Meaning 'little bitter things' in Italian, amaretti are small almond biscuits similar to macaroons. Some are made using ground sweet and bitter almonds, baked with egg and sugar, others from ground apricot kernels. They're light and airy, crunchy on the outside and chewy in the middle.

Serve them as an after-dinner treat with sweet wine or liqueurs - Italians like to

dip them in red wine. They can be used instead of sponge fingers in trifles and tiramisu, or ground up and used in cakes and desserts.