How to Make Absolutely Amazing Snowball Amaretti Cookies

These Low-Fat Snowball Amaretti Cookies are absolutely amazing and really easy to make!  With their light crispy outside covered in festive powdered sugar and soft, chewy marzipan center, they are perfect for the holiday celebrations and holiday cookie exchanges or even holiday gifts!

Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by Adam’s Extracts and Anolon Bakeware. All opinions are my own.

 

Welcome to #ChristmasCookies week where more than 25 bloggers are sharing cookie recipes perfect for your holiday celebrations. Hosted by Ellen from Family Around the Table, Christie from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures and Heather from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks, we invite you to not only check out the recipes but enter the amazing giveaway.

 

Don’t miss one delicious cookie recipe! Follow along on Pinterest.

 

Prize 1: Tower of Treats from Millican Pecan Company

Originally founded as the West Texas Pecan Nursery in the late 1800’s, Millican Pecan is now in 5th generation ownership. Located in San Saba, TX, the family continues the tradition of pecan farming while also branching the business into the online world. The family also enjoys educating people about pecans. One winner will receive The Tower of Treats Gift Tins. The tower includes 3 decorative gift tins stacked on top of each other. The bottom tin includes our 2 lb. Chocolate Pecan Sampler, the middle tin is our Flavored Pecan Sampler and the top tin is an 8 oz. tin of Milk Chocolate Caramillicans (similar to Turtles). An $80 value.

 

Prize 2: An Assortment of Flavored Extracts from Adams Extract and Spices

 In January 2013, Adams, one of the oldest continuously operated companies in Texas and one of oldest spice and extract companies in the United States, celebrated its 125th birthday and was awarded the Texas Treasure Business Award, an award sponsored by State Bill 920 that recognizes the accomplishments of Texas businesses that have provided employment opportunities and support to the state’s economy for at least 50 years and pays tribute to the state’s well-established businesses and their exceptional historical contributions toward the state’s economic growth and prosperity.

Today, Adams proudly manufactures and markets under several Adams Brand banners, including Adams Best®, Adams Extract®, Adams® Seasoning & Spice, Adams Reserve®, Flavor King™, Pantry Basics™, Sear-n-Crust®, ClearVan™, Carniceria®, Cocina del Rey®, Naturals™, and Urban Canner™ along with the Adams Frozen Skillet Desserts and Adams Premium Ice Cream lines. In addition, Adams is proud to manufacture for some of the nations most respected Private Label Brands as well as other legacy Regional Seasoning Brands and is used to flavor many commercially produced food products around the nation.

 

Prize 3: A Set of Baking Pans from Anolon

Established in the 1950’s, Meyer Manufacturing started by making and selling flashlights. In 1971 they started their journey into selling cookware. By 1986 they released the world’s first hard-anodized nonstick cookware which revolutionized the world of home cooking. Their nonstick surface didn’t flake or scratch easily.

Today they sell bakeware with nonstick interior and exterior made with a special sapphire-reinforced blend that is triple coated. NOTE: Color may vary from the photo above.

Prize 4: An Assorted Baking Box from Sweets & Treats

Make Sweets & Treats your one-stop shop for all your holiday sprinkle needs. In addition to fun, festive and colorful sprinkles, Sweets & Treats offers cupcake liners, edible glitters, sugars, and more.

Founded in 2010 by Shannon Harvey out of an industry need for bold, bright cupcake liners and baking supplies that are the life of the party! Based in Louisiana, Sweets & Treats is a designer cupcake liner manufacturer and party supply company that creates exclusive greaseproof cupcake liners, sprinkles, sprinkle mixes, paper straws, and other baking supplies. 

 

Four (4) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. Bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. Winners have 24 hours to respond once notified by email, or they forfeit the prize and an alternate winner will be chosen. The #ChristmasCookies bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members living in the household cannot enter or win the giveaway. Entries will be verified. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Giveaway open to US Residents only who are 18 years of age or older to enter giveaway. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #ChristmasCookies posts or entry.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Snowball Amaretti Cookies for the Holidays

Growing up, my dad would always buy Pfeffernusse Cookies at Christmastime.  I loved all the powdered sugar covering the delicious spiced treat.  And, in fact, I still love powdered sugar covered cookies. They remind me of snow and those famous Peffernusse Cookies from my childhood.

 

This past year, my older daughter has gotten REALLY into marzipan and almond flavors.  I think it started when we made almond flavored Hamantaschen cookies during the March quarantine.  So when I came across a recipe for Amaretti Cookies (that look like cute little snowballs), I knew I had to try it!

 

This recipe comes from Love and Olive Oil.  If you like learning about the chemistry of baking, be sure to check out her original recipe.  She put a lot of time and effort into perfecting this ABSOLUTELY Amazing Amaretti Cookie Recipe and goes through all of the steps and scenarios she experimented with.

