#amaretti

Bath and Body Works Tutti Dolci Amaretti, Sugar Wafer and Tiramisu Veneziano Creme Body Washes

2004

I made amaretti for the first time today! They're very good!

Almost any travel show/site that talks about the Jewish quarter in Rome will mention "the little bakery that doesn't even have a name" located near Ottavia's Gate. It does actually have a name, Pasticceria Boccione, but the name isn't visible anywhere; you have to know what it looks like. I was spending one of my days in Rome last April touring the Jewish quarter, so I made sure to stop at the bakery early. I got a sweet roll, ogled the pies and cakes, and bought some amaretti, which were the bulk of my breakfast and I regret nothing.

I didn't know what the Italian name for them was but I recognized them as almond macaroons, which is why I bought some, because I love macaroons and you don't often find them without coconut (I also like coconut, don't get me wrong). They were the best macaroons I've ever had, so when I was assembling the Festa Alla Cinque Cibi I knew I wanted to have Amaretti to end with, the fifth course -- I don't drink coffee but these would be the "coffee" course after dessert. Happily, the pie crust needed three egg yolks and these needed three egg whites (technically two but I was using small eggs) so once the crust was resting, I threw these together and put them in to bake. They're not quite as good or pretty as the ones from Pasticceria Boccione, but they're very tasty regardless.

I did look around quite a bit for various recipes for the amaretti, but honestly, the best and most effective I found is the one on the back of the Solo Almond Paste package (I doubled it).