A dessert to wow your dinner guests: classic Italian amaretti, topped with almond scented cream and kirsch laced cherries.
ingredients
Amaretti Cookies
Almond Cream
Cherries and Assembly
directions
For amaretti, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
In a separate bowl, whip egg whites until foamy, then gradually add remaining 1/3 cup sugar. Whip until whites hold a stiff peak. Stir in almond mixture and add almond extract. Shape teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, wetting your hands with cool water to prevent sticking. Sift icing sugar over cookies and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until lightly browned. Allow to cool, then store in an airtight container.
Sift flour, cornstarch, cinnamon and 1/3 cup of sugar and lemon zest over ground almonds and toss to blend.
For almond cream, stir mascarpone, sour cream and brown sugar together to dissolve sugar. Stir in extracts. Whip cream until a soft peak forms and fold in. Chill until ready to assemble.
For cherries, toss cherries with Kirsch and sugar and let sit for 5 minutes.
To assemble, place one amaretti cookie on a plate. Add a dollop of almond cream. Top with another amaretti cookie. Top with another dollop of almond cream, a sprinkle of toasted almonds and then a spoonful of cherries. Repeat to make 4 servings in total. Serve.