Restaurant Recipe Reviews

When thinking about the traditional Italian cookies, there are a multitude of types. These are great to make and great to snack on too. They can be made for seasonal purposes, celebrations, or for kids. They can be baked or bought at a local Italian bakery. The traditional Italian pastries listed here are a few favorites. All the varieties and types are abundant, but in this piece you can find a select few.

Anisettes

As implied in the name, Anisettes get their names from anise extract. They taste better homemade than from a factory, because of the smell and taste. Do not substitute the anise when making these, or they will no longer be anisette cookies. As for the lemon flavor, it would taste fresher to use actual lemon juice rather than bottled.

Taralli Cookies

Tarallis are an appealing cookie made more than one way, knotted or in rings. If they are made in knots they will have a lemon flavor. The appearance of this form of taralli is much like a scone or a cookie. They can be enjoyed with coffee or used as a dessert. The other variation is made into a loop and is topped with a delicious glaze.

Macaroons

Macaroons are more common and are normally baked with coconuts or almonds. The version from Italy is done with almonds. They were first baked in a monastery in the late 1700′s. Later, two Carmelite nuns stayed in a city called Nancy for the duration of the French Revolution. The two nuns made the cookies so they had money for their room.

Florentine Cookies

The florentine is preferred treat from the Old World. They came from Tuscany and are a hit when it gets cold outside. Florentines are also made with almonds, honey, and more. They’re flat and crisp, with a slim layer of chocolate covering the bottom. They may be enjoyed mostly by Italians, but the roots come from Paris, France.

Ricciarelli Cookies

Ricciarelli is another cookie made with almonds directly in the dough. Originating in Tuscany, the dough for the cookie has to be well chilled before it is cut into squares. Its rich almond taste makes it good with coffee, chocolate, or even gelato. These usually are made to be hard on the outside and chewy on the inside. They are also popular during the holiday season and are sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Biscotti Cookies

Biscotti is a common favorite and is also a treat when combined with coffee. When these are homemade, people usually like to top them with different things such as frosting or sprinkles. Some biscotti cookies are even made with pistachios. An uncommon recipe uses ethnic spices to give the cookie a chai tea flavor.

All of these cookies are the kind of snacks that people would find in a grandmother’s kitchen. There are lots more out there to enjoy and create. Just look hard and ask around, and the efforts will be rewarded. Traditional Italian cookies are a tasty treat for any age, so try these different kinds today and see how much variety there is when it comes to this flavorful snack.

Varallo Brothers offers traditional Italian cookies and pastires and specializes in zuccotto, santa Honore, and zuppa Inglese. They were among the first Philadelphia Pasticceria to offer these delectable items. Their cannoli are the finest in the area. Their bread is still made the old-world way. (www.varallobrothers.com)