The classic Italian cookie now as a healthy gluten-free, vegan, and paleo recipe! Grain-Free Amaretto Cookies made with almond flour and no added sugars or oils will be a delicious addition to the dessert platter!
Those things we always have but never use. That’s me and my endless bags of almond flour. You’d think that this alternative flour girl would have a plethora of almond flour recipes, but that is nowhere near true. I’ve even used hazelnut flour before, but not almond. Is it almond neglect or just my preference of getting my almond dose through other sources (i.e. milk and “butter“).
MY LATEST VIDEOSI guess I just never found the right recipe to bake with it. Almond flour (or meal) is a big paleo ingredient and a lot of the time recipes with almond flour requires eggs (ick!). But with me not a fan of food waste (especially expensive almond flour!), I had to find a use! ‘Tis the season for cookie baking and classic Italian Amaretto cookies are a favorite!
Amaretto is a sweet almond liqueur and used in the classic almond cookie. I’m not sure I ever had an amaretto cookie back in the day, but an almond based cookie sounded pretty fabulous to me now and the perfect use for that almond flour! Let me tell you, almond flour smells really good! Ha! It’s so true! Baking with almond flour is just like roasting yummy almond in the oven and that smell is even more glorious!
I made these amaretto cookies totally almond with no oil and only natural sweetener. I also took the American “cheater” approach and used pure almond extract instead of actual expensive almond liqueur. Don’t worry, no shame is using what we can easily get our hands on! To think of it, I rarely use my almond extract too! These amaretto cookies really got the neglected ingredients going!
These are a bit soft, very almondy, sweet(ish), and with a hint of vanilla. They are perfect for dunking (all Italian cookies are!), simple dessert plant snacking, or crumbled on some dairy-free yogurt or even on oatmeal! You could even make a pie crust with them! Needless to say, you’ll find plenty of uses for these amaretto cookies besides just holiday munching! You’ll also have a perfect excuse to whip out the almond flour!
Grain-Free Amaretto Cookies
- 2 Cups Almond Meal
- 2 Tsp Baking Powder
- ¼ Cup Granular Erythritol
- ¼ Cup Unsweetened Applesauce
- ½ Tsp Almond Extract
- ¼ Tsp Pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract
- ¼ Tsp Cinnamon
- ½ Cup Powdered Erythritol (to shake)
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine and mix together all ingredients (not the powdered erythritol) to form your cookie dough.
- Roll 16 (1 tablespoon each) balls and place them in a plastic bag with the powdered erythritol. Give it a light shake to coat the balls.
- Prepare a baking sheet with a Silpat and space the powdered dough balls out evenly. Press the balls down a bit with your fingers to flatten them.
- Bake for 20 minutes in the heated oven, remove and let cool. Store in an airtight container or let them get stale for an even better "crumble" topping if desired!
Nothing like the smell of fresh baked cookies (or roasted almonds!) Another flour that I rarely use, coconut. The day I made these amaretto cookies I also tested something out with coconut flour. The coconut flour was an after thought though and the recipe ended up being a major fail! Stay tuned, though, I’ll get it right eventually 😉
So tell me:
+ Do you like to bake with almond flour?
+ What’s something you always have but never use?
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These Grain-Free Amaretto Cookies made with almond flour and no added sugars or oils make a healthy and delicious treat!
Thanks!
HI Rebecca,
I love the idea of a grain free cookie and these look and sound delicious, healthy and perfect for any time.
These are a favorite!
These cookies sound really great Rebecca! I rarely use my almond flour, but always love the way the flavour and texture comes out. And I like your spin on amaretto with the almond extract! I’m always looking for budget-friendly baking tips =)
I think I’ll be using it more now!
It’s too bad I’m seeing these cookies now, when Christmas’s gone, because I would love to make them for my family. They look absolutely amazing.
These aren’t just Christmas cookies XP
Your cookies look delicious, a very special treat!
Sure are!
You sure weren’t kiddin’ about having a bilion delicious cookie recipes! :D!!! These look amazing!
Gotta make the holidays COOKIE-days!
Wouldn’t these be fantastic with a mug of tea! I love baking your recipes for my gluten-free daughter. Thank you!
What one’s have you tried?
Amaretto is my all time favorite flavor. One of the layers on my wedding cake was amaretto! Thanks for these!
O wow! That must have been amazing!
Kahlua and Grand Marnier were the other layers : )
Love amaretto! These look delicious!
Thanks!
Yay, I’m so excited you were able to do it and not have to use eggs! They look beautiful.
Obviously not! No eggs on this blog!
Great recipe – pinned and shared
Thanks!
I used to look for a vegan version of amaretto cookies years back without luck! So loving this recipe right now!
