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THE ITALIAN CHRISTMAS KITCHENItalian ChristmasCookiesBake it. Gift it. Share the tradition.

From the Italian Christmas kitchen

Almond Apricot Sandwich Cookies

Almonds, citrus and a little Christmas tradition.

Solid almond-butter discs paired around a thin apricot-jam layer, an Italian-style home sandwich cookie.

Solid almond-butter discs paired around a thin apricot-jam layer, an Italian-style home sandwich cookie.
Almond Apricot Sandwich Cookies
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Almond Apricot Sandwich Cookies

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Hands-on45 min
Chill / rest45 min
All batches36 min
Cooling30 min
Total time156 min
Yield20 cookies

Follow the tray sizes, portions and baking intervals in the instructions below.

Allow about 156 minutes: 45 hands-on, 45 chilling or resting, 36 whole-batch cooking and 30 cooling/setting. Cooling includes tray rest. Follow the method for batch sizes and doneness cues.

Solid almond-butter discs paired around a thin apricot-jam layer, an Italian-style home sandwich cookie.

Ingredients

Optional sprinkles are for decoration and are not included in the nutrition estimate. Spice weights are approximate.

Instructions

Make the almond short dough

  1. 1Make the almond short doughStir butter and powdered sugar until smooth. Mix in egg, vanilla and salt, then fold in both flours. Press gently into a slab, wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Cut forty solid discs

  1. 2Cut forty solid discsRoll between parchment to 3/16 inch thick. Cut 40 solid rounds using a 2-inch cutter, rerolling scraps once. Do not cut windows in the tops. Dough weight is about 12.5 g per disc; cutter geometry affects yield. Divide among three lined sheets with 1/2-inch gaps and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

Bake three sheets

  1. 3Bake three sheetsHeat the oven to 350°F (177°C) conventional or 325°F (163°C) fan. Bake sheets separately on the middle rack for 10–12 minutes each, allowing 36 minutes for all batches. Edges and bases should be pale gold, with lightly colored tops.

Cool and pair

  1. 4Cool and pairRest each sheet for 5 minutes, then cool the discs on a rack for 25 minutes. Match the 40 cold discs into 20 pairs. Spread 6 g apricot jam on the flat underside of one disc in each pair and cover with the other disc. Assembly is included in hands-on time; allow 30 minutes cooling after the last batch.

Chef’s Science & Pro Tips

Ingredient science

Fine almond flour gives a delicate crumb without breaking the thin discs.

Technique & texture

Keep all tops solid; the filling appears as a narrow seam at the side.

Finishing & serving

Use thick jam and match similar-sized discs before assembling.

Storage and make-ahead

Keeping your cookies fresh
MethodHow longWhat to do
Room temperatureUp to 2 daysKeep airtight in a cool room and follow the filling label if it gives a shorter limit.
RefrigerationUp to 5 days totalStore airtight; include previous room-temperature storage and obey a shorter filling-label limit.
Raw freezingUp to 1 monthFreeze unfilled dough airtight; thaw in the refrigerator before shaping and baking.
Baked freezingUp to 1 month, unfilledFreeze fully cooled unfilled cookies; add the measured filling after thawing.
RestoringBefore servingThaw plain cookies covered at room temperature, then add the measured filling.

Notes

  • Pair 40 cold solid discs into 20 sandwiches and add exactly 6 g thick jam per pair. This home formula has not been kitchen-tested.

Nutrition

Approximate nutrition per serving calculated from ingredient weights divided by 20; required fillings and toppings included, optional decorations excluded. Brands, unused coating and actual serving size affect the estimate.

Calories129 kcal
Fat6.7 g
Saturated fat3.1 g
Carbohydrates15.6 g
Sugar7.4 g
Fiber0.8 g
Protein2.1 g
Sodium34 mg
Serving size1 cookie
A platter of Italian Christmas cookies
ITALIAN CHRISTMAS BAKINGReal ingredients. Clear steps. Italian Christmas magic.Almonds, citrus and thoughtful baking
THE COOKIE INDEXITALIANCHRISTMAS COOKIES

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the yield include individual halves?

The yield is 20 finished sandwiches made from 40 baked discs.

Are these baci di dama?

No. They use flat rolled discs and apricot jam rather than small domed nut halves joined with chocolate.

Why did the cookies soften after filling?

Jam transfers moisture into the almond crumb. Fill close to serving if you prefer firmer discs.

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Share a little Italian Christmas joy

Send this recipe to someone who loves to bake.