Pignoli are Sicilian cookies; a type of macaroon typical to Sicily that is popular cookie throughout all of southern Italy, as well as in Sicilian communities in the US. There are many relatives and similar cookies that can be found through Italy and is also quite like the panellets served on All Saints Day in Catalonia. Made with almond paste, they belong to the amaretto family of biscuits.
These delicious crescent or round biscuits are golden in colour and are studded with golden pine nuts, which are also called pignoli and for which they were named. Moist, soft and chewy, they are, sadly, usually reserved for special occasions such as holidays like Christmas. This is due to the fact that almond paste and pine nuts are the primary ingredients and both are relatively expensive. However, they can still be found with relative ease in bakeries and food stores throughout Sicily. Just find a vacation rental in Sicily and you can try them for yourself.
These delicious crescent or round biscuits are golden in colour and are studded with golden pine nuts, which are also called pignoli and for which they were named. Moist, soft and chewy, they are, sadly, usually reserved for special occasions such as holidays like Christmas. This is due to the fact that almond paste and pine nuts are the primary ingredients and both are relatively expensive. However, they can still be found with relative ease in bakeries and food stores throughout Sicily. Just find a vacation rental in Sicily and you can try them for yourself.
Or, if you can't wait quite that long, why not try out this recipe below? They're incredibly easy to make! Then, you can sip some coffee, snack on some biscuits and plan your trip.
Ingredients:
(Makes approximately 24 cookies)
225g of almond paste
200g of caster sugar
2 egg whites
4 tablespoons of pine nuts
Method:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 170 degrees Celsius.
2. Use a food processor to break up the almond paste into a granulated form. Put in a mixing bowl and gradually add the sugar.
3. In another small bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff, then fold into the mixture of sugar and almond paste gently.
4. On a greased and floured baking tray, drop a spoonful of the mixture per cookie and press pine nuts into the top of the cookie, covering the top.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes, cool on wire rack and enjoy!
Ingredients:
(Makes approximately 24 cookies)
225g of almond paste
200g of caster sugar
2 egg whites
4 tablespoons of pine nuts
Method:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 170 degrees Celsius.
2. Use a food processor to break up the almond paste into a granulated form. Put in a mixing bowl and gradually add the sugar.
3. In another small bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff, then fold into the mixture of sugar and almond paste gently.
4. On a greased and floured baking tray, drop a spoonful of the mixture per cookie and press pine nuts into the top of the cookie, covering the top.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes, cool on wire rack and enjoy!
