Pignolo (; plural pignoli) are a type of cookie from

Italian cuisine Italian cuisine (, ) is a Mediterranean cuisine David 1988, Introduction, pp.101–103 consisting of the ingredients, recipes and cooking techniques developed across the Italian Peninsula and later spread around the world together with wave ...

. Considered a standard of Italian confectionery, they are a common item at Italian bakeries. It is a popular cookie in all of southern Italy, and in Sicilian communities in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. The cookie is a light golden color and studded with golden

pine nut Pine nuts, also called piñón (), pinoli (), pignoli or chilgoza (), are the edible seeds of pines (family Pinaceae, genus ''Pinus''). According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, only 29 species provide edible nuts, while 20 are trad ...

s (also called ''pignoli''). Made with

almond paste Almond paste is made from ground almonds or almond meal and sugar in equal quantities, with small amounts of cooking oil, beaten eggs, heavy cream or corn syrup added as a binder. It is similar to ''marzipan'', but has a coarser texture. Almond pas ...

and egg whites, the cookie is moist, soft and chewy beneath the pine nuts. Often they are formed into crescents; otherwise the cookies are round. Pignoli are a popular Italian holiday treat, especially at

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year ...

. Because both almond paste and pine nuts are relatively expensive, and this cookie uses substantial amounts of both, this cookie is a luxury food. Being essentially an almond macaroon, this cookie belongs to a type known as "amaretto".

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{{Nut confections Almond cookies Christmas food Cookies Italian pastries Cuisine of Sicily

See also

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