pro and these make me look like a pro. Haha! Thank you for this recipe it has been a favorite for the last couple years!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thank you for your kind words, Rhonna! I'm so happy to hear that they were a success and became one of your Christmas favourites! Ania
Vanessa Harness:
So happy I found this blog - the recipe was easy to follow and the cookies are easy to make, they also taste heavenly! These used to be an Xmas treat for our family at Xmas and so happy to have them back in our treat tin! The first batch I made literally only lasted one evening in our house
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks so much for your kind words, Vanessa! I'm delighted to hear that you and your family enjoyed them so much! Ania
Marti:
I'm stuck in MontrΓ©al bc of the pandemic and can't go back home (Italy), so was looking for the taste of home in my kitchen. THOSE ARE WONDERFUL! Clearly it was my lucky day, bc my aquafaba was stiff as stiff can be, and those amaretti are just the BEST. Loved the consistency. Slightly too sweet for me, won't be adding the extra 2 spoons of sugar, but the great news is that there WILL be a next time. I just love them and I really felt home. Thanks for this recipe! DziΔ™kujΔ™!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Aw, I'm delighted to hear that Marti! Sorry to hear that you are held up by the pandemic (although MontrΓ©al isn't the worse place to be I imagine) and really happy that these cookies made you a little less homesick. Hope you'll be able to get home soon. Stay safe! x Ania
Katkat:
Aniu, jak długo można przechowywać te ciasteczka?
    Ania
    Ania:
    Mysle, ze w szczelnym sloiku wytrzymaja 5 dni, moze dluzej...ale ze u mnie znikaja natychmiast (lub rozdaje sasiadom) to ciezko mi precyzyjnie okreslic. Ania
Katie:
I’ve missed amaretti biscuits since becoming vegan and when I’ve tried using aqua faba in other recipes, it hasn’t turned out well. However, these were delicious! Will definitely be making them again.
    Ania
    Ania:
    I'm so happy to hear that, Katie! I know that feeling of excitement of being able to enjoy something you used to love in your pre-vegan days again. I'm so happy they did not disappoint. Ania
Monica:
These are amazing! I’m so glad I made them. Only change was I used almond flour and a little bit more of the almond extract.
    Ania
    Ania:
    I'm delighted to hear that they were a hit, Monica. Btw, I also used almond flour / finely ground almonds. Ania
Rosh:
Brilliant easy to use recipe, came out beautifully
    Ania
    Ania:
    Aw, that's so lovely to hear, Rosh. I'm delighted and thank you for taking the time to review - much appreciated. Ania
I have never cooked with aquafaba or almond meal or really anything vegan-y but figured I'd try ......and these are AMAZING! I followed the recipe as-is and am thrilled with the result. Thanks for sharing . They will be made again soon!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thank so much for your kind words, Kt! I am especially delighted that you loved these as you are not vegan. So excited that you plan to make them again. x Ania
Katie:
Hello! If I don’t have almond extract, could I just leave that out or will that change the flavor too much?
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Katie,
    Almond extract enhances the flavour of almonds so skipping it will make the flavour less intense. Perhaps you could add more vanilla extract or a drop of lemon or orange extract (or some zest) to compensate. Hope this helps! Ania
Kim:
They taste delicious but ended up more like peanut brittle. How can you fold whipped aquafaba into the mixture that has a consistency of sand? There was no volume whatsoever.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Kim,
    It sounds like something must have gone wrong. Perhaps your aquafaba have deflated? You simply mix in very gently, the same way you would if you were using whipped egg whites which are used in traditional amaretti. Ania
Jackie:
These came out fabulously. I skipped the Ameretto and confectionery sugar.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thank you, Jackie! I am delighted to hear that! Ania
Zsuzsanna:
I have made these before and noticed that the stiffly beaten aquafaba collapsed when mixed into the ground almond mixture. So this time I tried it without whipping up the aquafaba and it still worked! Is this against all reason?
