Italian Amaretti Biscuits (cookies)

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 125 g ground almonds
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large egg whites
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 -2 drop almond essence
• blanched almond, for decorating

Recipe

• 1 combine the ground almonds with sugar, egg whites, vanilla and almond essence and mix well in small bowl of electric mixer.
• 2 beat mixture on medium speed for 3mins.
• 3 allow mixture to stand for 5 minutes.
• 4 prepare trays by lightly greasing and dusting with a little flour. shake off excess flour.
• 5 spoon mixture into a piping bag fitted with a 1cm (1/2") plain tube.
• 6 pipe in a circular motion from centre to make biscuits 4cm (11/2") in diameter onto prepared trays.
• 7 place a blanched almond on top of each biscuit.
• 8 bake in a moderate oven 350'f/180'c for 12-15 mins or until tops are lightly browned.
• 9 leave on tray a few minutes before removing with a spatula to cool on a wire rack.