Amaretti Virginia – soft Amaretti from Sassello
Amaretti Virginia is a confectionery from Sassello in Liguria that has been baking soft Amaretti since 1860. These tender, moist Amaretti with their sweet-bitter almond note are made from apricot kernels and almonds; they have won numerous awards and are enjoyed today in over 20 countries.
Amaretti Virginia has stood for soft Amaretti from Sassello, a small mountain town in the hinterland of the Ligurian coast, since 1860. What began as a bakery on the village square became so famous that on old postcards, the piazza in front of it was simply called Piazza degli Amaretti Virginia. At nur Gutes, we have chosen the soft Amaretti from this traditional brand—tender, fragrant, and made from just a few quality ingredients.
1860, a bakery on the village square
The story of Amaretti Virginia begins in 1860 in Sassello, a town nestled between the Ligurian mountains and the Riviera di Ponente.
The small bakery where the first soft Amaretti were created stood right on the piazza. The shop quickly became a meeting point for locals and travelers alike, as the scent of freshly baked Amaretti drifted across the square.
So much so that this square bore its own name on the postcards of that time: Piazza degli Amaretti Virginia. And because the good reputation soon invited imitators, the founding family had the Virginia brand protected under the laws of the Kingdom of Italy as early as 1897. Even back then, they knew the value of these Amaretti.
In Sassello, Amaretto is as much a part of the town as the church tower. Anyone who grew up here knew the smell from the bakery, the rustle of the paper, the first soft bite. This close connection between the town and the pastry explains why the brand remains so closely tied to its hometown to this day.
Soft Amaretti in colorful paper
The focus is on the soft Amaretti, each piece individually wrapped, with the classic varieties encased in colorful candy paper with twisted ends.
They smell of fine apricot kernels and almonds, tender on the outside, soft and moist on the inside. This distinguishes them from the hard, crunchy amarettini you might know from a coffee shop. In addition to the classic, the brand's range includes fruity versions, such as those with candied lemon or orange, which provide a bright and fresh accompaniment to the tart almond core.
In the colorful jumble of an open tin, it looks like a small shower of confetti. Simply place the Amaretti on the table for guests—with coffee, dessert wine, or just in between—and watch how quickly the bowl empties. The rustle of the unwrapping alone is so pleasant that the hand instinctively reaches for the next piece.
The brand offers them loosely wrapped, in bags, and in beautiful metal tins, which can later be reused for tea, buttons, or small trinkets. In this way, the packaging itself becomes an invitation even before the tin is opened.
At nur Gutes, we are consciously starting with the soft Amaretti, that piece of Italy that made the brand famous, even if Virginia has long since offered more, from truffle chocolates to Christmas panettone. We have selected the soft Amaretti with lemon, the Amaretti Soffici al Limone in the dusty pink decorative tin featuring a painted lemon branch. You can find other Italian sweet pastries right next door.
Apricot kernels and almonds, an old recipe
Behind the soft Amaretti lies a recipe that has hardly changed in over 160 years.
Their character comes from the strict selection of ingredients—carefully chosen apricot kernels and fine almonds that give the pastry its typical tart almond scent. The apricot kernels, known in Italy as armelline, outweigh the almonds and provide the fine bitter note. Honey is also added to the classic Amaretti, though not to the lemon variety. There are few ingredients, but every one must be just right.
Finely ground apricot kernels and almonds, sugar, and egg white are used to create small round domes, which have a paper-thin, often cracked crust on the outside. Inside, they remain soft and moist—which is exactly what the Italian word morbidi means. This balance between a delicate shell and a juicy core is the true art.
To this day, they work in Sassello according to the old recipe, in the same place, under the same name. "Amaretti, I love you" is how the brand markets itself, and you can taste this affection in every single piece. It is a beautiful example of how an old establishment can remain young if it takes its craft seriously.
Gold medal in Paris, 1911
The soft Amaretti were awarded at the major exhibitions of their time from a very early stage.
They received diplomas and a first-class medal at the 1892 Colombiadi in Genoa, a gold medal with special distinction in Paris in 1911, as well as honors in Arcachon in 1897, Turin in 1898, and Genoa in 1903, all of which can be read in the brand's history. The medals and diplomas from those days are still kept in the company's historical archives.
Two world wars and many trends lie between those exhibitions and today, but the soft Amaretti have outlasted everything. The fact that those medals still lie in the archive speaks less of vanity than of a long, straight path: the same ingredients, the same care, the same place.
The bakery on the village square has long since become a world-renowned brand, present in over 20 countries, from Germany and France to Japan and Australia, with about half of the production destined for export. And yet, the starting point remains the same: an Amaretto from Sassello, individually wrapped in its paper.
With espresso
Classically, soft Amaretti are served with espresso after a meal, as a sweet break during the day, or as a dessert, which is the tradition held by the house in Sassello.
An Amaretto with a small black coffee—a good afternoon moment needs nothing more. A glass of Moscato or another dessert wine goes well on the side, and crumbled over vanilla ice cream or panna cotta, they become a quick dessert. If you like, serve them with a piece of good chocolate.
At nur Gutes, your purveyor for honest specialties since 2002, we are happy to have included these soft Amaretti in our range. As a small gift, the decorative tin is a delight in itself, making the Amaretti a fine idea for a gift.
If you enjoy Italian pastries, you can also look forward to our Italian hazelnut macaroons, and among all these sweet treats, Virginia remains a real insider tip. Let Sassello surprise you.
