Getting festive with Becky Excell
We have an exciting Facebook Live scheduled with our wonderful ambassador, Becky Excell, on Monday 11 December, from 6-7 pm. Becky will be sharing your Christmas wishes and providing guidance on crafting delightful edible gifts for your loved ones. To help you prepare, here are the recipe details.
Make sure to follow us on social media for more information, as you won't want to miss it! You can also read Becky’s top tips for navigating the festive season on the gluten free diet, in our latest blog.
Lemon amaretti biscuits
“To me, lemon and almonds immediately taste like a Lemon Bakewell, so if that sounds up your street (or up that of the person lucky enough to receive this), then you’ve come to the right place. These meringue-like Italian biscuits are sweet, crunchy on the outside and yet sticky and chewy in the middle and make the perfect gift for, well…everyone.”
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves: 25
Ingredients
- 2 large or medium egg whites
- 170g caster sugar
- 170g ground almonds
- 1 tbsp lemon juice or Limoncello
- Grated zest of 2 lemons
For rolling
- 3 tbsp caster sugar
- 3 tbsp icing sugar
Method
- Preheat the oven to 160°C fan / 180°C / 350°F. Lightly grease a baking tray and line with non-stick baking parchment.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg whites using an electric hand whisk until fluffy and medium peaks form. Next, add the sugar, ground almonds, lemon juice/Limoncello and lemon zest, then fold in using a silicone spatula to form a wet dough.
- Grab two side plates and spread out the caster sugar on one and the icing sugar on the other.
- Take a heaped teaspoon of the mixture, roll into a ball in your hands and then roll on the caster sugar plate, followed by the icing sugar plate. Place slightly spaced out on the prepared baking tray.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes or until slightly cracked and golden beneath the sugar. Allow to fully cool on the tray.
Tip: Once cooled, freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Becky's gifting tip: These biscuits are perfect to gift in jars, finishing with a little ribbon fashioned into a bow. Old glass coffee jars work perfectly as they tend to be a little bigger than jam jars – I find removing the labels to be quite easy after they’ve had a full cycle in the dishwasher.
'Gluten Free Christmas' by Becky Excell is perfect to give as a gift this festive season and a signed copy is even better - now available in our shop along with her other bestselling books. Every purchase made will go towards helping those who need to live gluten free.
Photography: Hannah Rose Hughes