By Becky Hardin
Updated Dec 10, 2025
Pignoli Cookies are crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and always disappear first at my Christmas cookie exchanges. These classic Italian pine nut cookies are easy to make with just a few baking staples I usually have on hand. They’ve got the best almond flavor and the signature pine nut crunch everyone loves!
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5-Star Review
“Delicious and so easy to make!” -Donna
Easy Pignoli Cookie Recipe
Pignoli cookies are one of those classic Italian treats I grew up loving. They’re beautifully simple—just almond paste, sugar, and egg whites—but the flavor is anything but basic. That soft, chewy almond center paired with the toasty crunch on the outside gets me every single time. Traditionally they’re rolled in pine nuts, and I love that signature look and bite.
But listen, I know pine nuts can be pricey (my jaw drops every time I see the tag), so I’m never afraid to switch things up. Sometimes I’ll roll the cookies in chopped walnuts or cashews, and they’re still incredible. And on days when I’m craving maximum almond goodness, I go all in and coat them in chopped or slivered almonds. Honestly? They’re delicious no matter what twist I give them.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 7 oz. almond paste 198g, cut into pieces (1 standard package)*
- ▢ ⅓ cup granulated sugar 67g
- ▢ ¼ cup powdered sugar 28g, plus more for serving
- ▢ 1 large egg white 35g
- ▢ ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ▢ 4 oz. pine nuts 113g
- ▢ powdered sugar optional, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray it with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- To the bowl of a food processor, add the almond paste, sugar, powdered sugar, egg white, and salt. Blend until smooth. (The dough should be thick and tacky but not runny). 7 oz. almond paste, ⅓ cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup powdered sugar, 1 large egg white, ¼ tsp kosher salt
- Place the pine nuts in a medium bowl. 4 oz. pine nuts
- Scoop about 1 tbsp of dough per cookie and form into 1-inch balls. Roll each cookie dough ball into the pine nuts, coating the top and sides.
- Place cookie dough balls about 1-2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until they just start to turn a golden brown. Don’t overbake, or you’ll get a tough center.
- Let cookies cool and firm up on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes.
- Dust with powdered sugar and serve.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Baking Sheet
- Food Processor
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Pignoli Cookies Step by Step
Gather your ingredients and prep your baking sheets: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray it with nonstick cooking spray so the cookies don’t stick. Set aside for now.
Make the dough: Add 7 oz. of almond paste, ⅓ cup of granulated sugar, ¼ cup of powdered sugar, 1 large egg white, and ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt to the bowl of a food processor and blend until smooth. The dough should be thick and tacky but not runny.
Roll the cookies: Place 4 oz. of pine nuts in a medium bowl. Scoop about 1 tbsp of dough per cookie and form into 1-inch balls. Roll each cookie dough ball into the pine nuts, coating it all around.
Transfer dough balls and bake: Place cookie dough balls about 1-2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.
Dust and serve: Let cookies cool and firm up on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.
How to Store
Pignoli nut cookies will stay fresh for up to 1 week when stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
You can freeze Italian pignoli cookies for up to 6 months. Let them cool to room temperature before transferring them to a freezer-safe container. A frozen pignoli cookie will only need an hour (or less) to thaw at room temperature.
Serving Suggestions
Pignoli cookies are the perfect addition to my holiday cookie box. I like to serve them with other classics, like no-bake avalanche cookies , these colorful M&M cookies , soft and chewy cinnamon-infused snickerdoodles , and these festive-looking white chocolate cranberry cookies .
more christmas cookies
Hershey Kiss Cookies
Gingerbread Kiss Cookies
Linzer Cookies
Chocolate Spritz Cookies Recipe (Gluten Free Spritz Cookies)
Pignoli Cookies (Pine Nut Cookies)
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Baking Sheet
- Food Processor
Ingredients
- 7 oz. almond paste 198g, cut into pieces (1 standard package)*
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar 67g
- ¼ cup powdered sugar 28g, plus more for serving
- 1 large egg white 35g
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- 4 oz. pine nuts 113g
- powdered sugar optional, for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray it with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- To the bowl of a food processor, add the almond paste, sugar, powdered sugar, egg white, and salt. Blend until smooth. (The dough should be thick and tacky but not runny). 7 oz. almond paste, ⅓ cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup powdered sugar, 1 large egg white, ¼ tsp kosher salt
- Place the pine nuts in a medium bowl. 4 oz. pine nuts
- Scoop about 1 tbsp of dough per cookie and form into 1-inch balls. Roll each cookie dough ball into the pine nuts, coating the top and sides.
- Place cookie dough balls about 1-2 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until they just start to turn a golden brown. Don’t overbake, or you’ll get a tough center.
- Let cookies cool and firm up on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes.
- Dust with powdered sugar and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
