Tortoni

Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup cup blanched almonds
  • 2 1/2 cups amaretti cookies
  • 3 tablespoons amaretto liqueur (You can use more or less to taste.)
  • 1 cup heavy cream, chilled
  • 2 teaspoons almond extract
  • 1 quart homemade or premium quality vanilla ice cream, softened
  • Maraschino cherries, drained and halved for garnish
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Place chopped almonds on a pie plate or small baking sheet and toast in the oven until lightly golden, about 7-8 minutes. Set aside to cool.
  3. Crush the amaretti cookies into small nuggets. You can do this by putting them in a zip lock bag and smacking them with a rolling pin or meat mallet. Be careful not to turn them into crumbs. Place crumbled cookies in a medium bowl and toss with the almonds. Set aside.
  4. In a large bowl, beat cream with an electric mixer until thickened. Pour in the amaretto and whip until medium peaks form. Spoon the cookie mixture into the whipped cream, reserving 3/4 cup or so for topping.
  5. Add the almond extract to the softened ice cream and stir until blended and very smooth. Fold cookie/whipped cream mixture into ice cream.
  6. Spoon into little pastry cups or ramekins. Sprinkle each cup with some of the reserved cookie mixture and top with a cherry.
  7. Freeze until firm.