Pistachio Amaretti are a twist on traditional Italian amaretti cookies, but with the addition of pistachios. Crisp on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, they are the perfect sweet treat with your cup of coffee and especially gorgeous for your holiday dessert table. They are also gluten free!
Lately, I’ve been thinking of that package of chopped pistachios that I brought over from Sicily. I decided I really need to use them so I finally got around to making pasta with creamy pistachio sauce, which was a huge hit at our house!
Next, I figured it was time to experiement with pistachio desserts. I immediately thought of my mother’s traditional amaretti cookie recipe and I decided that pistachios would taste great in those cookies, and wow was I right!
Chewy amaretti cookies with pistachios give these cookies extra flavor as well as an attractive color. And just like my basic amaretti recipe, they are a breeze to put together!
Step by Step Instructions
Many people have told me that they have never made amaretti ’cause they find them rather intimidating. Yes, you can find piles of them in any good Italian bakery but aside from the fancy look and name, they are one of the easiest cookies you can make! You can literally prepare a batch ready for the oven within ten minutes. Let me walk you through it.- Combine the egg and sugar in a bowl and mix well. Stir in the amaretto or vanilla extract.
- Next incorporate the almond flour and ground pistachios. Then stir in the baking powder.
- This will result in a firm dough rather than a batter.
- Roll into tablespoon sized balls, coat lightly in powdered sugar. Then coat one side in chopped pistachios, pressing lightly for the pistachios to stick. Bake at 325F for 15-16 minutes and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
How to make pistachio flour:
- I purchased my pistachios in Sicily and they came chopped (as shown below) which I then ground with my food processor. If these are not available where you live, purchase whole shelled pistachios which you will then grind in your food processor to turn into pistachio flour.
Substitutions:
- I tested this recipe using both amaretto and vanilla extracts and quite frankly both turned out delicious. Since I couldn’t decide which I prefer, I’m presenting both options in the recipe. If you’re partial to that traditional amaretto flavor in your cookies, choose that one. But if you love vanilla, go for it. Of course, you can always make half batches of both and see which you prefer.
Baking time:
- Baking time may vary according to your oven. In my oven these take precisely 16 minutes to bake. You are looking for a light brown color underneath. Begin checking the cookies after fifteen minutes to make sure they don’t burn.
Storage:
- These Italian pistachio cookies must be kept in a tightly sealed container in order to maintain their chewy texture otherwise they’ll be hard as rocks! Store for 3-4 days at room temperature.
- Alternately they can be frozen. This is a great idea of you want to get ahead now on your holiday baking!
That’s all there is to it! I hope you enjoy this recipe or my basic Chewy Amaretti recipe. If you do try them, please post a photo of your creations by tagging me with @mangiabedda or #mangiabedda on Instagram or Facebook. You can also feel free to share on social media by clicking the social icons on this page. Buon appetito!
Here are more Italian cookie recipes for you to check out!
- Chewy Amaretti Cookies
- Chocolate Pizzelle
- Cuccidati – Sicilian Fig Cookies
- Biscotti di San Martino
- 3-Ingredient Hazelnut Cookies
- Tetù (Sicilian Chocolate Spice Cookies)
- Biscotti Regina
- Classic Almond Biscotti with Variations
- Italian Pizzelle Cookies
- Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies
- Chocolate Espresso Amaretti
- Italian Nut and Jam Rolled Cookies
- Genovesi Ericine
- Italian Lemon Glazed Cookies
- Italian Orange Juice Cookies
- Sheet Pan Almond Biscotti
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp Amaretto or vanilla extract
- 1 cup almond flour
- 3/4 cup ground pistachios, see note
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp chopped pistachios, for coating
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 F and prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, beat the egg and sugar. Stir in the Amaretto or vanilla extract.
- Add the almond flour, ground pistachios and baking powder and stir until combined and a firm dough is formed.
- Shape tablespoonfuls of dough into a ball. Lightly dredge in the icing sugar, shaking off excess.
- Press down lightly on the chopped pistachios and place pistachio side up on the prepared baking sheets. Continue with the remaining dough.
- Bake for 16 minutes until golden and the tops of the cookies are crackled and the underside are lightly browned.
