ricciarelli

Gluten-free biscuits from Siena, these soft biscuits are made of almonds, egg whites, sugar, vanilla and orange zest. They are often made on edible rice paper, and dusted with powdered sugar. You'll see a lot of them around Christmas.

Once limited to the aristocracy, as almond paste was a luxury item, ricciarelli are said to be named after a Crusader knight named Ricciardetto Della Gherardesca who brought some back from Holy Land.