Hazelnut Amaretti

My Best Friends Baby shower was Sat.. of course I just got to doing this cause I have been damn busy! last week was the others Grad Party, this week was the Baby shower, as well as my first week in class!! Anywho.. I made some cookies for the large gift basket they gave away, well my jam and zucchini bread went in it as well :) but.. I had acquired about 6 bags of hazel nuts! So I had been wanting to make these, and it was the perfect chance to do so! They are more like  hazelnut meringue to me than amaretti, but the almond extract is the amaretti I guess haha. Very easy to make, very light, airy and crispy.

Hazelnut Amaretti cookies:

1 1/4 c hazelnuts
3/4 plus 3 Tbsp confectioners sugar
1 tsp all purpose flour
2 egg whites
1/3 c granulated sugar
34 c granulated sugar
3/4 tsp almond extract
pearl sugar for topping


Preheat an oven to 300. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or waxed paper.
In a food processor fitted with the metal blade, finely grind the hazelnuts (do not grind to a paste). Add 1/4 c  of the confectioners sugar and grind to a powder. Mix in the remaining 1/2 c plus 3 Tbsp confectioners sugar and the flour. Set aside.


In a bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add the granulated sugar and beat until stiff, shiny peaks form. Fold in the almond extract and the nut mixture.

Spoon the batter into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2 in plain tip. Pipe the batter onto prepared baking sheet in mounds 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Using a wet finger, smooth the top of each cookie. Sprinkle with pearl sugar, if desired. (I couldn't find any.. but am still looking!!)
Bake until just beginning to brown, about 45min. Turn off the oven, leave the oven door closed and let the cookies dry for 30 min.

Transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely. Store in a n airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month.


I liked them! again, very airy and meringue like! I think pecan would taste good as well!
I also made her a little 6 inch baby shower cake that I filled with my jam :) Vanilla layers with strawberry lemon marmalade filling.. and pretty little girl decorations!! I couldn't make a big one, but she got her own little one!!

I also dabbled in a bit of sewing. I attempted to make her some burp rags with a couple of matching Changing pads!! She is not typical girlie, so I wanted something that was her! I looked for pink skulls haha but they all had glitter and well to me babies and glitter do not mix!!! But I think I did ok, the camo may be my favorites!!
and because of that she got the Changing pad and matching burp cloth in Camo!! hahaha..the other matching set is the cute frogs and turtles in brown and greens.. its was just cute enough for a girl, but if some fluke baby girl is a boy well at least there is something she can use!!
I had fun and frustrations making them, but in the end I know she will love them, and some day I will figure out how to sew right!! At least I have my baking haha!!