At long last!
I love amaretto! When I was younger I used to drink amaretto sours with my mom, LOL! There is no drinking age in Greece where she is from so a cocktail with your parents was totally ok. SO good and I bet these cookies are just as good!
Haha 😉 Well now you can give your US kids these virgin cookies instead 😉
I bet your house smelled AMAZING while these were baking! Goodness, these look so perfectly golden…I’m pretty sure I’d have a hard time stopping at just two cookies 😉 I am so surprised that you don’t bake more with almond! Almond flour (and meal) used to be my go-to…such a magical, buttery, slightly sweet flour. Now coconut. There’s a flour I seem to always have on hand, but rarely use because every time I experiment with it, I fail! My goal is to master that silly flour in 2017 🙂
Coconut needs so much moisture (i.e. that’s why egg eater like it…) Not us! BUT we shall CONCUR!!
These need to get in my belly right now! Amaretto cookies are my fav but I’ve never tried making them at home. Like you, I’ve got a neglected bag of almond flour ready to go, just waiting for this spark of inspiration. Thanks!
This is so perfect then! I hope you make some for the holidays!
I can only imagine how wonderful they must have smelled while baking. 🙂
The entire pantry smelled like them even boxed up!
I just love almond flavours – these cookies look great and I have a few gluten free friends in mind for them!
I hope you and them enjoy some!
Amaretto cookies were always around growing up! But I can’t remember the last time I had any! The smell! These look delicious!
I know!! The smell (and taste) is so iconic!!
I love the taste of almond and amaretto! I’ve been looking for an amaretto cookie recipe. Your cookies sound like just the recipe I’ve been looking for. Thank you.
Awesome! I hope you do try them!
My Italian friends introduced me to this crispy delight years ago! One of my favorites.
O, awesome!! I bet they have a fantastic recipe!
I love almond cookies. Sharing this with a friend
Alright, then!
These look so so good! I love that these are gluten-free and vegan AND paleo! Major score that I found this cookie recipe! 🙂
Haha, right? Fit for (almost) all!
These would go so well with the fresh coffee that I’m enjoying at the moment!
That would be a great way to start the day!
These cookies look amazing. I know it’s a recipe everyone is going to love and can eat too, since they’re gluten free!. Cant wait to try!
Haha, yes! Thanks, Sabrina!
I’ve never had amaretto cookies. These look really good, Rebecca. Yum.
Thank you!
I bet these filled the house with an amazing smell! I love amaretto and can’t remember the last time I had anything with it, well a drink awhile ago but before that it had been awhile.
Now you can pair that drink with a cookie 😉
I love how these came out! I love baking with almond flour too and smelling that oh-so-wonderful smell!
It’s glorious!
I wish you lived close by so I could help you taste test. Thanks for the recipe. They look delicious.
Haha, if there’s anything the holidays teach us it’s that cookies are shippable 😉
I don’t know that I’ve ever had an amaretto cookie! They look almondy and delicious! 🙂
If you love almonds, you’ll love these!
I can’t bake with almond flour due to a food allergy but I wish I could at times (like when I see recipes like this). Maybe one day! Until then, I’ll just look at the photos and day dream 🙂
xoxo
Looks like your kitchen is overflowing with tasty cookies this year!
And each one is loved 😉
Love that these are soft with a sweet touch of vanilla. Sounds perfect!
They came out to be one bite of delish!
Oh I love Amaretto cookies and this version sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try them.
Thank you so much!
I looooooooove amaretto cookies! Haven’t had one since I went vegan, so I’m definitely making these soonish! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Oooo, got to make it happen then!
I’m not a fan of cookies that are too sweet so these look perfect for me. Thanks for the recipe!
You will love these! They are just right!
Yum! I love homemade amaretto cookies! These sound great!
Thank you!
I’ve never tried amaretto cookies before. They look pretty delicious, though. I love that they’re grain-free, too! 🙂
You would love them!
I love almond flour and use it quite a lot in my baking! It’s quite expensive here in the UK so I usually mix it with things like oat flour and buckwheat to make it last longer 😛 These amaretto sound amazing 😀 and so healthy!
It’s crazy expensive! But so is almond butter and plain old almonds!
This look great, Rebecca! It’s always nice to have a healthy cookie option 🙂
Sure!
These look amazing! I love baking with almond flour, though I don’t do it that often. 🙂
It’s fun to experiment with it!
You’re recipes always look incredible! I just finished all my cookie dough making, but I’ll add these to next years list!
Haha! I’m pretty cookied out too 😉
As an Italian girl whose Grandmother always made cookies, I LOVE this! Can’t wait to try it 🙂
Fantastic! I’m so glad!