Healthy Recipes Dessert Cookies Italian Hazelnut Cookies 4.7 (3) 3 Reviews These crispy cookies are made with Piedmontese staples--hazelnuts and eggs--and called Brutti Ma Buoni: literally, “Ugly But Good.” But they are really more plain-looking than “ugly,” and pack a powerful, sweet, nutty burst of flavor, making them welcome at any table. By Marialisa Calta Marialisa Calta See More Marialisa Calta is the author of the nationally syndicated column Food and the cookbook Barbarians at the Plate: Taming and Feeding the Modern American Family, and collaborated with Al Roker on his books Al Roker’s Big Bad Book of Barbecue and Al Roker’s Hassle-Free Holiday Cookbook. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 23, 2025 Reviewed by Dietitian Sylvia Geiger, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Sylvia Geiger, M.S., RD As EatingWell’s former dietitian and nutrition advisor, Sylvia Geiger worked closely with the culinary and editorial team to ensure that our recipes are not only delicious, but also meet the nutrition parameters we have set for ourselves. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Close Cook Time: 15 mins Additional Time: 1 hr 45 mins Total Time: 2 hrs Servings: 30 Yield: about 2 1/2 dozen cookies Nutrition Profile: Low-Carb Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Jump to Nutrition Facts Baking until golden brown takes about 25 to 30 minutes and they can be stored for up to 1 week.These cookies contain egg whites, providing a source of protein.Toasting the hazelnuts will provide a richer flavor. Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1/2x 1x 2x Oops! Something went wrong. Our team is working on it. This recipe was developed and tested at its original yield and has not been tested at other yields. Note that only the ingredient list is scaled, so you may need to make adjustments to ingredient amounts, cooking times and equipment sizes in the recipe steps. Scaling could also impact the nutrition analysis. Original recipe (1X) yields 30 servings 2 cups hazelnuts, toasted and skinned (see Tip) 1 ¼ cups sugar 4 large egg whites ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Directions Position 2 racks as close to the center of the oven as possible; preheat to 325 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats. Pulse nuts and sugar in a food processor until finely ground. Scrape into a large bowl. Beat egg whites and salt in another large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the egg whites into the nut mixture. Add vanilla and gently but thoroughly mix until combined. Drop the batter by the tablespoonful 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake the cookies until golden brown, switching the pans back to front and top to bottom halfway through, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Gently transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. When the baking sheets are thoroughly cooled, repeat with the remaining batter. Tips Make Ahead Tip: Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Equipment: Parchment paper or nonstick baking mats Tip: Toast whole hazelnuts on a baking sheet in a 350°F oven, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 7 to 9 minutes. Let the nuts cool for a few minutes, then rub together in a clean kitchen towel to remove most of the papery skins. Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2008 Save Rate Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 92 Calories 6g Fat 10g Carbs 2g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 30 Serving Size 1 cookie Calories 92 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 10g 4% Dietary Fiber 1g 3% Total Sugars 9g Added Sugars 8g 16% Protein 2g 4% Total Fat 6g 7% Saturated Fat 0g 2% Vitamin A 2IU 0% Vitamin C 1mg 1% Folate 10mcg 3% Sodium 46mg 2% Calcium 11mg 1% Iron 0mg 2% Magnesium 15mg 4% Potassium 69mg 1% Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.