The Recipe for the Italian Chocolate Cookies “Mustaccioli”

While studying Italy, its traditional recipes, the history and traditions of its cuisine you can get to know better the tastes of its different regions. Here is the recipe for the Mustaccioli cookies which are traditionally baked in Neapolitan families for Christmas. These cookies are very flavorful with a rich taste of almonds and chocolate. They are invariably made diamond-shape. If your family is large or you’re waiting for visitors just take twice as much components.

Ingredients for “Mustaccioli”

• 1.1 lb white wheat flour
• 5.3 oz brown sugar
• 3-4 tablespoons honey
• 0.7 lb fried almonds
• 3.4 fl oz olive oil
• 2 eggs
• tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1 lemon
• 3-4 tablespoons white wine or rum
• 1 baking powder bag
• cinnamon to taste
• some milk if it is necessary to soften the dough
• some chocolate bars for glazing

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix flour with sugar, cocoa, honey, eggs and olive oil. Add baking powder and knead the dough, mixing it thoroughly.
2. Grate or grind almonds finely and add into the dough. Grate lemon peels.
3. Add much cinnamon and grated lemon peels, dress the dough with white wine or rum. If your dough is slightly dry, add some milk. The dough should be soft and not sticky.
4. Then roll the dough into a thin disk and cut out diamonds of the desired size with a special mould or with a knife.
5. Bake at medium temperature until ready.
6. Melt chocolate under the water bath. Dip each cookie into chocolate and put them out on a slightly oiled plate. Cookies should not touch one another until the chocolate has hardened.