Amaretti (Emilia-Romagna)

Amaretti, the famous Italian almond cookies are so popular in their homeland that almost every region has their version of the recipe, using different proportions and combinations of the basic ingredients: sweet and bitter almonds, apricot kernels, eggs, and sugar.

In Spilamberto, a municipality in the province of Modena, you can try amaretti di Spilamberto - soft, bittersweet, long-lasting cookies that are part of the region's gastronomic tradition ever since the 17th century. They are considered to be the predecessors of another Emilia-Romagna's version, amaretti di Modena, made with both sweet and bitter almonds, sugar, and egg whites.

They are crunchy on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside, while the baking time and temperature are very important factors for the overall success of the recipe: they are perfectly baked when they achieve the typical golden color of the crust.