Pignoli cookies also known as pine nut cookies is a macaroon typical of Sicily, Italy. It is a very popular Italian cookie and holiday cookie recipe. Pignoli cookies are made with almond paste and pine nuts, but no flour.
True Story: I once won a man’s heart with these Pignoli cookies. Early in the relationship my friend raved about the Pignoli cookies he loved to get whenever he visited Ferrara Bakery in (Little Italy) NYC. Being of French and German descent myself, I wasn’t familiar with these classic Italian cookies. I scoured the web for a recipe and found them all to be pretty much the same, with the exception of a small amount of flour which I prefer to use in my recipe. The cookies were a huge success, and I won his heart. The relationship didn’t last, but these cookies are still one of my all-time favorite Christmas cookies.
Some of my other favorite classic Christmas cookies and goodies:
Classic Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
Chocolate Dunked Pistachio Shortbread Cookies
Triple Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
Christmas Monster Cookies
Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookies
10 Minute Microwave Peanut Brittle Recipe
Because of the two main ingredients of almond paste and pine nuts, these cookies are a little expensive to make. I think they are so worth the extra dollars, and a real treat for whoever gets to enjoy them.
This cookie dough is a bit sticky, so I recommend lining your baking sheets with parchment paper or spraying them with a nonstick cooking spray.
For your convenience a printable version of the recipe is at the bottom of this post.
Pignoli Cookies
ingredients:
8 ounces almond paste
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup flour
2 egg whites (about 6 tablespoons)
1 cup pine nuts
directions:
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or spray with Pompeian Grapeseed Oil Spray.
2. Break the almond paste into small pieces; place the pieces in a food processor. Add the granulated and confectioners’ sugars, salt, and the flour. Pulse until the mixture is finely ground. Begin to add the egg whites, a little at a time, just until the dough comes together. You may not need to add all of the egg whites.
3. With slightly wet hands, roll the dough into 1-inch balls. I recommend scooping them out with a small cookie scoop, to keep them uniform. You’re going to get 12 – 15 cookies from this recipe. Roll the balls in the pine nuts, pressing to adhere the nuts (mainly on the tops of the cookies.)
4. Place the balls 2-inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Slightly flatten the tops of the cookies with your fingers. Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven, and allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheets.
5. When cooled, dust cookies generously with confectioner’s sugar before serving.
Pignoli Pine Nut Cookies
Ingredients
- 8 ounces almond paste
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 egg whites (about 6 tablespoons)
- 1 cup pine nuts
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or spray with Pompeian Grapeseed Oil Spray.
2. Break the almond paste into small pieces; place the pieces in a food processor. Add the granulated and confectioners' sugars, salt, and the flour. Pulse until the mixture is finely ground. Begin to add the egg whites, a little at a time, just until the dough comes together. You may not need to add all of the egg whites.
3. With slightly wet hands, roll the dough into 1-inch balls. I recommend scooping them out with a small cookie scoop, to keep them uniform. You're going to get 12 - 15 cookies from this recipe. Roll the balls in the pine nuts, pressing to adhere the nuts (mainly on the tops of the cookies.)
4. Place the balls 2-inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Slightly flatten the tops of the cookies with your fingers. Bake 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven, and allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheets.
5. When cooled, dust cookies generously with confectioner's sugar before serving.
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Those look incredible. I don’t normally buy pine nuts because of the cost but for a wonderfu, holiday treat I would make an exception.
I’m making these cookies now. I made the almond paste since my canned one became rancid. I’d appreciate knowing the cup value of the almond paste. I think I mistakenly added all the egg whites and the dough became liquified. I added more flour to try and salvage them. I’ll let you know how they come out.
I LOVE Pine Nuts, but I have never had them on a cookie. This sounds yummy! 🙂
I am not sure I have ever had a pine nut, so I am excited to try this out!!
I’m not a fan of pine nuts personally, I wonder if pistachios or macadamia nuts would clash with the almond paste flavor…or maybe just substitute the pine nuts with more almonds?! The rest of the cookie though sounds delicious – I guess I could even make them without the nuts 🙂
Almonds and pistachios both sound like really good alternatives to me.
My daughter loves pine nuts, I will have to make these cookies for her
Yummy, I have never heard of them either, but they sound amazing…
Delicious! And SOOOO pretty looking for holiday cookies!
I don’t think I’ve ever tried these before but they look amazing!
I’m not a huge fan of pinon, but my husband’s family is. It might be good to make for the holidays!
Wow, these sound really unique to me, but super delicious!!!!
Mmmm! This looks amazing.
This looks so absolutely delicious!!! Can I have one?!
Oh my goodness, these look heavenly! What a fun and festive idea!
wow! these sound really good. not very often i run across a cookie recipe so different ….i’ll definitely have to try these!
I have never used Pine nuts in anything but these look great
I’ve never tried this brand but those cookies look delicious! I’m going to have to give it a try!
I like pine nuts, but don’t buy them very often because of the price. I think I need to make some of these cookies. Thanks.
Pine nuts are a really random ingredient..I think I’ve only had them in salads. It’s nice to see them used differently.
I would have never thought to put pine nuts in cookies. But these look amazing.
Those look incredible. I have never used Pine nuts in cookies before.
This looks like a great recipe!
I have never heard of or had a pine nut cookie, but those look delicious.
I have never baked with pine nuts, but this may be a great recipe for my friends without nut allergies. I will definitely share this one.
I love pignoli in cookies. I usually make biscotti with them, but these look great and save a step 🙂
Ooh these are my fave! Thanks for the recipe!
