Fall

Almond biscuits from Apulia (dolcetti di mandorle)

November 11, 2016
5
1 Ratings
Photo by mad&delicacy
  • Prep time 20 minutes
  • Cook time 15 minutes
  • Makes 35
Author Notes

The almond tree and the olive tree are typical of the apulian (Puglia - Italy) landscape: strong and hardy plants, they grow easily in this mostly sunny land. The almonds, sweet and crunchy, are the principal ingredients of various types of desserts and biscuits, and also of refreshing drinks during summer.

At this time of the year people start preparing the dolcetti (the small cookies), to be offered, and enjoyed, during Christmas time… we demonstrate how to make one of our favourites: almonds dolcetti. These are delicious little cakes, slightly crisp and cracked on the outside with a soft heart inside.

We advise you to pair them with a sip of dessert liquor like Limoncello, Vin Santo or Amaro.

This recipe is very quick and simple; you only need to be careful while baking, but follow our instructions and the result will be spectacular. —mad&delicacy

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 400 grams flour of almonds without skin
  • 180 grams icing sugar
  • zest of one biological lemon
  • coffee beans, candied fruits and almonds with skin for decoration
  • 2 white eggs
Directions
  1. If don’t find the almond’s flour, using a mixer, grind the almonds intermittently until flour. You can grind almonds and sugar, all together. Beat the egg whites with a fork. Mix the ground almonds, icing sugar and lemon zest in a large bowl. Add the beaten eggs and then using your fingers, knead until the dough is soft and sticky. Prepare a baking tray lined with a greaseproof paper (2 sheets); with your palms gently roll a quantity of dough like a walnut into a ball, then put it on the baking tray; continue to roll into a ball all of the dough. Alternatively you can make the biscuits by using a sac á poche.
  2. Let a bit of space between them, while cooking they swell a bit. In the middle of each ball make a pit with your finger and put one coffee bean, a piece of candied fruit or an almond on it. Bake at 150° for about 15 minutes or until they are gold on the top and little brown at the bottom (see the pics). Let it cool and keep them in a biscuit jar.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • mad&delicacy
    mad&delicacy
  • elopez0218
    elopez0218

2 Reviews

elopez0218 December 15, 2016
How Many EGG WHITES?
 
mad&delicacy January 31, 2019
You have to add 2 white eggs