Amaretti (Italian macaroons)

• Ingredients

• 500g almond meal
• 1 3/4 cups (400g) caster sugar
• 4 egg whites
• 1 tablespoon vanilla essence
• 30 whole blanched almonds
• 30 red glace cherries, halved.
• • Method
  1. Step 1
     Preheat oven to 160°C. Line two baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Place almond meal, sugar, egg whites and vanilla essence in a large bowl. Beat with a wooden spoon until well combined.
  2. Step 2
     Roll 2 teaspoonfuls of the mixture into balls. Place on the trays. Press a blanched almond into the top of half of the biscuits and a glace cherry into the remaining balls.
  3. Step 3
     Bake for 15-18 minutes or until light golden. Set aside to cool slightly on the trays before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.