Birthday Lemon Amaretti

I find it increasingly difficult to find truly desired or useful gifts (most people buy the things they want for themselves throughout the year). So I’ve started giving home-baked goods. Nobody has complained yet! These amaretti are a favourite that are also quick and easy to whip up. If you don’t like lemon you can omit it and add a tsp of vanilla or almond essence instead.

Ingredients (makes about 20)

250g of almond meal (natural or blanched work equally well)

175g caster sugar (I have reduced the sugar from traditional recipes, but I think they are still sweet enough)

2 egg whites

Juice and zest of one small lemon

20 whole blanched or dry roasted (unsalted) almonds

Directions

Preheat oven to 160 degrees celcius

Line a baking tray with baking paper

Mix together sugar and almond meal in mixing bowl

Add eggs and lemon and stir until completely mixed

With damp hands, roll balls of dough (about the size of a walnut) and place a couple of centimetres apart on baking tray

Press one whole almond into the top of each biscuit (if you don’t have whole almonds you can use whatever nuts you have handy. I’ve used half-walnuts before and they looked great)

Bake for about 20 minutes until nicely browned

Cool on a rack

Will keep for about a week in the pantry, but will get chewier as the days go by.