Karen’s Pine Nut Macaroon Cookies – includes “almond paste” you make

5 from 1 vote
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Delicious Soft Pine Nut Cookies with a Crispy Exterior ~ Perfect for Passover & Easter. Naturally Gluten Free.
Karen's Pine Nut Macaroon Cookies
Karen’s Pine Nut Macaroon Cookies – I’m adding dried diced mango – add dried apricots if you like… or omit them if you desire 

These are EASY and FUN to Make!

Many recipes you will see add purchased almond paste – it’s all in my recipe.
Here you start swirling almonds and sugar, add egg white and pure almond extract – looks and feels like almond paste.
The benefit – you save money…almond paste is expensive!
Pine nuts are expensive enough…
And – no commercial additives ~ like synthetic bitter almond oil, potassium sorbate and “natural flavoring.”

The Method:
  • Add almonds and sugar to a food processor – run machine for 30 seconds until granular, like sand
  • Add egg white, almond extract and salt – pulse in
  • Add chopped dried mango (or apricots would be nice too!) Pulse to combine – dough is done
  • Form 3/4″ balls of dough – I use a small ice cream scoop, then roll with the palm of your hands
  • Place pine nuts in a small bowl – add one ball at a time and press down so the pine nuts adhere
  • Add the cookies to a lightly greased cookie sheet lined with parchment paper – bake until puffed, lightly golden; do not overcook
Pine Nut Macaroon Cookies
Pine Nut Macaroon Cookies close up – crispy yet tender inside 
Pine Nut Macaroon Cookie Ingredients
Pine Nut Macaroon Cookie Ingredients

Slivered Almonds, Pure Cane Sugar, One Egg White, Sea Salt, Dried Diced Mango and Pine Nuts.

I'm adding diced Mango pieces into the macaroon batter
I’m adding diced Mango pieces into the macaroon batter – look for unsulphured & unsweetened 
The finished dough for the Pine Nut Macaroon Cookies
The finished dough for the Pine Nut Macaroon Cookies – SO EASY! Takes only a few minutes.
Use a small ice cream scoop to portion each cookie - then roll into a round
Use a small ice cream scoop to portion each cookie – then roll into a nice 3/4″ round
Roll each macaroon cookie dough ball in pine nuts
Roll each macaroon cookie dough ball in pine nuts
Karen's Pine Nut Macaroon Cookies
Karen’s Pine Nut Macaroon Cookies
Karen's Pine Nut Macaroon Cookies
Karen’s Pine Nut Macaroon Cookies – a nice touch; dust with confectioner’s sugar 
Karen's Pine Nut Macaroon Cookies
A peak inside each cookie – Nice bits of dried mango adds some fruity flavor

Did you know?

We all love pine nuts for their unique sweet yet buttery flavor and soft texture. They come with a high price tag – but we find they’re worth it – pesto with another nut is just not the same! 
Pine Nuts come from pine cones and can take from 1 1/2 years to 3 years to mature.
They are very difficult to harvest – hence the hefty price )the seeds are separated by hand from the cone fragments.)
Pine nuts have a second shell! ~ which also has to be removed before eating… time & labor involved.
The European variety are long and slender. Those from Asia are shorter and stubbier. The American pinyon nuts are larger and easier to shell.

Enjoy these amazing cookies!
Karen

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5 from 1 vote

Karen's Pine Nut Macaroon Cookies - includes "almond paste" you make

Servings: 20 cookies
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 12 minutes
Total: 27 minutes
Karen's Pine Nut Macaroon Cookies
Easy & Delicious Macaroon Cookies with a method for making "almond paste" in the food processor... 7 ingredients including dried mango

Equipment

  • 1 1" cookie scoop
  • 1 food processor
  • 1 cookie sheet

Ingredients 

  • 1 1/2 cup slivered almonds
  • 2/3 cup pure cane sugar
  • 1 large egg white
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract, (not artificially flavored)
  • 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 cup dried natural mango*, cut 1/4" dice

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper; lightly grease with neutral oil.
    Add almonds and sugar to a food processor. Turn on and let run for 30 seconds. Open the top - spoon a bit of it in you hand. You are looking for the consistency of coarse sand. If too coarse (you can see dots of almonds), pulse a few times until the consistency is like coarse sand.
  • Add egg white, almond extract and salt. Pulse to combine well. Add diced dried mango - pulse in. The dough is done!
  • Add pine nuts to a small 4" bowl.
    Scoop dough with a small cookie scoop - 3/4 " rounds - Roll with your hands until a neat round - will be kind of sticky.
  • Add each ball of dough to the pine nuts - press down to adhere to the top half of the dough. Place on the parchment paper - encourage the cookie rounds to stand tall, not flat. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
  • Bake until puffed and golden in the center of the oven - 12 - 14 minutes. Cookies will be lightly golden - yet do not overcook! Cool on wire racks, then add to a container with a good seal.
    Dust with confectioner's sugar if desired.
    Cookies will stay fresh for about 5 days.

Notes

*Look for unsulphured and unsweetened dried mango.
This recipe can not be reproduced without the consent of its author, Karen Sheer.

Nutrition

Calories: 83kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 17mgPotassium: 62mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 311IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: cookies, Dessert
Cuisine: American, Italian
Tried this recipe?Mention @azestforlife or tag #azestforlife!

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