Pignoli Cookies I Recipes

PIGNOLI COOKIES

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 300 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Pulse the flour, granulated sugar, confectioners' sugar and salt in a food processor until combined. Add the almond paste and orange zest; pulse until fine crumbs form. With the motor running, slowly add the egg white and process until the dough comes together. (You can also mix the dough in a bowl with your fingers.)
• Put the pine nuts in a small bowl. Form tablespoonfuls of dough into balls with damp hands and roll in the pine nuts to coat completely. Arrange 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until light golden around the edge, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely on the baking sheets.

PIGNOLI COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Break apart the almond paste in the bowl of a food processor. Add the confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract, salt and egg white and pulse until smooth. Scoop 1-tablespoon balls of dough directly into the pine nuts and gently roll them in the pine nuts, pressing gently to adhere. (The dough is soft but the pine nuts will help make it easier to handle.)
• Place the cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned around the edges and puffed, 16 to 18 minutes. Allow to cool completely on the tray before removing them with an offset spatula.

PIGNOLI COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F; line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil.
• Combine grated almond paste, granulated and powdered sugars in a bowl. Beat on low with electric mixer until texture of small crumbs.
• Add egg whites and vanilla. Beat on high for 3 minutes or until the consistency of a smooth paste.
• Add flour and salt. Mix until just combined. Cover and refrigerate for one hour.
• Add pine nuts to a shallow bowl. Drop batter one teaspoon at a time into nuts. With slightly dampened fingertips, quickly lift and flip batter "no-nuts" side down onto cookie sheet.
• Bake 14-16 minutes or until light golden. Gently slide parchment paper off of pans onto wire racks. When cookies are completely cooled, remove from parchment. Store cookies in airtight containers between wax paper.

ITALIAN PIGNOLI COOKIES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat almond paste and sugar until crumbly. Beat in 2 egg whites. Gradually add confectioners' sugar; mix well., Whisk remaining egg whites in a shallow bowl. Place pine nuts in another shallow bowl. Shape dough into 1-in. balls. Roll in egg whites and coat with pine nuts. Place 2 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Flatten slightly., Bake at 325° until lightly browned, 15-18 minutes. Cool for 1 minute before removing from pans to wire racks. Store in an airtight container.

PIGNOLI COOKIES II

Steps:

• Use a pastry chopper (or food processor) to break up the almond paste into a granulated form. Put in mixing bowl and gradually add the sugar.
• In another small bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff. Fold the egg whites into the sugar/almond paste mixture gently.
• On a greased and floured cookie sheet, drop a spoonful of the mixture. Press pine nuts into the top of the cookie (you want to cover the top with nuts).
• Bake at 325 degrees F (170 degrees C) for 10-12 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

PIGNOLI COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Break up the almond paste into a food processor. Process about 15 seconds until paste is evenly broken up. Add granulated sugar and process another 30 seconds until mixture is smooth.
• In electric mixer, beat eqq whites until soft peaks form. Beat in almond extract. Add almond paste mixture to egg whites one cup at a time, beating after each addition.
• Place pignoli nuts in shallow dish. Drop 3/4 teaspoon of almond paste mixture into nuts. Form into ball - it will be soft and not quite perfect. Place on aluminum foil cut to fit cookie sheets. Place cookies 1" apart (approximately 20 per sheet). Bake approximately 15 minutes, until cookie and nuts are golden brown. If you bake two cookie sheets at a time, alternate placement of cookie sheets after 7 minutes of cooking to ensure even browning.
• When cookies are done, slide foil off cookies sheets and leave cookie on sheets until cookies are cool.
• Store in plastic container or freeze (they freeze perfectly just place in a plastic contained lined with aluminum foil or wax paper, cover tightly).

PIGNOLI COOKIES I

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line 2 cookie sheets with foil; lightly grease foil.
• Mix almond paste and granulated sugar in food processor until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar and 2 egg whites; process until smooth.
• Whisk remaining 2 egg whites in small bowl. Place pine nuts on shallow plate. With lightly floured hands, roll dough into 1 inch balls. Coat balls in egg whites, shaking off excess, then roll in pine nuts, pressing lightly to stick. Arrange balls on cookie sheets, and flatten slightly to form a 1 1/2 inch round.
• Bake 15 to 18 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Let stand on cookie sheet 1 minute. Transfer to wire rack to cool.