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Chewy Italian almond flour cookies on a wooden board

Gingerbread Ricciarelli (Chewy Italian Almond Flour Cookies)

  • Author: Joy the Baker
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
  • Yield: about 20 cookies 1x
  • Category: dessert, holiday

Description

A chewy, holiday spiced cookie that is gluten free and gets better with time!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 large egg whites
  • A dash lemon juice (about ¼ teaspoon)
  • 2 1/4 cups (252 grams) almond flour
  • 1 3/4 cups (218 grams) powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon allspice
  • Pinch of cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (125 grams) powdered sugar for coating cookies

Instructions

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whip egg whites and lemon juice until stiff, foamy peaks form.
  2. Using a fine mesh sieve, sift in almond flour, 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar, spices, and baking powder into a medium bowl. Whisk in the salt  Using a rubber spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the egg whites in two or three batches. Try to keep some of the lightness from the egg whites though the batter will be a sticky dough. Add molasses and vanilla extract, and fold in until combined.
  3. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using clean hands, roll dough into balls about 1″ in diameter.  Roll in powdered sugar until well coated. Shape into an oval, then arrange on a baking sheet with 2 inches of space between them for spreading. Flatten just slightly.
  4. Leave at room temperature for about an hour or until the cookies have dried out and formed a dry shell. Pre-crack the shell by squeezing the cookies slightly from opposite corners.
  5. While cookies are drying, place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 300 degrees F. When the cookies are ready, bake for 14-16 minutes. Until puffed and cracked and dry across the top.  Cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely before storing. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.