Peaches Poached in Prosecco with Homemade Amaretti

Ingredients

• 4 peaches (freestone)
• 1 bottle Prosecco or dry sparkling wine
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon peach flavored liqueur
• Pinch sea salt
• Lemon verbena leaves (optional)
• 1 2/3 cups blanched slivered almonds (lightly toasted and cooled)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 4 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon Amaretto (or add another teaspoon almond extract)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Instructions

1. 1

   --- Poach the peaches ---

2. 2

   Score an X on the bottom of each peach with a small sharp knife. Drop the peaches into a 3 or 4-quart saucepan of boiling water and simmer 5 minutes. Drain them and let cool for a few minutes before slipping off the skins. Slice the peaches into halves and remove the pits.

3. 3

   Pour 3 cups Prosecco into the same saucepan. If the Prosecco is nice and cold, pour the remaining ½ cup into a glass and take a sip. If for some reason you’re not indulging in the bubbly, just pour the whole bottle into the pan (sadly).

4. 4

   Stir the sugar, lemon juice, liqueur, salt and lemon verbena leaves if using into the Prosecco.

5. 5

   Bring to a simmer and gently drop the peaches into the pan. Simmer the peaches until just tender when you poke them with a toothpick but not mushy, 10 – 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, let cool then transfer to the refrigerator to chill at least 4 hours. Discard the lemon verbena leaves.

6. 6

   --- To make the cookies: ---

7. 7

   Heat the oven to 325 (160 C) degrees. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.

8. 8

   Grind the almonds with the powdered sugar in a food processor until finely ground, being careful not to grind too much or you’ll make almond paste.

9. 9

   Whip the egg whites in a standing mixer until soft peaks begin to form. Add the extract and amaretto. With the mixer running gradually add the granulated sugar and beat until the egg whites are very stiff and fluffy.

10. 10

    Pour the almond mixture over the egg whites and gently fold with a spatula until the dry ingredients are just incorporated. Scoop the batter into tablespoon-sized mounds 1-inch apart on the baking sheets (I like to use cookie scoop)

11. 11

    Bake 12 -15 minutes for a lightly golden cookie with a soft and chewy interior. Rotate the pans from front to back and top to bottom halfway through baking so they bake evenly. Cool the cookies completely.

12. 12

    Serve the peaches in small bowls with the cookies along side or crumbled over.