Mmmm, these cookies look amazing!
Why has it never occurred to me to pair pine nuts with cookies? This sounds really good!
These look SUPER yummy. And pine nuts aren’t something that pop up in cookies every day!
Those sound really interesting and look so tasty!
I do not think I have ever had pine nut cookies before. They look really yummy!
Those sound really good! I haven’t heard of those before but I love pine nuts!
those look great. i have not had homemade pine nut cookies in ages, many, many years, brings back memories looking at them 🙂
Those look amazing. I have never made Pine Nut Cookies before. I love pompeian oils!
I’ve never heard of these cookies, but they look delicious!! My family loves pine nuts so this would be a great treat for them. Thanks for the recipe!! 🙂
I’ve never had pine nuts before, so these cookies definitely sound interesting. They look amazingly yummy! I’d love to try them. =0)
Pignoli in cookies – I never would have though of this! We buy Pignoli ( the good ones!) in Little Italy all the time, but we use them for pesto. I have to try these!
I love the idea of almond paste. It’s so delicious….I look for things that have that in it. Bookmarking this recipe – but making it clear I do not want a man 😉
I’m a big fan of pine nuts, why have I never thought to put them in cookies! I’m making this one!
These look pretty yummy! I have never had pine nut cookies, nor have I heard of them up until now. I would like to give this recipe a try. Thank you for sharing!
Yum! These look like the perfect christmas cookie! I usually dont like nuts but i know my hubby would love these- thanks for the receipe!
I would never think of using pine nuts this way. What an inventive, yummy idea. I think I might borrow this one 🙂
these look amazing. i bet they taste even better. i have had these from a bakery before, but never tried to make them at home. i love to bake sweets so these would be perfect for the holidays.
I have never had pine nut cookies but I know that I would love them from looking at these.
I would love to try these . never had pine nuts before. Looks tasty and the ingredients/recipe are simple.
Oh I forgot about these cookies! My mother-in-law used to make them and I always loved them. Thanks for the recipe – I’m going to give it a try! 🙂
I’ve never tried pine nut cookies! I think I’m going to try and talk my fiancé into making these for Christmas! Happy holidays everyone!
Not too many ingredients for this recipe and very cute story behind it. Sounds like another good one to try out.
Pignoli Cookies are one of my favorite cookies along with Cucidati. Thanks for this recipe. I have always wanted to make them but thought it would be complicated. After seeing this I ‘m going to do it. They are expensive but for the Holidays they are so worth it. Thanks again.
Carol L
These cookies look so delicious and I like the ingredients. I think that these would be a great cookie to make for the Holidays and take to a party! I like the Pine nuts on top!
These look absolutely delicious. I have never heard of or even seen almond paste, and rarely use pine nuts, yet, I find myself wishing I could try this cookie. That is so awesome that you won his heart with these. You know what they say, the way to a mans heart is through his stomach. I believe it, yet, I am a pretty sad cook. I must practice!
I have never tasted pinenuts and I would love to try them. I will look for them the next time I am grocery shopping.
Those cookies look delicious.
I don’t believe I have ever had pine nut cookies, but they do look delicious, I would love to give them a try. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
These look fantastic! My mom used to make a similar sugar cookie with toasted pine nuts. I’m excited to try this recipe!
I love these cookies. I haven’t had them, nor thought about them in years! Pine nuts have such a distinctive flavor which I love.
That is a cute story! I love these cookies, and get them from the Italian bakery. It never occurred to me to make them myself! And I love to bake, so guess what i’m making as soon as I get my hands on almond paste and pignoli nuts!!! Yippee!
These look so yummy. I have been wanting to try pine nuts and I think these cookies would be a fabulous way to do so.
YUM i love pine nut cookies! My grandma use to make them and hers where always so good! They are also yummy in brownies!
I never have thought about using pine nuts in cookies, these look tasty. I have some pine nuts, looks like we will have some Pine Nut cookies this weekend.
Thanks for sharing, found your site from the Weekend Re-Treat Link Party.
YUMMO! Thank you for sharing on Show Me Saturday!
I have never heard of these cookies before and I love pine nuts so I have to try this one.
Hi Angela, You have made my dream come true. When I used to live in N.J. in the 90’s there was a localbItalian bakery that made these cookies, they were the bomb!! Aaand..they were the most expensive cookie they had, I used to stop by just for a couple of those to indulge myself when out and about, Ive made them several times now and. Even gluten free ones for my sister in law who has celiac disease, she loves them so much she ven sprung for the pine nuts so I would make her some..Thanks so much for sharing this recipe, it truly is an heirloom 🙂
Hi Angela; Love, love, love these cookies! I put a few drops of lemon or orange flavoring in mine especially at Easter time.
These cookies look really good. I have never had pine buts before, I will have to ty these.
I was actually going to search out a recipe fr these. I have made them for years but only this time of the year. I can’t find the recipe I have used in the past but this one looks perfect. These are the most delicious cookies ever.
I’ve never made this kind of cookie before. These look delicious and perfect for a holiday treat or gift to give someone!
I haven’t heard of these. They sound good. I’m not good in the kitchen, so I hope I don’t mess them up.
They sound terrific. I have to admit though to never trying it. I bet it has a very distinctive flavor because of he pine nuts.
These look wonderful and easy to make. I bet my kids would love these.
I am a huge fan of pine nuts so this recipe is right up my alley
I make these cookies every year. They are delicious.
I’ve never seen pine nut cookies before. I will absolutely need to try these.
I have never eaten pine nuts. These cookies look really good!