    Ania
    Ania:
    That's great to hear, Zsuzsanna! I used traditional recipes, which use egg whites, as a guide when developing this recipe and they tend to use whipped egg whites so I don't think I tried with unwhipped aquafaba, but glad to hear that it worked just as well. Thanks for letting me know! Ania
Nicole:
These are DYNAMITE! So easy, so tasty and so reminiscent of the quintessential Italian cookie. Keep the amazing Italian treats coming. Thank you!
    Ania
    Ania:
    aw, thanks so much, Nicole! I am delighted to hear that! x Ania
amani hussin:
Thank you so much!!!! These are amazing! I haven't had an amaretti biscuit in years after going vegan and these are even better than I remember them!!!!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Aw, thanks so much! I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed them so much and thank you for letting me know. x Ania
Rony:
Hi Ania!
I made these today (they’re kosher for Passover!) and first of all, they are delicious!
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
Mine seem to had a different consistency than yours- they were very sticky, not stable enough to bowl. Had to scoop them using two spoons into the powdered sugar, and once they were covered with powdered sugar they were easier to bowl.
In the oven they flattened , not super flat but not pretty little balls like yours :)
Also, don’t know if that related but the aqua faba took like 15 minutes to whip! My arm died hah ;) it’s home made aqua faba if that makes a difference.
I love them regardless, but do you have any idea what went wrong? Thanks!!!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Rony,
    I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed these - happy Passover! Sounds like you were brave (or crazy ;) ) enough to beat the aquafaba by hand? with a wire whisk? My hat off to you, but it sounds like your aquafaba wasn't quite stiff enough, which is why the cookies weren't forming easily and flattened more than mine. I use a Β£7 (so not professional at all) electric whisk and it takes me about 5-7 minutes of solid whipping to get to stiff peaks. Having said that sounds like your hand-whipped version is not very far off. Stay safe and keep baking :) x Ania
Pauline:
Hi!
I understand that white icing sugar is not vegan (filtered through bone char). What did you use for this recipe? I'm investigating raw caster sugar.
    Ania
    Ania:
    That's not necessarily true, using bone char is an old method that is rarely used these days, as far as I know. The best thing to do is to check the particular brand you wish to use. In the UK, for example, all Tate & Lyle sugar is vegan apart from Royal Icing Sugar as it contains dried egg whites. Hope that helps! Ania
mia:
Hi there -would there be a different between almond flour and almond meal?
cannot wait to try these!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Mia,
    As for as I know there is no difference and here is what Google says on the subject: Almond meal and almond flour are both finely ground almonds and there is no official difference between the two products. The terms can be used interchangeably. ... Almond meal can be blanched (skins removed) or unblanched, while most products labeled almond flour are blanched. I hope that helps and that you'll enjoy these. x Ania
Vanessa Warwick:
Hi Ania,
Been meaning to write to THANK YOU for your awesome recipes. I didn't think I would get round to baking before Christmas this year but you inspired me THREE times over. I made the Amaretti (new family favourite), the Gingerbread which worked out fabulously although my icing wasn't near as pretty as yours and the Florentines which got oodles of compliments. I may have directed a few people onto your Insta page and website. So THANK you again for all your inspiring food ideas πŸ’š
    Ania
    Ania:
    Aw, thanks so much, Vanessa! Your comment made my day! x Ania
Silvi:
Ania,
my friends loved the gift! They were delicious (tasted what sticked to the tray:)
The end result was different from yours because I changed the sugar, I used raw cane sugar, and the hazelnuts were not super fine like a flour.
So mine spreaded like crazy in the oven. The aquafaba was whipped to stiff picks but I had the impression that maybe I should have reduced it a bit (I used the liquid from a jar of precooked chickpeas).
It ended up being like a croccante/brutti ma buoni. I will make them again.
Thank you, xo!
Silvi
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Silvi,
    I am so glad that your friends enjoyed them. I would say that hazelnuts not being super finely ground had probably impacted these the most, hope they will be even nicer next time. x Ania
Carole Maloney:
Thank you Ania for this fab recipe. I tested it out yesterday as would like to make some Christmas treats for my daughter and her boyfriend, who are both vegan. They came out really well. I left them in the oven for a bit longer on a lower temperature, and I think they are quite crunchy. The only thing I would do differntly if make them slightly smaller. The were lovely dipped in Amaretto! I am going to make more and also try your Biscotti recipe.
I am making a vegan version of this for our Christmas dinner https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/mushroom-and-squash-vegetarian-wellington/ I have been making it for the last few years, and I think it is delicious. Going to do your roasted sprout and cranberry recipe as one of the sides.
Thanks again. Happy Christmas
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks Carole, I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed my recipe and I hope your daughter and her partner will do too! Your Xmas dinner plans sound great. Have a lovely Christmas! x Ania
Silvi:
Oh! I forgot...I will not use the almond extract, the Disaronno and I think I will leave out the icing sugar too...
xoxo
Silvi:
Hi Ania,
I would love to gift these cookies to some frineds. I have a lot of roasted hazelnuts and I was wondering if I could follow the recipe swapping the almonds. The hazelnut version would resemble a vegan version of 'brutti ma buoni' the traditional cookies from Piemonte.
I think I will attempt tomorrow and see how it goes:)
Baci e buon Natale
Silvi
    Ania
    Ania:
    Sure, I don't see why it would not be delicious! I hope your friends will love them! x Ania
Sue:
Hi , I made these the other day as a practice for Christmas - they were fabulous. I want to make some more so that I can use them in a Christmas trifle. Is there anything I can do to make the trifle batch crisper so that they don’t go too soft when I pour booze over them?
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Sue,
    I'm really pleased to hear that you enjoyed these. I know what you mean but these are soft amaretti and the ones you are after are hard amaretti - you may be ok by baking them in a low oven (say 150Β°C / 300Β°F) for half an hour or so but I haven't tried that so I cannot be sure. Ania
Shirly:
Great recipe- thank you very much!
I made it twice so far: first time exactly as written, and a second time without whipping the aquafaba.
Instead of whipping I whisked all the liquids first, added the sugar and whisked again, then finally mixed in the almond flour and baking powder. There was almost no difference in texture, and much less work and dirty dishes - a big plus in my book!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Shirly,
    I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed my recipe. I have tried making them without whipping at the time, but I preferred the texture of the ones where AF was whipped first. You've inspired me to do another test though as a simpler recipe is definitely a better sell. Thank you for letting me know the outcome of your experiment. Ania
Rachel Bliss:
Hi Ania,
These look delicious! Have you tried freezing them? I would like to give them as Christmas gifts but I would need to make them at least a week in advance.
Thanks,
Rachel x
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Rachel,
    I haven't tried freezing these, I'm afraid, but I'm guessing that freezing them raw (prior to baking) and then baking closer to the time would yield best results. Hope that helps! Ania
Kimi:
Hi Ania,
I love this recipe! Mine came out almost perfect - just a tad too sweet for my family's tastes. Would you recommend adding more almond meal if I were to put less sugar?
Thank you so much!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Ha, that's an interesting one - I have had people telling me my recipes aren't sweet enough for their palate - just goes to show how subjective flavour is! I am pleased to hear that they came out well and that you enjoyed them, sweetness level side. I would go by feel and given that sugar is used it its solid (not liquid) from here more almond flour may not be necessary and it may make them to dry so I would only add if the mixture is way too sticky. Hope that helps! Ania
Eny Calvert:
These cookies turned out phenomenally. I followed your recipe to a T and I am so excited to add these to my regular cookie baking. The lemon juice with the aquafaba whipped up surprisingly well, better than my previous tries using cream of tartar. Thank you!
