Amaretti (Lazio)

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.

Especially popular in Lazio are the soft and oval-shaped amaretti of Guarcino, made with almonds, both sweet and bitter ones, fresh egg whites, powdered sugar, and a dash of salt, placed on a wafer paper disc before baking. The region offers one more interesting spin on the amaretti cookies; in Casperia, a municipality in the province of Rieti, the amaretti Casperiani are made with egg whites, sugar, almond essence, vanilla, and hazelnuts instead of almonds.