Description
Classic Italian Christmas Cookies blend generations of sweet tradition from Naples kitchens. Regional recipes passed through families create delightful treats celebrating holiday memories.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tsps baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (60 ml) milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) powdered sugar
- 2 3 tbsps milk
- 1 tsp vanilla or almond extract
- Holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Dough Preparation: Sift almond and all-purpose flour with powdered sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl, creating a uniform dry mixture.
- Dough Blending: Fold softened butter and vanilla extract into the dry ingredients, kneading methodically until a smooth, pliable dough forms that holds its shape.
- Cookie Shaping: Roll the dough into consistent walnut-sized spheres, maintaining precise and equal dimensions for uniform baking.
- Baking Preparation: Strategically place cookie spheres on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them to allow gentle expansion during cooking.
- Oven Transformation: Bake at 325F (165C) for 10-12 minutes, watching for delicate golden edges that signal perfect doneness without over-browning.
- Cooling Process: Transfer freshly baked cookies to a wire rack, allowing complete temperature reduction and structural stabilization.
- Chocolate Filling Creation: Melt dark chocolate using a double boiler, stirring continuously to achieve a glossy, smooth consistency without scorching.
- Cookie Assembly: Pair cooled cookies and sandwich them with a thin layer of molten chocolate, pressing gently to create elegant, connected halves.
- Final Setting: Allow chocolate-filled cookies to rest at room temperature, permitting the filling to solidify and create a seamless, delectable Baci di Dama treat.
Notes
- Select High-Quality Ingredients: Use fresh, premium almond flour and pure vanilla extract for richer, more authentic flavor profiles.
- Master Dough Consistency: Knead gently to prevent gluten development, ensuring tender cookies with a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Control Baking Temperature: Watch cookies closely during baking; golden edges indicate perfect doneness without over-browning or drying out.
- Chocolate Bonding Technique: Allow chocolate to cool slightly before sandwiching to prevent cookie crumbling and achieve a smooth, clean chocolate layer.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 37
- Calories: 85
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 20 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg