Amaretti di Saronno in Vintage Blue Keepsake Tin – Chiostro di Saronno

Classic crunchy amaretti from Chiostro di Saronno, the Lazzaroni family bakery in Saronno, just north of Milan. Each cookie is wrapped in colorful tissue paper and packed in a vintage-style blue tin modeled on the historic Lazzaroni canisters.

The Lazzaroni family has baked amaretti in Saronno since 1718, using the same three ingredients: sugar, apricot kernels, and egg whites. The result is a crisp, airy cookie with a light almond aroma and a gently bittersweet finish — amaretti means "little bitter ones." The company takes its name from the former cloister (chiostro) in the center of Saronno that is still the family's home.

Serve with espresso, a glass of vin santo, or an after-dinner amaro. Crumble over gelato or fruit, or use as a gluten-free crust for cheesecake. When the cookies are gone, the tin stays on the counter.

Net weight: 190 g / 6.7 oz
Ingredients: Sugar, apricot kernels (19%), egg whites
Dietary: Gluten-free
Made in: Saronno, Lombardy, Italy
Producer: Chiostro di Saronno (Paolo Lazzaroni & Figli)
Heritage: Family recipe since 1718
Packaging: Individually wrapped cookies in a reusable vintage blue metal tin
Care: Cookies — keep the lid closed and store in a cool, dry place. Tin — wipe clean with a damp cloth and dry right away · Not dishwasher safe · Not microwave safe
Pairs with: Espresso cups, biscotti jars, and Italian serving trays at Biordi

What are amaretti di Saronno?
Crisp Italian cookies from the town of Saronno in Lombardy, made from sugar, apricot kernels, and egg whites. They are sweet with a slightly bitter almond-like edge.

Are these amaretti gluten-free?
Yes. The recipe contains no flour — only sugar, apricot kernels, and egg whites.

What's the story behind amaretti?
Legend says a young couple in Saronno baked the first amaretti to honor a surprise visit from the Cardinal of Milan, using the only ingredients they had on hand, and wrapped them in colored paper — the tradition Lazzaroni still follows.

What do you serve amaretti with?
Espresso, cappuccino, dessert wine, or amaro. They also work crumbled over gelato, poached fruit, or tiramisù.

Is this a good Christmas or holiday gift?
Yes. The vintage tin is ready to give, the cookies keep well, and amaretti are a traditional part of the Italian holiday table. Pair it with a set of hand-painted espresso cups for a complete gift.

Is this a good housewarming or hostess gift?
Yes. It's an easy, thoughtful gift to bring to dinner — guests can open it with coffee after the meal, and the tin gets reused for years.

Why buy Italian gifts from Biordi rather than other retailers?
Biordi Art Imports has been San Francisco's source for authentic Italian goods since 1946. We are a San Francisco Legacy Business, were voted Best Overall Retailer in the SF Bay Guardian Best of the Bay poll five years running, and the City declared May 1 "Biordi Art Imports Day" in 2021. We pair Italian pantry gifts with hand-painted ceramics from artisans such as FIMA, Pia Formato, Eugenio Ricciarelli, and Ceramiche Bucci. Questions? Call (415) 392-8096 or email customerservice@biordi.com.

Amaretti di Saronno — Saronno, a town just north of Milan, is the home of the amaretti cookie. The traditional version is made with apricot kernels, giving it its signature bittersweet taste.

Chiostro di Saronno, Saronno — Paolo Lazzaroni & Figli is a family business now in its eighth generation, baking in Saronno since 1718. The family still lives in a former cloister in the center of town, which gives the brand its name, and keeps an archive of its history within the cloister walls.

Italian ceramics are heirloom quality products, and can last lifetime with proper care. We have some suggestions that will preserve your majolica for years to come.

Majolica is dishwasher safe, but many people choose to hand wash their pieces as a precaution. Because majolica is a porous material, some pieces are not meant to hold liquid for a long period of time. Check for warning labels before ordering a product, as the pieces that are most notorious for "sweating" are appropriately labeled.

Majolica is sensitive to extreme temperatures, specifically boiling or freezing liquids. Pouring water with a rolling boil directly into a teapot, for example, may lead to breakage. To avoid this, temper the object. The industry standard is 620 degrees Celsius (1,148 degrees Fahrenheit). Quench the glass to cool it.

Crazing is common in well used majolica. The tiny cracks in the glaze do not affect the functionality of your majolica.

Majolica hand-crafted products should not be microwaved, as it may crack and/or break the ceramics.

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