A cookie native to northern Italy, which I loved to eat while living there
This is a recipe that is very close to my heart. It is one that has traveled from Italy and back with me. It's a simple cookie recipe that I can still taste in mouth. It's something that brings me back to a certain place and time
Bacio do Dama is a traditional cookie from the Piedmonte region in north-west Italy. This is something that you can find in every bakery in Liguria as well, where I was working. You will see little children and grown ups both enjoying these on the street
We would make it at the restaurant I was working at and it was served during the time when people would have their coffee after a meal
Baci di Dama (traditional northern Italian biscuit)
Ingredients
125g Almonds (whole blanched),
125g Hazelnuts
250g Flour
250g Butter, cubed and soft
250g Sugar
200g Dark chocolate (couveture)
1 Orange (zest)
Method
-In food processor, grind nuts until a fine flour like texture
-Using a mixer with a paddle attachment, combine sugar and butter until light and fluffy
-Add orange zest
-Add flour and ground nuts
-Mix well into a smooth dough
-Wrap dough in plastic wrap and let it rest in the fridge for 1 hour
-Sprinkle a flat service or table with flour and begin rolling out dough. It may be slightly stiff, but it will soften as you roll it out
-Roll out dough until it is about 2 cm think. Be careful not to roll it to thin, or it may become too dark
-Cut into little circles with a small ring cutter and place on a baking sheet with parchment paper (they can be made into other shapes, but the classic is a small circle)
-Leave in the fridge for another 30 minutes
- Cook in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until just browned
-While the cookies are baking, melt the dark chocolate using a double boiler method
-Once chocolate is melted, place it into a small piping bag and cut a small cut at the tip (if you prefer not to make a bag, then using a little spoon works as well
-Let cookies totally cool. Once cool to the touch, pipe on a layer of chocolate in between the two cookies and sandwich them together
- Enjoy with a hot espresso!
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