The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word AMARETTI
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
A
M
A
R
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More clues leading to the result AMARETTI
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Are they a treat I’m chewing?" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case are they a treat i’m chewing? = amaretti.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does AMARETTI mean?
AMARETTI noun- A sweet-bitter liqueur originating from Italy (but also produced in Turkey), flavored with almonds and a secret blend-specific mix of some 200 ingredients such as the pits from apricots, peaches, cherries or other stone fruits.
- A glass of that liqueur.
- A light Italian cookie made with almonds.