Name: Gluten-free Greek Christmas Cookies (Almond & Cherry Amygdalota)
Yield: 14
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 2 egg whites; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 3/4 cup (170g) granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon pure almond extract; 2 and 1/2 cups (250g) blanched almond flour; 14-16 Maraschino cherries, drained; confectioner's sugar; 1/4 cup or more of sliced almonds

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Festive, delicious, and easy-to-make gluten-free cookies!

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Brighten your holiday table with these gluten-free Greek Christmas Cookies known as Almond and Cherry Amygdalota. They are delicious and easy to make, and the white cookie with red cherry is so festive. I use this exact cookie recipe to make my Greek almond meringue cookies, except I thickened the batter a bit because these cookies hold the cherry in the center. You can make them chewy or slightly crisp, depending on your preference, simply by changing the time in the oven. And you can even add chocolate. You’ll get requests for these in your cookie gift boxes!

Why your family will want these as gifts

Crisp on the outside

Chewy on the inside

Vanilla and almond

Sweet sticky cherries

A perfect delicious festive cookie everyone can enjoy!

Everything you need

Egg whites –room temperature is best
Salt
Granulated sugar
Pure vanilla extract –good quality for the best flavor
Pure almond extract
Blanched almond flour
Maraschino cherries –pitted and drained
Confectioner’s sugar
Sliced almonds

How to make gluten-free Greek Christmas cookies known as almond and Cherry Amygdalota

Preheat the oven to 350 °F, 180 °C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
Beat the egg whites with the salt on high speed until frothy. Add the sugar and beat until thick and shiny.
Add the vanilla and almond extract along with the almond flour and beat until dough has formed.
Place about a cup of confectioner’s sugar in a bowl.
Take about a tablespoon (35-40g) of dough and form it into a ball. Roll the ball in the confectioner’s sugar.
Place the balls onto the prepared pan.
Press the center of each ball down with your index finger to create a little well to hold the cherry.
Pat the cherries dry and place one cherry into the center of each ball.
Nestle a few sliced almonds around the cherries.
Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes until very lightly golden brown.
Allow the cookies to cool completely.

**Baker’s tip! For a chewier cookie, bake closer to 15 minutes. For a dryer cookie, bake closer to 20 minutes.

Serving

These cookies are beautiful on a glass or holiday platter. They really stand out! If you love chocolate, you can drizzle dark chocolate right over the cookies after they cool. I’ve even melted chocolate in a bowl and dipped the cookies to coat the bottom. The combination of cherry, chocolate, and almond is to die for! However you decide to serve them, call some friends over and make the coffee. Kali Orexi!

More Holiday Cookies:

Gluten-free Greek Christmas Cookies (Almond & Cherry Amygdalota)

Yield: 14-16 cookies

Ingredients

2 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (170g) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon pure almond extract
2 and 1/2 cups (250g) blanched almond flour
14-16 Maraschino cherries, drained
confectioner's sugar
1/4 cup or more of sliced almonds

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 °F, 180 °C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.

Beat the egg whites with the salt on high speed until frothy. Add the sugar and beat until thick and shiny.

Add the vanilla and almond extract along with the almond flour and beat until a dough has formed.

Place about a cup of confectioner's sugar in a bowl.

Take about a tablespoon (35-40g) of dough and form it into a ball. Roll the ball in the confectioner's sugar.

Place the balls onto the prepared pan.

Press the center of each ball down with your index finger to create a little well to hold the cherry.

Pat the cherries dry and place one cherry into the center of each ball.

Nestle a few sliced almonds around the cherries.

Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes.

Allow the cookies to cool completelt. Transfer them to a serving platter and serve with coffee. Kali Orexi!

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