- Transfer to rack to cool. Store in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Notes
- If ground pistachios are not available where you live, purchase shelled pistachios which you will then grind in your food processor to turn into pistachio flour.
- I tested this recipe using both amaretto and vanilla extracts and quite frankly both turned out delicious. Since I couldn't decide which I prefer, I'm presenting both options in the recipe.
- Baking time may vary according to your oven. In my oven these take precisely 16 minutes to bake. You are looking for a light brown color underneath. Begin checking the cookies after fifteen minutes to make sure they don't burn.
- Amaretti must be kept in a tightly sealed container in order to maintain their chewy texture otherwise they'll be hard as rocks! Store for 3-4 days at room temperature.
- Alternately they can be frozen.
Nutrition
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Peggy
These cookies are for real – taste like they came from the Italian bakery we don’t have in town! I couldn’t find Amaretto extract but they were fabulous with vanilla and very simple to make. I love your website, Nadia, and the step by step photos are so helpful. Thanks so much for all the wonderful food you bring to our table! Tomorrow I will try the Chocolate Espresso Amaretti (using almond extract) and your Scacciata is on the Christmas Eve menu 🙂 Now if only we could get back to Sicily again…
Nadia
Hello Peggy, I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed these delicious yet simple cookies. And I’m happy to hear you found my step by step images helpful! Your kind words are very much appreciated. And yes, I agree, it would be wonderful to be able to head back to Sicily soon, but until then we can bring some of those wonderful flavors in our own kitchens!
Norman Skolnick
Perfectly chewy. I added half amaretto and half almond extract instead of vanilla extract. Oh my god are they amazing!
Nadia
Hi Norman, I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed this easy recipe. And your modifications sound great to me. Thanks for commenting!
Parvy
I like it. I was looking for the recipe online and have chosen your recipe by accident. I really enjoyed backing Amaretto Pistachio. loved your recipe.
Nadia
Hello Parvy, so glad to hear you enjoyed these cookies. Thanks for sharing!
Sarah
Fantastic. The pistachio flavor is throughout. I did not get 24 cookies, more like 18. Which is fine, This way I can only eat 18 – hehehe. Didn’t have almond flour to hand. Thought of coconut flour, but feared the taste might overpower the pistachio. I needn’t have worried. It would cut the pistachio a bit but not horribly so. I used regular flour instead and they were fine. Maybe when I make them again, I will leave them in the oven longer. Mine are not at all crisp.
Anyway – thanks for a great recipe.
Sarah
Nadia
Hi Sarah, I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed them! I guess I made mine a bit smaller so I got 24 instead. Glad to hear that your variation turned out delicious. Thanks for your comment!
Josie
Delicious and very easy to make.
Nadia
Thanks Josie, so glad you enjoyed these cookies!
Lisa
I have a request for a birthday cookie cake. Do you think I could make a cookie cake with this recipe? If so any suggestions? Thanks so much!
Nadia
Hello Lisa, I love cookie cakes too but I’m not certain that this would work with this recipe. I’m concerned about the texture if this is baked as one large cookie. But of course I have never tried it so I can’t be certain. If you do give it a try please let me know how it turns out. Thanks!
Lucy
Hi, great recipes. I made a double batch of these and they are very good. Could I replace the ground pistachios with ground hazelnuts? I would roast and remove the shell of the hazelnuts first. Thank you.
Nadia
Hello Lucy, I’m glad to hear you enjoyed them. I like your idea of trying a hazelnut version of this recipe but to tell you the truth I have not tried it myself. I’m sure they would be really good! Let me know if you give it a try!
Lucy
Yes, l tried them with roasted, she’ll removed hazelnuts. They were great. My family liked them even more than the pistachio ones. Go figure. Thanks for the recipes.
Nadia
Hi Lucy, thanks for letting me know how they turned out. Now I’ve got to try this variation too!
Ramona
Not doing five stars because of the pistachio frustration!🙂 Can the pistachios be salted? My thinking is that for the topping it might be okay, but not in the flour. I am trying to find roasted, shelled ones with no salt. Any help? Thx- and looking forward to making these, if I can.
