Pignoli are soft, chewy almond-flavored Sicilian cookies coated in crunchy pine nuts. Made with just 5 ingredients, these naturally dairy- and gluten-free treats are perfect for sharing!

Easy Pignoli Cookies Are A Holiday Staple

Many holiday desserts are overly complicated during what is often the busiest time of the year. As a professional baker and recipe developer, I understand the need for a simple recipe that comes together quickly and looks impressive. Pignoli cookies are ready in about 30 minutes and feel special, but not because they’re difficult. In fact, you’ll be surprised how easy these pine nut-studded almond delights are to make at home.

I’ve shared many of my most cherished Italian cookie recipes, from chocolate and hazelnut Baci Di Dama to citrus and almond Ricciarelli. Pignoli have a similar balance of toasty, nutty, and sweet flavors. And they’re incredibly simple, made with just almond paste, sugar, egg, pine nuts, and a touch of salt.

Almond paste and pine nuts were once considered luxury ingredients, so pignoli have a long history of marking special occasions. Today, they fit in perfectly both for an afternoon pick-me-up and holiday celebration. They’re naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, making them perfect for feeding a crowd!

Pignoli Cookies Ingredients

With just 5 ingredients (even counting the salt!), this pignoli cookie recipe has an exceptionally short ingredient list. You’ll find almond paste and pine nuts in the baking aisle of most grocery stores or specialty food stores, or you may get a better deal online.

• Almond paste: Made from finely ground almonds and sugar. It’s not the same as marzipan, and marzipan does not make a good substitute (see “Almond Paste versus Marzipan” below for more information). 
• Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cookies.
• Egg white: Holds the dough together and prevents the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.
• Salt: Salt is a flavor enhancer.
• Pine nuts: Bring the cookie’s signature buttery, toasty flavor, along with a nice crunch.

Almond Paste vs Marzipan

Almond paste is a sweet mix of ground almonds and sugar, with about twice as many almonds as marzipan, which is higher in sugar. Note that the two are not interchangeable:

• Almond paste: Used inside desserts (in batters or fillings). Tip: Avoid brands with corn syrup, ground apricot, or peach kernels in the ingredient list.
• Marzipan: Used on top (for decorating or as candy).

How to Make Pignoli Cookies

This pignoli cookie recipe is for a batch of 12. Depending on the size of your food processor you could easily double or triple the recipe.

• Get ready: Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Make the dough: Slice or break apart 7 ounces of almond paste into small pieces. Add to the bowl of a food processor with 1/2 cup sugar, 1 egg white, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Process until it forms a thick, smooth paste, about 1 minute. Pause halfway through to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl to ensure there are no unblended lumps.
• Scoop the cookies: Scoop 12 rounded tablespoons of the dough (about 25 grams each) and roll each mound into a ball in the palms of your hand. If the dough is too sticky to work with, cover and chill for 10 to 15 minutes. 
• Coat with pine nuts: Add the pine nuts to a wide, shallow bowl. Roll each ball of dough in the pine nuts, coating the entire surface. Gently press the pine nuts into the dough to encourage them to stick.
• Bake: Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 18 minutes, or until the pine nuts and the edges of the cookies begin to turn golden. Let the cookies cool completely on the pan before serving.

Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting

As simple as pignoli cookies are to make, here are a few techniques I found helpful for mixing, shaping, and cooling:

• If you don’t have a food processor: Use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. It will take a few minutes longer. Crumble the almond paste into small pieces and beat it with the sugar and salt until the almond paste has broken up into small pieces. Add the egg white and mix until smooth. 
• If the dough is too sticky: The dough is naturally fairly sticky, which can be frustrating to work with. If it’s still quite sticky after chilling, scoop directly into the bowl of pine nuts, using the pine nuts as you would flour to prevent sticking.
• To avoid breaking: After baking, let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheet. They’re delicate while warm and may break apart if they haven’t cooled and set.

Mix it Up

As delicious as pignoli cookies are in their simplest form, you can easily customize them with your favorite flavorings. 

• Play with the seasonings: I’m partial to a little orange zest and cinnamon—a flavor combination I crave during the holidays. Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of lemon or orange zest, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, or 1/8 teaspoon of almond extract. Or mix and match.
• Try other nuts: Pignoli can also be made with other nuts instead of pine nuts. Use roughly chopped blanched almonds or blanched hazelnuts. Make sure the nuts are untoasted, as they’ll toast in the oven.

How to Store and Freeze Pignoli Cookies

Pignoli cookies will keep for 3 days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature or up to 3 months when frozen.

To freeze the cookies, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the cookies in a single layer on the parchment, then place in the freezer until solid, about 2 hours.

Once frozen, transfer the cookies to a freezer-safe container or zip-top freezer bag. Enjoy within 3 months.

Try These Italian Cookie Recipes Next!

Pizzicati (Italian Pinch Cookies)

Baci Di Dama (Italian Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies)

Biscotti with Pistachio and Cardamom

Ricciarelli

*This post has recently been updated with new information for the readers’ benefit.