RICCIARELLI COOKIES RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F, and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Add the almonds, baking soda, salt and 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar to a food processor. Process until finely ground, about 1 minute.
• Whisk together the honey, vanilla and egg. Add to the almond mixture and pulse until a stiff dough forms.
• Roll tablespoon-sized portions of dough into balls, and coat in the remaining cup confectioners' sugar. Place at least 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake, rotating halfway through, until cracked and solid to the touch, 18 to 20 minutes. Slide the parchment off the baking sheets and allow the ricciarelli to cool completely before peeling off the paper. Store cookies in a tin or airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, mix the ground almonds and sugar. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer on a slow speed until just frothy – it doesn’t matter if there’s still a bit of unbeaten egg white at the bottom.
• Add the egg whites to the almonds and sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, mixing after each spoonful. Keep going until the mixture is soft but not runny; you may not need to use all the egg white.
• Roll the mix into walnut-size balls and space them a few centimetres apart on the baking trays. Press a blanched almond half into the top of each one, flattening them slightly. Sprinkle a little caster sugar over the top of each, then leave them to sit for 10-15 minutes. Heat the oven to 190°C/170°C fan/gas 5.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes until pale golden brown. The macaroons should still feel soft to the touch but they’ll continue to harden as they cool. Leave on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely. Serve with a cuppa.