I’ve only made this recipe once, and they came out absolutely PERFECT!

And I credit that to Love and Olive Oil’s detailed and scientific recipe creation.

Anolon Bakeware

This post is sponsored by Anolon Bakeware.

I’ve been testing out different recipes with the cookie sheets they sent me, and I have to say, my cookies have all come out perfectly! I’ve been very impressed.

I also have to say that the original recipe for this cookie calls for you to stack 2 cookie sheets so the cookie won’t get as hot on the bottom and burn.  I skipped this step because the Anolon Cookie Sheet looked really thick and sturdy and boy was I right!  These Amaretti cookies came out PERFECTLY.

LOOK at the BOTTOMS!

 

Adam’s Extracts

This post is also sponsored by Adam’s Extracts.

I used their Almond Extract in this recipe and it was fantastic.  It gave these cookies a rich almond taste that wasn’t too overpowering.

How much Almond Extract should I use in Amaretti Cookies?

I used 1/2 teaspoon and it was perfect.  Almond extract can be pretty powerful so less is more.

 

How do you make the powdered sugar stick to the cookies?

Use a cookie scoop or small ice cream scoop to scoop out a ball of dough.  Lightly cover your hands with powdered sugar and roll the dough in your hands to make a good ball-shape.

 

Next, roll it in some powdered sugar then place on your cookie sheet.

 

How to Make Snowball Amaretti Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups (200g) almond flour or very finely ground almonds, sifted
• 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
• pinch salt
• 2 large egg whites (about 60 grams)
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon Adam’s Almond Extract
• confectioners’ sugar, as needed

 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Stack two matching, heavyweight, light to medium colored cookie sheets one inside the other (stacking two cookie sheets together keeps the bottoms of the cookies from getting too brown). Line with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
2. Whisk egg whites and lemon juice until they have soft peaks.

This step can take a while, so  if you have a stand mixer, let the egg whites whisk  and move on to Step 3.

3. In a large bowl, whisk together almond flour, sugar and salt until incorporated.
4. Once the egg whites are done, add in the Adam’s Almond extract and mix well.
5. Next, add the dry ingredients and mix until it forms a nice sticky dough. You can do this by hand, but it’s much easier and faster with a mixer.

(Don’t worry about mixing too hard.  This recipe is not as fragile as macaroons.)

6. Use a cookie scoop or small ice cream scoop  to portion dough into 1-inch balls. Lightly cover your hands with powdered sugar and roll into a smooth ball, then roll in powdered sugar. You can’t have too much powdered sugar.
7. Arrange on your cookie sheet. (If you’re not using a nonstick cookie sheet, be sure to cover with parchment paper or a silicone baking sheet). Leave about 1 inch of space between cookies.
8. If you are double stacking your cookie sheets as Love and Olive Oil suggest, then bake for 30 to 35 minutes until tops are cracked and bottoms are just barely golden. If you’re using a single heavier cookie sheet, like this one from Anolon  then bake it for 25 minutes at 300 Degrees F.  If you prefer crunchier cookies you can give them an extra 5 minutes or so or until the tops begin to brown too. Remove from oven; let cool a few minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
9. Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days…but good luck having them last that long. Ours were eaten in the first day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be sure to keep reading for more great Christmas Cookie Recipes.

 

 

Monday Christmas Cookie Recipes

• Amaretti Snowball Cookies by Our Sutton Place
• Bourbon Pecan Snowballs by Leftovers Then Breakfast
• Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Cappuccino Crinkles by West Via Midwest
• Cherry Garlands by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies by Kate’s Recipe Box
• Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Cookies by Books n’ Cooks
• Chocolate Sugar Kisses by An Affair from the Heart
• Christmas Confetti Amaretti Cookies by The Spiffy Cookie
• Christmas Mouse Shortbread Cookies by Palatable Pastime
• Christmas Pinwheel Cookies by Lemon Blossoms
• Cinnamon Chip Holiday Spice Cake Mix Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Cinnamon Pecan Snickerdoodles by Daily Dish Recipes
• Classic Butter Spritz Cookies by Cheese Curd In Paradise
• Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies by Frugal & Fit
• Hermit Cookies by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Honey Spice Oatmeal Cookies by Family Around the Table
• Melting Snowman Cookies by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Pecan Brown Sugar Cookies by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Pecan Pie Bars by Eat Move Make
• Pecan Pie Cookies by Art of Natural Living
• Peppermint Chocolate Cookies by Swirls of Flavor
• Peppermint Kiss Cookies by Devour Dinner
• Peppermint Patty Cookies by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Peppermint Shortbread Cookies by Simply Inspired Meals
• Raspberry Jam Cookies by Making Miracles
• Reindeer Cookies by Sweet Beginnings
• Soft Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles by Jersey Girl Cooks
• Toffee Bars by That Recipe
• White Chocolate Cranberry Crinkle Cookies by Blogghetti