Italian Almond Cookies (Soft, 5 Ingredients, 30 Minutes) Recipe
These Italian Almond Cookies are soft, tender, and packed with almond flour, sweetened naturally with honey and powdered sugar, and flavored with fresh orange zest. With only five simple ingredients and a quick 30-minute prep and bake time, they’re perfect for an easy, elegant treat that’s gluten-free and delightfully chewy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 15 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups almond flour
- ⅔ cup powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar (for coating)
Wet Ingredients
- 1 large egg white
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Zest of 1 orange
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 340°F (170°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking. In a large bowl, add the almond flour, ⅔ cup powdered sugar, one large egg white, honey, and the grated orange zest.
- Mix the Dough: Stir the ingredients with a spoon, then use your hand to gently squeeze and pinch the mixture. Although it appears dry initially, keep squeezing until it comes together into a cohesive ball. If it remains crumbly after about a minute, add a small amount of extra egg white to help bind it.
- Shape the Cookies: Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of powdered sugar onto a plate. Break off pieces of dough and roll them into small balls, aiming for about 15 balls, each weighing approximately 1 ounce (30 grams).
- Coat the Balls: Roll each dough ball in the powdered sugar to coat thoroughly. This adds a delicate sweetness and helps with the cookie texture.
- Press and Bake: Arrange the coated balls on the prepared baking sheet. Gently press your thumb into the center of each ball to slightly flatten it, creating cracks around the edges. This shaping helps them bake evenly and achieve their classic look.
- Bake and Cool: Place the cookies in the preheated oven and bake for 12 minutes at 340°F (170°C). The cookies should remain pale and soft without spreading. Once baked, allow them to cool completely on the baking sheet as they firm up and develop their full flavor.
Notes
- These cookies are naturally gluten-free due to the almond flour base.
- If the dough is too dry, add small amounts of egg white incrementally; too much can make the dough sticky.
- Do not overbake—the cookies should stay pale and retain a soft texture.
- Storing cookies in an airtight container will keep them fresh for up to 5 days.
- For added flavor, you can substitute orange zest with lemon or lime zest.
Keywords: Italian almond cookies, soft almond cookies, gluten free cookies, 5 ingredient cookies, orange zest cookies, easy almond flour cookies, honey sweetened cookies
