Description
Sweet Italian wedding cookies boast a delicate almond-infused charm that melts in your mouth. Powdered sugar coats these traditional treats, inviting guests to savor a delightful culinary moment from Naples.
Ingredients
Scale
Nuts:
- 5 ounces (142 grams) roasted salted almonds
Main Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup (170 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups (180 grams) all-purpose flour
Sweeteners and Flavor Enhancers:
- 5 tablespoons (63 grams) sugar, divided
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 cups (454 grams) powdered sugar for coating
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper for optimal cookie preparation.
- Pulverize almonds with a small portion of sugar in a food processor until achieving a fine, uniform texture.
- Cream butter with remaining sugar and vanilla extract, whipping until light and airy, approximately 3 minutes to develop a smooth consistency.
- Gently incorporate flour and salt into the butter mixture, then fold in the ground almond mixture until thoroughly integrated.
- Craft uniform cookie spheres approximately 3/4-inch in diameter, positioning them evenly spaced on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake cookies for 22-26 minutes, ensuring gentle rotation midway through cooking to promote even golden-brown bottoms.
- Allow cookies to rest for 3 minutes post-baking, then delicately enrobe warm cookies in a generous dusting of powdered sugar.
- After cookies have completely cooled to room temperature, apply a second luxurious coating of powdered sugar for a classic finish.
Notes
- Customize Nut Selection Swap almonds with pecans, walnuts, or hazelnuts for a unique flavor profile that matches personal preferences.
- Ensure Even Grinding Pulse nuts carefully to prevent turning them into paste, maintaining a fine, consistent texture for optimal cookie structure.
- Temperature Matters Work with room-temperature butter to achieve a smoother, fluffier dough that blends ingredients more evenly.
- Storage Hack Store cookies between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container to maintain their delicate powdered sugar coating and prevent crumbling.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 179
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 25 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg