Castagnelle Pugliesi are an irresistible dessert, perfect for autumn and the holidays! With their aromatic flavor and soft texture, they are a real delight for the palate. ✨🍂
Ingredients 🍴
120 g of toasted and chopped almonds 🌰
120 g of 00 flour 🌾
100 g of sugar 🍬
50 g of dark chocolate 🍫
1 pinch of bicarbonate 💨
1 teaspoon of cinnamon 🍂
Grated zest of an orange 🍊
Grated zest of a lemon 🍋
Warm water to taste 💧
10 g of bitter cocoa 🍫
Icing sugar for decorating ❄️
Preparation 🧑🍳
- Prepare the ingredients 🍊🍋
Start with the grated orange and lemon zest for a fresh and citrusy scent that will enrich your castagnelle! 🍊🍋
Toast the almonds in a pan for a few minutes, until they are lightly golden, and chop them coarsely. 🌰 - Prepare the dough 🍪
In a large bowl, combine the chopped almonds, flour, sugar, bitter cocoa, cinnamon, and the pinch of bicarbonate. Mix well to evenly distribute the dry ingredients. 🌾🍫
Melt the dark chocolate in a bain-marie or in the microwave and add it to the mixture along with the orange and lemon zest. 🍫🍊🍋
Gradually add warm water until the dough is soft but not sticky. Start with about 80ml of water and add more if necessary. 💧 - Form the castagnelle 🌰
Take small portions of dough and form them into balls, then flatten them slightly to obtain a round or oval shape. Try to make irregular shaped sweets to imitate chestnuts! 🍂
Place the balls on a baking tray lined with baking paper and leave a little space between each castagnelle. - Bake the castagnelle 🔥
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
Bake the castagnelle for 15-20 minutes or until they are lightly browned on the edges but still soft in the middle. Don’t overcook them, they should remain a little soft! 🔥 - Decorate and serve ✨
Once cooled, sprinkle the castagnelle with icing sugar for a Christmas “snow” effect. ❄️🍩
You can also decorate them with chopped almonds or a light chocolate glaze for an extra touch of deliciousness! 🌰🍫
Extra Tips 💡🎁
If you want an even more delicious touch, you can add chocolate chips to the dough or replace part of the sugar with honey for a more natural flavor. 🍯
These castagnelle are perfect as a homemade gift for the Christmas holidays. Put the castagnelle in a nice cellophane bag with a colorful bow for a sweet and original gift! 🎁🎄
Accompany them with a nice coffee or a hot tea for a perfect snack! ☕🍪
Pugliese castagnelle are the perfect dessert to bring a bit of Puglia to your table, with their simple taste but rich in authentic flavors! 🎉
