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''Pinolate'' ( pl.: ) or ''pignolate'' (, sg.: ''pinolata / pignolata'') are a type of 
The cookies are light golden color and studded with golden
cookie
A cookie is a sweet biscuit with high sugar and fat content. Cookie dough is softer than that used for other types of biscuit, and they are cooked longer at lower temperatures. The dough typically contains flour, sugar, egg, and some type of ...
originating in Neapolitan, Genovese and Umbrian
Umbrian is an extinct Italic language formerly spoken by the Umbri in the ancient Italian region of Umbria. Within the Italic languages it is closely related to the Oscan group and is therefore associated with it in the group of Osco-Umbr ...
cuisine. They are popular in all of southern Italy
Southern Italy (, , or , ; ; ), also known as () or (; ; ; ), is a macroregion of Italy consisting of its southern Regions of Italy, regions.
The term "" today mostly refers to the regions that are associated with the people, lands or cultu ...
, and in Sicilian communities in the United States, where they may also be known as ''pignoli'' (sg.: ''pignolo'').
The cookies are light golden color and studded with golden pine nut
Pine nuts, also called piñón (), pinoli (), or pignoli, 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 traded locall ...
s (''pinoli'' in Italian). Made with almond paste and egg whites, they are moist, soft and chewy.
''Pinolate'' are a popular Italian holiday treat, especially at Christmas
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...
. Because both almond paste and pine nuts are relatively expensive and these cookies use substantial amounts of both, it is a luxury food.
Being essentially an almond macaroon
A macaroon ( ) is a small cake or cookie, originally made from ground almonds, egg whites, and sugar, but now often with coconut or other nuts. They may also include jam, chocolate, or other flavorings.
Etymology
The name ''macaroon'' is ...
, ''pinolate'' belong to a type known as "amaretto".
See also
* Pignolata * List of Italian desserts and pastries *List of almond dishes
This is a list of almond foods and dishes, which use almond as a primary ingredient. The almond is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. "Almond" is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree. Within ...
References
{{Nut confections Almond cookies Christmas food Cuisine of Sicily Italian cookies