| Alternative names | Panellets |
|---|---|
| Type | Macaroon |
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Region or state | Sicily |
| Main ingredients | Almond paste, pine nuts[1] |
Pignolo (Italian: [piɲˈɲɔːlo]; plural pignoli) are a type of cookie from Italian cuisine. Considered a standard of Italian confectionery, they are a common item at Italian bakeries.[2] It is a popular cookie in all of southern Italy, and in Sicilian communities in the United States.[3]
The cookie is a light golden color and studded with golden pine nuts (also called pignoli). Made with almond paste and egg whites, the cookie is moist, soft and chewy beneath the pine nuts.[4][5]
Often they are formed into crescents;[citation needed] otherwise the cookies are round.[6] 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, this cookie is a luxury food.[7]
Being essentially an almond macaroon, this cookie belongs to a type known as "amaretto".[8]
