Amaretti refer to small, crisp, airy, meringue-like Italian almond cookies or biscuits similar to a macaroon with an intense sweet almond flavor. Amaretti are made with bitter-almond paste or apricot-kernel paste. Moreover, They are made from ground almonds or apricot kernels, baked with egg and sugar.Ingredients include sugar, almonds or apricot kernels and egg whites. They can be used as a base for trifles and other desserts. These cookies are often individually wrapped in tissue paper.
Traditionally, amaretti are soft almond cookies lightly coated with granulated sugar. They are often served after dinner with coffee and liqueurs.
Amaretti pronounced ah-mah-REHT-tee is also known as lazzaroni.
Amaretti comes from an Italian word "amaro" means "bitter," and the literal translation of "amaretti" is "the little bitter ones." They are called amaretti because they are flavored with bitter almonds.
Other definition:
Amaretti, the small, crisp, airy, meringue-like Italian almond cookies or biscuits similar to a macaroon with an intense sweet almond flavor was created by Francesco Moriodo, pastry chef at the court of Savoy in the mid-17th century.
Other definition:
Amaretti is the Italian term for macaroons or almond macaroons. At Christmas time they are traditionally grated and combined with cheese as a stuffing for ravioli.
The Glossary about the World of Food !