Chocolate Christmas Cookies

It is so nice to discover the different variations of culinary treats from region to region in Italy. This sweet that is traditionally made in the South of Italy at Christmas time, and appropriately named and, has the distinct appearance of a mustache, is not only delicious but a lot of fun to make.

Ingredienti:

500 gm plain flour

150 gm brown sugar

3-4 tbsp honey

300gm fried almonds

100ml olive oil

2 eggs

2-3 tbsp cocoa powder

1 lemon

3-4 tbsp white wine

1 teaspoon baking powder

Cinnamon to taste

Some milk if necessary to soften the dough

Chocolate bars for glazing

Metodo:

Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, honey, eggs and olive oil in a large bowl. Add baking powder and knead the dough, mixing the ingredients thoroughly.

Grind almonds finely and add to the dough along with the finely grated rind of the lemon.

Add cinnamon and dress the dough with white wine. If the dough is slightly dry, add some milk. The dough should be soft but not sticky.

Roll out the dough into a thin disc and cut out diamonds (mustaches) of the desired size with a knife.

Bake in a preheated oven at 160°C until ready (10-12 mins approx) and set aside to cool.

Melt chocolate under a water bath. Dip each cookie in the chocolate and place on a slightly oiled plate, being careful not to let the cookies touch each other until the chocolate has hardened.

Try not to eat too many before lunch, enjoy what you have remaining after lunch with a glass of Piani di Tufara Moscato and fall asleep on the sofa, dribbling...