Nadia
Hello Ramona, I think I agree that perhaps on the topping the salted ones would be ok but inside them. I’m not sure where you live but I found shelled pistachios at Bulk Barn and they do not have to be roasted. Hope this helps!
Matteo
I find shelled pistachios at Aldi and Trader Joe’s.
tom
Great cookies! Easy to make except for shelling pistachios part.
Nadia
Hi Tom, yes the shelling can definitely be a pain that’s why I purchase mine already shelled! Other than that they are definitely easy to make. Thanks for your comment!
Julia Bridges
Delicious and easy to make.
Nadia
Thank you Julia, glad you enjoyed them!
Gabriella
Hi Nadia. I made these little cookies and replaced Amaretto and vanilla extract with Pistachio extract and I added zest of 1/2 a lemon freshly picked OMG how delightful. I also made them again and forgot to add the zest of lemon. They were still good.
Nadia
Hi Gabriella, I like it when readers personalize my recipes to suit their own taste. This sounds delicious, I may have to try it as well! Thanks for your comment!
Sam
OMG thèse are thé best coolies i have ever made in my life!!!!
Nadia
Hi Sam, wow! I’m so glad you enjoyed them. Indeed they are easy to make and quite tasty, thanks!
Rose
Hi, Ive always made my amaretti biscuits with egg whites. I didn’t know that they could be made with whole eggs?
Nadia
Hi Rose, I based this recipe after my mom’s traditional amaretti cookies and she has always made hers with whole eggs. The result is a chewy cookie slightly crisp on the outside but soft on the inside.
KC
Hi Nadia,
Looking forward to making this recipe. Do you have a gm conversion for almond flour and ground pistachios please? Thanks!
Nadia
Hi KC, if you take a look at the end of the list of ingredients in the recipe card you can click on “Metric” to get the list in grams. Unfortunately I noticed that it does not provide a conversion for the teaspoons or tablespoons. Here is a handy chart I found that can help with this: https://www.thespruceeats.com/metric-conversion-charts-3054058.
Hope this helps and enjoy the cookies!
Maybelline
Absolutely gorgeous recipe, crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside and easy to make. Thank you!
Nadia
Hello Maybelline, I’m so glad you enjoyed these cookies. They are indeed so easy to make! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Marilyn erheyen
Wonderful taste and extremely easy to make..love this recipe
Nadia
Thank you Marilyn, it is definitely one of the easiest cookie recipes I’ve ever made. Glad you enjoyed it!
Judy
These look so good. Do I have to use almond flour? Can all purpose be used? If so, same amount?
mangiabedda@gmail.com
Hi Judy, almond flour is what makes amaretti cookies distinct from others. Therefore rather than replace with all purpose flour I would simply choose a different cookie recipe instead. I have several other cookie recipes on my blog under the category ‘Cookies’ that use all purpose flour. You may want to check out one of those instead. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Judy
Thank you…
Angie De Ciccio
These look amazing! Need to make these,
Thanks Nadia.
mangiabedda@gmail.com
Thanks Angie, they’re so easy to make. I hope you enjoy them!
Nina Riggins
Hi! Can I use regular Amaretto Liqueur? If so, how much? Thank you!
mangiabedda@gmail.com
Hi Nina, yes you can definitely replace with Amaretto Liqueur. Since the extract has more of a concentrated flavor I would recommend that you try using from 1-2 tablespoons of liqueur. You can decide how strong an Amaretto flavor that you like best. Thanks for your question, hope you enjoy them!
Maria from She Loves Biscotti
What a wonderful idea to use pistachios! Of course, Sicily is well known for this wonderful nut. Nadia, I have over 20 different types of amaretti recipes but not one with pistachios. Can’t wait to try this. Thanks for sharing 🙂
mangiabedda@gmail.com
Thanks Maria, I’ve been enjoying looking for ways to cook with these pistachios. Hope you enjoy them!
Nicole
Love love love.
Thanks so much for this recipe. Had to compete with my family before they disappeared.
So addicted to them now. Becoming a regular feature in my baking repertoire.
Nadia
Hello Nicole, I’m thrilled to hear that your family enjoyed them! Thanks for sharing with me!