Description
Delightful Italian chocolate toto cookies dance with rich cocoa and nutty charm, delivering a sweet slice of Naples. Crisp edges and tender centers invite you to savor these classic treats that embody generations of family baking tradition.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup (30 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
Wet Ingredients:
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange or lemon zest
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) milk
Decoration and Optional Additions:
- ½ cup (80 g) mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk or orange juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Colored sprinkles
- Chopped nuts
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350F (175C) and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Whisk together all dry ingredients including flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in a medium mixing bowl.
- Using an electric mixer, cream butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes airy and pale, approximately 2 minutes.
- Incorporate eggs, vanilla extract, and citrus zest into the butter mixture, blending until thoroughly combined.
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, alternating with milk, ensuring ingredients are just incorporated without overmixing.
- If desired, gently fold in mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts for additional texture and flavor.
- Using a tablespoon, portion out dough and roll into uniform round balls.
- Arrange cookie dough balls on prepared baking sheets, maintaining approximately 2 inches of space between each cookie to allow for spreading during baking.
- Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake until cookies are set and edges appear slightly crisp.
Notes
- Enhance texture by chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and create a more compact cookie.
- Experiment with different spices like cardamom or ginger to add unique flavor complexity while maintaining the traditional Italian cookie profile.
- Substitute gluten-free flour blend for a celiac-friendly version, ensuring the cookies remain tender and rich in chocolate taste.
- Toast nuts before adding to the dough to intensify their flavor and provide a delightful crunch that complements the soft cookie texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg