Outside my ultimate dream of attending cooking school at a farmhouse in the hills of Tuscany, one with its own vineyards and olive groves, I have imagined that culinary school for pastry would be an exciting venture.
To be surrounded by curls of chocolate, pretty whisks, puffs of pastry and lemon-scented anything, sounds dreamy to me. To use words in my everyday like zabaglione, clafoutis, pots de crème and salted caramel (couldn’t resist)… would be a language I’d love to learn.
But until that day, I will do what I’ve always done which is to make the recipes of my family, of blogger friends who know their way around a sifter, and the many chefs, cookbooks, and magazines I’ve come to know and love.
Enter Epicurious. They recently shared a recipe for Chewy Amaretti Sandwich Cookies that were just too delicious-looking not to try. And if you’ve visited Ciao Chow before and read the story behind my Pignoli Cookies, then you know my hubby is a fanatic for almond, making this a no-brainer.
I did take a little liberty with the recipe by adding Nutella. Hey – when I see ‘sandwich cookie’ – I think Nutella. Do you do that, too?
But honestly – the cookie on its own, sans Nutella, is exquisite. Soft, sweet, delicate and almond-y…a perfect addition to any holiday tray.
Hmm, do you see what’s happening here? Two cookies in one.
You’ve got your Chewy Amaretti or your Amaretti & Nutella. How ’bout that?
Although a simple process from start to finish, I need you to follow the recipe to the letter. You’ll see that you need to pour a small amount of water between the parchment and the pan upon taking it out of the oven. This strategy helps the cookies stick together, should you go the no-Nutella route, as well as to make lifting the cookies from the parchment easier.
One last thing – if you’re like I, and don’t possess a pastry bag, you can place the batter in a gallon-sized plastic freezer bag with a snipped corner and it works like a charm. The recipe makes 60 small cookies or 30 sandwiches.
Thatsa nica!
Buon Appetito!
Print
Amaretti & Nutella Sandwich Cookies
- Category: Dessert
Ingredients
- 1 – 7oz. tube pure almond paste (not marzipan)
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 large egg whites at room temperature for 30 minutes
- Nutella
- Confectioners’ sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 F with racks in upper and lower thirds.
- Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Pulse almond paste and sugar in a food processor until broken up, then add egg whites and pulse until smooth.
- Using a pastry bag with a 3/4″ plain tip, pipe rounds 1/3″ high and about 3/4″ apart in pans.
- Dip a fingertip in water and gently tamp down any peaks.
- Bake, rotating and switching position of pans halfway through, until golden and puffed, 15 – 18 minutes.
- Wearing an oven mitt, rest one pan in sink at an angle.
- Lift top edge of parchment and slowly pour about 1/4 cup water between parchment and pan so that all parchment is lightly moistened. (Water will steam on pan, moistening bottom of cookies helping them to stick together later.)
- Repeat with remaining pan.
- Cool cookies in pans on racks.
- Peel cookies from parchment.
- Spread a small amount of Nutella on flat side of a cookie and top with another cookie.
- Dust with confectioners’.
{Recipe adapted from Epicurious.}
Ciao!
I went to culinary school, and let me say that while it was a lot of fun and I learned a lot, it’s not necessary! You turn out AMAZING recipes and honestly I feel like you could TEACH a cooking class or two! I mean LOOK at these cookies!!! You are a cooking rockstar, my dear! These look amazing! Nutella and amaretti sandwich cookie says it all… and it definitely has my name somewhere in there! 🙂 PINNED! Cheers, Annie! xo
Okay! You are too much, my friend! I tell you what – how ’bout we co-teach?! How fabulous would that be?! Thanks for your sweetness, always, Chey! Of course your name is in there!! xoxo
Annie, these cookies are beautiful!!!!! and I share your ultimate dream of attending cooking school at a farmhouse in the hills of Tuscany. . or even just culinary school in France 🙂 sounds so dreamy and wonderful!
Right?! I’d happily take either… Let’s go! Thanks, my friend! 🙂
These cookies are just beautiful! I’m on board with anything almond and Nutella – I mean really, who doesn’t love Nutella?! Pinned!
I haven’t met a person yet! Thanks, friend! 🙂
Wow – these cookies sound phenomenal! I love almond cookies and you definitely did right by adding a little Nutella in there 🙂
It’s a perfect little bite! Thank you, my dear! 🙂
And here I thought I was the only one who immediately thinks of Nutella when they think of a sandwich cookie. These look so festive and beautiful. Perfect with tea.
Ahhhh! Yes! In praise of Nutella! I knew I could not be alone!! Thanks so much, my friend! 🙂
That sounds like the most perfect dream, Annie! Hopefully some day it will come true 🙂 These sandwich cookies are beautiful! I can never resist any cookies with almond paste!
Hahaha! Finger’s crossed! Thank you so much, Kelly! 🙂
Wait a minute. . .did I read that right? You don’t have a pastry bag? Gasp! I think I know what we need to add to your holiday list (;-) wink! wink!) because every future pastry chef needs a pastry bag.
And these cookies. They simply are fabulous. Lucky me I just so happen to have two jars of Nutella taking up valuable space in my pantry. Hmmm. . .what to do. . .what to do?
Hahaha! You read that right! I hope hubby’s reading this… 😉 Oh man – two jars of Nutella? You definitely need to clear some room in that pantry of yours. There’s only one way to do that as far as I’m concerned… Enjoy! 🙂
Simple ingredients, in an exquisite combination. You had me at almond paste! Our niece recently graduated from Johnson & Wales as a pastry chef, and we get to enjoy her creations. If you go to pastry school, Annie, I volunteer to be your taste tester. In Tuscany. 🙂
Wow – between you, your niece, your mamma, your son…everyone in the Mamma C family – you guys eat incredibly well! I have a plan – you can be my taste tester and I’ll be yours! 🙂
Haha! I’m only packing my fat pants for my family’s holiday trip to Connecticut. As for the taste testing…it’s a deal!
Hahaha! Wise woman! “It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” xo
I’m with you on your dream! Sounds beautiful. In the meanwhile, we just must bake on! These cookies look like the perfect daydream cookie! Very beautiful!
Hahah! Yes we must…just bake on! Love it!! Thank you, Kathy! 🙂
Gorgeous cookies with wonderful flavors! Can’t wait to try them! I’d love to attend cooking school over there, too ! But Annie, even without cooking school, you are an awesome cook!
Thank you, Mira. Your words are so sweet and much appreciated! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could all attend school there, together! Hey – a girl can dream (big)! xo
These look so light and chewy! I’m in love. I have always bought Amaretti cookies but after seeing these my store bought ones look stale, lol. Definitely have to try this recipe. Pinned. Take care.
I hope you try them…they’re too simple and delicious not to! Thanks, my dear! 🙂
Aww, that is a perfect dream. How I wish too to be in the landscapes of Tuscany now.
Oh well,to these lovely cookies, I absolutely love almond anything and this is really a match made in Almond heaven. So delicious, I can almost imagine it melting in the mouth.
Your dream will come true soon. Hugs my friend.
pinning this.
It really is a match made in heaven…each component on its own is delicious, but together – watch out! Thanks for your kind, kind words, my friend. xo
These look so delicate, I love the simplicity of ingredients. I’m glad you added the Nutella, too. It must be sandwich cookie day as I’ve seen several posts today (me included)!
Have a great weekend!
I can’t resist this flavor combination, either. I like it as much as chocolate and peppermint…oh yeah! Have a lovely weekend, my friend! 🙂
I haven’t had nutella in tooooo long! These sandwich cookies look to die for 🙂
It’s such a treat!! Thanks, my friend!
Two cookies in one – that’s a perfect description, Annie! I’d love them either way. And I’m with you on a dream trip to an italian countryside farmhouse with cooking classes – I even have one picked out for when I hit the lottery!
Yes! I love a woman with a plan!! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!! Thanks, dear!
Oh, my lord. You’re showing me nutty deliciousness in a sandwich cookie on Friday afternoon when I have no willpower. If only I could leap through the screen right now!
I hear you…that’s exactly how I felt about your perky popcorn! Thanks, friend!
ohh Annie! your amaretti look delicious! and nutella just make them even better!
Why thank you, dear!! 🙂
I think sandwich cookies are my ultimate weakness… for real! When I first saw these I got a big smile on my face, because I love them so much and I couldn’t wait to see what you had created! No doubt two cookies in one.. that’s the beauty of it my dear! Awwwh, Annie… pastry school. I get it. I remember the feeling I had the fist time I finally stepped foot into pastry school.., whisks, pans, flour, sugar, croissants wafting from the oven, and puff pastry running through a sheeter. Butter heaven. And so, you will go, to Tuscany to learn the art of French pastry. What a delight to learn from the masters too! I can’t wait to hear of your pending adventure!! xo
Your description put me right in the room with you… Thank you for that! My pending adventure is very much in the dream phase of things – but you never know – life is full of surprises! Thanks for you sweet words, Traci. Have a lovely weekend, my dear! xo
You just described my dream of cooking school, too! Along with these sandwich cookies. Anything with nutella is guaranteed to be a winner in my book, especially with almond flavors added in!
Yep! Nutella = Winner! Thanks, Gayle! Have a lovely weekend! 🙂
The cookies sound like a dream come true!! I want to make and taste them ASAP. And I don’t like the usual filling in sandwich cookies — I think it is too sweet. Now Nutella speaks to me too. And your dream?? Lets go one further. We OWN the lovely Tuscan villa on the hillside with our family all around us. We hire local chefs to come a teach cooking classes at our additional farmhouse. What do you think?? I mean we have to dream BIG then if we just get to go to the class that is simply wonderful. 🙂 Love your recipe — I”m pinning and sharing.
Oh man! I like the way you dream, Sister! Kindred spirits, Marisa!! Thanks for the pin and share! 🙂