    Ania
    Ania:
    I am so excited to hear that! So pleased you were happy with the result and that I helped you demystify whipped aquafaba a little :) x Ania
I made these for a small gathering and they went down so well! no one believed they were vegan! thank you for another fantastic recipe Ania!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks for your kind words, Jo! That's lovely to hear and thank you for taking the time to review and rate this recipe - it really helps my blog grow! Much appreciated. Ania
madina:
Is 1 tbsp of amaretto a substitute of the 1 tbsp of aquafaba? ( I don't consume alcohol )
Thanks :)
    Ania
    Ania:
    Yes, so if skipping amaretto, use 75 ml of aquafaba. Hope that helps! Ania
Dan Wilcox:
These look really good! I am surprised that they are stable. I tried meringue and they were beautiful but unstable and read that you needed cream of tartar to stabilze the aquafaba but yours look really good. I will try them and let you know how they turn out. Please comment on cream of tartar if you have used this with aquafaba
Thanks,
Dan
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Dan,
    I have made many recipes with aquafaba and I have never needed to use cream of tartar. I do use a small amount of acid (lemon juice or apple cider vinegar usually) to stablise the aquafaba, but it isn't necessary either. It just takes a bit longer to whip it up to stiff peaks without the stabliser in my experience. Hope that helps! Ania
Jane:
These are amazing. I've made them 3 or 4 times now. Thank you so much for this delicious & easy recipe Ania xxx
    Ania
    Ania:
    Yay! I'm so pleased to hear that, Jane! Thanks for taking the time to leave such a nice comment! x Ania
Agnieszka:
Mine didn't work? So pity. They started to melt in the oven after maybe 10 minutes? Then were just connected all together :(
Why? Aquafaba?
Anyway the taste of amretti is always good so am gonna eat them as soon as they cool .
Thanks for Your answer.
    Ania
    Ania:
    I'm sorry to hear that, Agnieszka. From your description of what happened, it does sound like your aquafaba wasn't at stiff peaks - did it pass the upside down test? If it did, did you make any changes to the recipe, like used a different type of sugar, for example? x Ania
JoAnn:
These cookies are AMAZING!! Thanks for sharing the recipe. I almost never leave comments -- but these turned out so well, that I had to do a review. I think I baked them a little too long -- but my health conscious gluten free friend ate THREE! I used turbinado sugar -- just put it & the almond meal in the food processor for a bit first.
    Ania
    Ania:
    That's so lovely to hear - I'm chuffed! Thank you for taking the time to review and rate this recipe - much appreciated! Ania
Ashley:
What would you suggest for making these with more amaretto flavor. I followed the recipe exact and the texture was beautiful with perfect sweetness. However, I really enjoy a solid strong amaretto flavor and I barely got a touch of that with 1tbsp. I thought about nixing the vanilla extract for all almond as well. Thank you.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Ashely,
    The only way to increase amaretto flavour is to sub some aquafaba for more amaretto, which is certainly worth trying but I have not tried it myself. Hope that helps! Ania
Samantha Williams:
Mine did not come out right. I followed the recipe exactly but the dough came out kinda soggy. I even added more almond flour. They wouldn’t form into a ball. They tasted good in the end but not the right texture or shape. Did I not whip the aquafaba long enough?
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Samantha, yes, I am afraid so. Aquafaba needs to be so stiff that you can comfortably turn the bowl upside down without it moving even a millimeter. Ania
Tracy:
This was my first successful experience with aquafaba, and my first attempt at amaretti in general. Oh! My! Stars! Not so sure about sharing, as they are divine. Thank you, Ania!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hahaha, that is great to hear, Tracy! Ania
Kamini raghavan:
Just made these. In the oven. Can’t wait. Aquafaba is a miracle!
    Ania
    Ania:
    Fabulous, I hope they will go down well with you and people you are going to share them with. Yes, it is indeed! I love using it. Ania
Ana:
Hi Annia,
They look great! Can they be made with a different egg substitute? Flaxseed eggs or something like that?
Thanks
    Ania
    Ania:
    Hi Ana,
    I don't think so but if you feel like experimenting you might prove me wrong :) Ania
Hannah:
Spot on! Those look perfect.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks, Hannah! Ania
Michaela:
I'm so excited to try this this weekend. I miss them so much and other vegan recipes I've seen look like they've lost their crunch. These look authentic.
    Ania
    Ania:
    Thanks Michaela! I hope you will enjoy them, but just a note of warning, they are amaretti morbidi (soft amaretti) not the hard ones you might be thinking of. They are a little crispy on the outside, but mostly soft and chewy on the inside however you can make them crispier by flattening them and baking for a bit longer. Hope that helps! Ania
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