These coffee almond cookies are the perfect Christmas treat. They are fragrant, soft in the middle and beautifully crackled on top. Only 4 ingredients are needed for the basic recipe, and these coffee almond cookies are naturally gluten-free because there is no flour at all.
This is a traditional Italian-style recipe similar to amaretti cookies: rustic yet elegant. They come together in a flash and make a great edible gift. Can you make them before you finish your coffee?
How do you make coffee almond cookies without flour?
Coarsely grind the almonds. Mix them with sugar, ground coffee and an egg into a sticky dough. With wet hands, shape balls and roll them generously in powdered sugar. Bake for 15 minutes, until the surface cracks.
At a Glance
- Prep time: 10 min
- Baking time: 15 min
- Servings: 12 cookies
- Difficulty: Easy
- Calories: about 95 kcal per cookie
- Trend: Quick bake / Gluten-free
Ingredients
(US cups, with grams in brackets)
- 1 1/4 cups (180 g) whole almonds, skin on
- 1/3 cup (65 g) granulated sugar or vanilla sugar
- 1 tablespoon freshly ground coffee, finely ground (not instant)
- 1 large egg
- scant 1/2 cup (about 50 g) powdered sugar, for coating
- whole coffee beans, for decoration (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 340°F (170°C) convection (350°F / 175°C conventional). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Grind the almonds in a food processor or grinder to a coarse meal. For a rustic look it is fine if some small pieces remain.
- In a large bowl, mix the ground almonds, 1/3 cup (65 g) sugar and 1 tablespoon finely ground coffee.
- Add the egg and stir with your hand or a spoon until everything comes together. You get a soft, slightly sticky dough.
- Pour the powdered sugar into a separate bowl.
- Dampen your hands with water. Take pieces of the sticky dough and shape them into balls about the size of a walnut.
- Roll each ball generously in the powdered sugar. Do not be shy with a thick coat: it creates the crackled finish.
- Place the balls on the baking sheet with enough space between them.
- (Optional) Gently press one coffee bean into the center of each cookie as decoration.
- Bake for 15 minutes. The cookies spread slightly and crack beautifully.
- Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheet, where they firm up a little.
Video Recipe
Tips for Perfect Coffee Almond Cookies
- Wet hands: The dough is sticky, and that is correct. Dampen your hands with water before shaping each ball so it is easy to work with.
- Ground coffee: For the best flavor and aroma, use truly fresh, finely ground coffee, not instant. The difference in taste is big.
Easy Variations
- Hazelnuts: Replace the almonds with hazelnuts that you toast dry in a skillet and rub free of their skins.
- Mocha version: Replace the coffee with a spoonful of good cocoa powder for mocha-almond cookies.
- With orange: For an even more festive version, add a pinch of grated orange zest to the dough.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
My dough is too sticky. What should I do? That is normal, so do not add any flour. Just dampen your hands well and the balls will shape easily.
Why do I roll the cookies in powdered sugar? The thick coat of powdered sugar dries and splits while the cookie rises in the oven. That creates the typical crackled (craquelé) look.
Can I use instant coffee? You can in a pinch, but the flavor is much milder. If you use it, take 1 tablespoon of instant coffee powder in place of the ground coffee.
How long do they keep, and can I freeze them? Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for several days. For longer storage, freeze the cooled cookies in a single layer, then pack them in a container for up to 2 months.
Are they gluten-free? There is no wheat flour in the recipe, so yes. If you need them strictly gluten-free, check that your powdered sugar and coffee are labeled gluten-free.
The cookies are soft in the middle and slightly crisp at the edges, with an intense coffee and almond flavor. Keep them in an airtight container.
The recipe is based on a version by Un jour Une recette, adapted by the We Cook With Love team.
Enjoy! Try more recipes from our kitchen.
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