Lemon Amaretti Biscuits Food

LEMON AMARETTI BISCUITS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 170ºC/150ºC fan.
• Line your baking sheet with baking parchment or a reusable non-stick baking liner.
• Finely grate the zest of two lemons. Put the lemon zest, ground almonds (200g), caster sugar (150g) into a large bowl.
• In a different bowl, beat your eggs whites (2 large) on a medium speed until they form a firm peak. Once firm, add the egg whites to the other ingredients and fold in the egg whites. Once combined add the limoncello/lemon juice (1 tbsp) and stir until you have a smooth paste.
• Put the icing sugar (3 tbsp) and caster sugar (3 tbsp) onto separate plates. Split the mixture into 16 balls (about 2-3cm in diameter). Roll each ball in the caster sugar and then the icing sugar and place onto the baking sheet. Allow about 3cm between each ball as they will spread a little in the oven.
• Cook for 15-17 minutes until you can see they're just starting to brown underneath the icing sugar.
• Take them out of the oven, leave to cool for a couple of minutes on the tray and then place onto a cooling rack.

SPARKLING LEMON & AMARETTI ICE

Steps:

• Line the base and sides of a 20cm cake tin with a round and two or three strips of plastic cut from two A4 clear plastic folders. Crush the amaretti biscuits fairly finely and mix into the melted butter, stirring well. Press into the base of the tin, smoothing with the back of a metal spoon.
• Tip the cheese into a large bowl, beat briefly to soften, then beat in the sugar, lemon zest and juice. Whip the cream until it just holds its shape, then fold into the mixture.
• Pour the lemon mixture into the tin and smooth the top. Freeze for 4 hours. For the topping, slice the lemons as thinly as possible. Put in a pan, cover with water and bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Drain well.
• Tip the sugar into a small pan and add 3 tbsp water. Heat gently to melt the sugar, then add the lemon slices, increase the heat and cook until the lemons are caramelised (about 4-5 minutes). Cool to room temperature, then arrange in overlapping circles over the top. Drizzle over any syrup, then return to the freezer. (Can be frozen for up to 2 months.)
• Remove the dessert from the freezer 2-3 hours before serving, peel off the plastic and set on a serving plate. (Timing is not too critical, as it won't collapse, just become softer.) Tuck it away in the fridge until you are ready to serve.

AMARETTI BISCUITS

Steps:

• Rub half the lemon zest into the caster sugar in a bowl using your fingertips until the mixture looks slightly damp. Set 2 tbsp of the lemon sugar aside, then stir the ground almonds into the rest until combined.
• Pour the egg whites into a large, clean bowl and whisk for 3-5 mins until stiff peaks form. Gradually whisk in the 2 tbsp of reserved lemon sugar to help stabilise the egg.
• Mix half the beaten egg whites and the almond liqueur (if using) into the dry ingredients until you have a smooth paste, then fold in the remaining egg whites until just incorporated. Chill for 1 hr.
• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and line two large baking trays with baking parchment. Roll tablespoons of the chilled dough into 15 even-sized balls.
• Fold the remaining lemon zest into the icing sugar, then roll the balls in this and place 2cm apart on the prepared trays. Dust with a little extra plain icing sugar, then bake for 13-15 mins until lightly golden but still soft. Leave to cool on the trays for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely. Will keep in an airtight container for up to 10 days. Dust with more icing sugar just before serving.

AMARETTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a food processor, grind the almonds into a fine meal. Add the sugar and continue to process for another 15 seconds. Finally, add egg whites and almond extract, continue to process until a smooth dough forms around the blade.
• Using a teaspoon, place well rounded spoonfuls of dough onto prepared baking sheets. Cookies should be at least 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Cookies should be golden. Allow cookies to cool completely on the paper before removing. Store in a dry place.