Pinolate (cookie)

{{Short description|Italian cookies covered in pine nuts}}

{{Italics title}}

{{Infobox food

| name = Pinolate

| image = Vegan Pignoli Cookie (4874691874).jpg

| image_size =

| caption =

| alternate_name =

| country = Italy

| region = {{plainlist|

• Campania
• Liguria
• Umbria{{cite web |title=Le Pinolate |website=La Pasticceria Di Chico|url=https://www.lapasticceriadichico.it/2013/12/pinolate.html}}{{cite web |title=Pinolate o pignolate genovesi |website=Giallo Zafferano|date=17 November 2022 |url=https://blog.giallozafferano.it/renatabriano/pinolate-pignolate-genovesi/}}{{cite web |title=Le Pinolate Umbre |website=La Cucina Di Esme|date=2018 |url=https://lacucinadiesme.blogspot.com/2018/01/le-pinolate-umbre.html}}

}}

| creator =

| course =

| type = Macaroon

| served =

| main_ingredient = Almond paste, pine nuts{{cite web|title=Pignoli|url=https://www.chowhound.com/recipes/pignoli-italian-almond-macaroons-pine-nuts-27856|publisher=Chowhound|access-date=27 July 2017}}

| variations =

}}

Pinolate ( pl.: {{IPA|it|pinoˈlaːte|lang}}) or pignolate ({{IPA|it|piɲɲoˈlaːte|lang}}, sg.: pinolata / pignolata) are a type of cookie originating in Neapolitan, Genovese and Umbrian cuisine.{{cite web |title=Le Pinolate |website=La Pasticceria Di Chico|url=https://www.lapasticceriadichico.it/2013/12/pinolate.html}}{{cite web |title=Pinolate o pignolate genovesi |website=Giallo Zafferano|date=17 November 2022 |url=https://blog.giallozafferano.it/renatabriano/pinolate-pignolate-genovesi/}}{{cite web |title=Le Pinolate Umbre |website=La Cucina Di Esme|date=2018 |url=https://lacucinadiesme.blogspot.com/2018/01/le-pinolate-umbre.html}} They are popular in all of southern Italy, and in Sicilian communities in the United States, where they may also be known as pignoli (sg.: pignolo).{{cite web |title=Pignoli Cookies |website=The Spruce Eats |url=https://www.thespruceeats.com/pignoli-cookies-4691776}}

File:Christmas pinioli cookies.jpg pinioli cookies from Charleston, South Carolina]]

The cookies are light golden color and studded with golden pine nuts (pinoli in Italian). Made with almond paste and egg whites, they are moist, soft and chewy.{{cite web |title=Italian Pignoli Cookies |website=Taste of Home |url=https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/italian-pignoli-cookies/}}{{cite web |title=Italian Pignoli Cookies |website=King Arthur Baking |url=https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/italian-pignoli-cookies-recipe}}{{Cite news|last=Armao|first=Jo-Ann|date=2005-12-14|title=Pignoli? George, I Finally Got It|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/food/2005/12/14/pignoli-george-i-finally-got-it/74cc0666-6c8f-4c91-bbda-5dc6df22162c/|access-date=2021-06-15|issn=0190-8286}}

Pinolate are a popular Italian holiday treat, especially at Christmas. Because both almond paste and pine nuts are relatively expensive and these cookies use substantial amounts of both, it is a luxury food.{{Cite web|last=Elliott|first=Lorraine|title=Santa's Little Helper: Pignoli Cookies|url=https://www.notquitenigella.com/2017/12/22/pignoli-cookie-pinenut-recipe/|access-date=2021-06-15|website=Not Quite Nigella|language=en}}

Being essentially an almond macaroon, pinolate belong to a type known as "amaretto".{{Cite web|last=Booth|first=Jessica|date=2018-12-11|title=The Fascinating History Behind Your Favorite Holiday Cookies|url=https://www.redbookmag.com/food-recipes/g25167408/christmas-cookies-history/|access-date=2021-06-15|website=Redbook|language=en-US}}