Pignolo (cookie)

Pignolo or pignoli (pinolate,, or Italian: pignolate, ) are a type of cookie originating in Neapolitan, Genovese, and Umbrian cuisine. It is a popular cookie in all of southern Italy, and in Sicilian communities in the United States.

Pignolo is a light golden color and studded with golden pine nuts (pinoli in Italian). Made with almond paste and egg whites, the cookie is moist, soft and chewy.

Often they are formed into crescents; otherwise the cookies are round. Pignoli are a popular Italian holiday treat, especially at Christmas. Because both almond paste and pine nuts are relatively expensive, and this cookie uses substantial amounts of both, it is a luxury food.

Being essentially an almond macaroon, this cookie belongs to a type known as amaretto.