This recipe for cocoa dusted amaretti biscuits has been adapted from Ottolenghi: The Cookbook.
Today’s inspirational recipe from Lavender and Lime ♥ Cocoa Dusted Amaretti Biscuits ♥ #LavenderAndLime Share on X
When I get a book to review, I choose the recipes I would like to make, or that interest me, based on their titles alone. The actual recipes I make are chosen by the publisher, after I submit a request. I was sent Sweet to review and Struik Lifestyle gave me permission to make and blog Sam’s recipe for cranberry amaretti biscuits. I did not read further than the title until I was ready to go and buy the ingredients. Sam writes:
It was love at first bite the first time I ate these chewy little Italian almond biscuits. This recipe is adapted from Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi’s book, Ottolenghi: The Cookbook (Ten Speed Press, 2013), which is a great source of inspiration to me. I have used cranberries – which give the biscuits a slightly tart edge – instead of dried sour cherries, which are almost impossible to find in South Africa. In the original recipe they also added natural almond extract, but as that is not commercially available here and I don’t recommend the artificial alternative, I have left it out.
I thought that this was my lucky day as I had just bought dried sour cherries from a new supplier. First, I followed Sam’s method to a tee but the mixture was sloppy and I could not shape the biscuits. I put a batch onto my baking tray and added 60g ground almonds to the rest of the mixture, until the mixture was firm enough to shape. Thankfully, I had only made half of the recipe which is what I often do when testing recipes that can easily be halved without affecting the outcome. I then made the rest of the biscuits as per Sam’s instructions. Below is the first go, showing the ones I made from the book, and the ones I made by adding more ground almonds. Not having ever tasted these, I must tell you that they were quite firm.

I then reached out to my network and a friend sent me the original recipe. The only difference I saw between the two recipes, other than the almond extract, was 2 teaspoons of honey. I immediately wondered if 10mls of one ingredient could really make a recipe work? Once again I made half a batch and noticed in the method that they make a meringue with the honey and egg white. The recipe totally worked and Dave and I enjoyed these soft morsels throughout the day.

I have contacted the publisher for permission to reproduce the recipe on my blog, but as I have not heard back from them I decided to go ahead and make a slightly firmer biscuit, as I actually preferred them. I have also added in more sour cherries, as you can never have enough of them in my opinion. If you cannot get hold of sour cherries, use cranberries, dried apricots or even blueberries instead. I also used a little bit of cocoa powder to dust the amaretti biscuits.

Cocoa Dusted Amaretti Biscuits
Ingredients
- 100 g ground almonds
- 60 g fructose
- 1 lime, zest only, finely grated
- 1 tiny pinch fine salt
- 60 g dried sour cherries, roughly chopped
- 1 egg white
- 8 g honey
- 20 g icing sugar, sifted, for rolling
- 1 g cocoa powder for rolling
Method
- Preheat the oven to 170° Celsius
- Place the ground almonds, fructose, zest and salt into a bowl
- Mix to combine and make sure you break up any lumps
- Add the cherries and mix in
- Place the egg white and honey into a mixing bowl
- Whisk until soft peaks form
- Gently fold the egg whites into the ground almond mixture
- Place the icing sugar and cocoa powder into a bowl
- Mix well
- Using a spoon, scoop up the biscuit dough
- Drop into the icing sugar mix
- Roll to coat completely
- Place onto a lined baking tray
- Place the baking tray into the oven and bake for 15 minutes
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the tray
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View the previous posts on July 27:
- three years ago – Parsley
- four years ago – Ginger Beef Patties
- five years ago – Deconstructed Lasagne With Exotic Mushrooms and Broccoli
Your amended recipe certainly look/sound very nice – Tandy.
Thanks Rachel 🙂
My family used to make these too and love those little crispy cookies. Sometimes these little crisp cookies were used in other desserts crumbled as well.
That sounds delicious Bobbi 🙂
Ottolenghi is amazing! While I am trying to not own more cookbooks, for him, I make an exception. This adaptation looks delicious.
I would make an exception as well!
How amazing that honey could make such a big difference in the outcome. Dried sour cherries are my favorite dried fruit. 🙂
It was amazing!
So glad you figured out the recipe in the end! I love amaretti in general and they sound lovely stuffed with the sour cherries!
Pity you don’t live next door, I could have asked for taste testing help 🙂
Tandy, these biscuits looks absolutely fabulous! I’m drooling right now. I actually have a sour cherry tree growing with cherries in my backyard, and although the birds love them, I think they’ll leave me a few, just enough to make these biscuits. Love how they are dusted with cocoa, probably adds just the right flavor. Yum.
Oh, I am so jealous about your tree!
Tandy, these look so delicious!! I don’t think I’ve ever tried amaretti biscuits before. They look like they’d pair delightfully with tea!
They are amazing and I hope you try them Mary Frances 🙂
Don’t you just love how the smallest amount of an ingredient or sometimes the slightest change in the method can have such a big inpact in the finished product?!
Tandy – these sound so enjoyable – I wish I had a couple with my coffee right now!
It is amazing how much of baking is an exact science 🙂
Great idea to halve the recipe Tandy….I could totally scoff one of these now with my cuppa 🙂 Jan x
I do that as often the ingredients are so costly 🙂
These look scrumptious, Tandy. I’d like a couple with a cup of tea right now!
Thank you Susan 🙂
I do wish we lived closer. Could go one of these little yummies. 🙂
If you find yourself in the neighbourhood, let me know. I will whip up a batch 🙂
I prefer the look of the second batch. They sounds super yummy and I wouldn’t mind trying them with white chocolate and cranberries 😉 xx
That sounds amazing Tami xx
Oh my, these looks absolutely delicious. My sister loves to bake. I’m going to share this with her.
http://doreensstylediary.com
I hope she makes them for you Doreen 🙂