Mangia Bene Pasta
Quaresimali - Italian Lenten Cookies
Quaresimali Toscana
(Makes about 30 cookies)
4 large egg whites, room temperature
Large pinch of salt
1-1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup dark cocoa powder
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
Grease 3-4 baking sheets with butter.
Whisk or beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
Sift the sugar, flour, and cocoa over the egg whites.
Gently fold in the dry ingredients until completely dark and smooth.
Place the batter in a pastry bag with a round tip (about 1/4 inch).
Form letters about 3-1/2 x 2-inches directly on the baking sheets.
Bake 10-12 minutes or until slightly puffed and hard.
Immediately remove the cookies with a metal spatula to a wire rack.
If the cookies become difficult to remove, put the baking sheet back in the oven for a minute.
Quaresimali are best eaten within a day or 2 of baking as they lose their crispness when stored too long.
Quaresimali Romani
(Makes about 36)
4 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
2 egg yolks, divided
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole almonds, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped candied orange peel
Grated zest of 1 orange
In a bowl, cream together the butter and sugar unitl light and fluffy.
Beat in 1 egg, 1 egg yolk, and the vanilla.
Add the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Blend to form a dough.
Stir in the almonds, orange peel, and grated zest.
Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit in a baking sheet.
Place the parchment on a work surface and place the dough on it.
Roll the dough into a 12 x 10-inch rectangle.
(You can also use your hands to spread the dough if it is too sticky.)
Beat the remaining egg yolk with 1 tablespoon of water and brush over the dough.
Bake until shiny and blond but not brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven and reduce the temperature to 325 degrees F.
With a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough diagonally into 2-inch wide strips.
Then cut it into 1-inch long bars.
Return the cookies to the oven to bake for another 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
Cool on wire racks. Store in an air-tight container.
Croccante Quaresimali
Hazelnut Biscotti
(Makes about 10 dozen)
The cinnamon oil in this recipe gives the biscotti a bit of cinnamon candy flavor. The oil may be
difficult to find but is available in gourmet shops and stores specializing in spices and extracts.
If you can't find cinnamon oil, the biscotti are still delicious without it.
2 cups flour
1-1/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups hazelnuts, coarsely chopped and toasted
3 eggs, room temperature
5 drops cinnamon oil (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease 2 large baking sheets.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.
Stir in the hazelnuts.
Beat the eggs with the cinnamon oil and add it to the dry ingredients. Mix well.
Divide the mixture into 6 portions.
Shape one portion of the dough into a 1-1/2 inch in diameter log.
Place the log on the prepared baking sheet.
Repeat with the remaining dough.
Space the logs at least 2-inches apart on the sheets as they will spread when baking.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until firm and beginning to brown slightly.
Remove from the oven but leave the oven on.
Allow the logs to rest for 10 minutes.
Transfer the logs to a cutting board and cut the logs diagonally into 1/2-inch slices.
Place the slices back on the baking sheets.
Bake until crisp and brown, about 10 minutes.
Cool the biscotti on wire racks. Store in an air-tight container.