Authentic Italian

A classic Italian dessert traditionally served at Christmas time. It's a simple fried dough ball, topped with honey, powdered sugar and sprinkles. Easy and delicious! Recipe Ingredients 2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 3 large eggs 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Vegetable oil, for frying and oiling the serving dish 1 cup honey Nonpareils (colored sugar sprinkles), for garnish Maraschino cherries, for garnish Instructions 1. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Make a well in the center and, one at a time, stir in the eggs. Add the vanilla and mix the well to make a soft dough. Knead on a lightly floured surface until smooth, about 5 minutes. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. 2. Working with one half at a time, roll the dough into a ¼ -inch-thick rectangle. Cut the dough into ½ -inch-wide stripes. Roll each strip under the palms of your hands on the work surface to make l...

This is a classic, Italian favorite eaten for breakfast or as a snack in many different regions of Italy. It is a sweet, ring shape cake (bundt) with emphasis on its fresh Lemon flavor and contrasting fennel flavor, which gives it a lot of complexity. Eat it in the morning or any time of day you prefer! Recipe Ingredients 3 eggs 1 1/4 cup sugar 3/4 cup olive oil or vegetable oil 1 cup whole milk 2 tsp. freshly grated lemon zest 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract 3 cups flour 1 tbs. baking powder 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 2 tsp ground anise or fennel seed Powdered sugar Instructions 1. In a medium bowl, use a mixer to beat together eggs and sugar until light and fluffy and pale in color, about 3 minutes. Add olive oil, milk, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract to the bowl and beat on medium speed.  2. Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and fennel seed to the liquid ingredients and beat on low speed until just combined. 3. Pour batter into the prepa...

These classic spice cookies are made from pure cocoa and often dubbed, "chocolate meatballs." They were derived in Sicily, but were always a favorite at every family gathering through the years in my American-Italian family. I personally enjoy making these at Christmas time, but they can be made any time of year. Recipe Ingredients For the dough: 2 cups flour 3/4 cup sugar 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. chocolate cloves 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder Pinch of salt 1/4 cup plus 3 tbs. of butter at room temperature 1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped Zest of 1 Orange 1 large egg lightly beaten 1/2 cup milk For the glaze: 1/2 cup powdered sugar 3 tsps. milk Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. 2. Add cubed butter at room temperature and use your fingers, fork or pastry cutter to cut the butter into the flour....

Easter serves as a time to not only honor the sacrifices that Jesus made for us, but a time to slow down and reflect on our lives and everything happening around us, good or bad. It's a time of peace, meditation, and tranquility. In addition, there are many traditions that take place throughout America and especially in Italy. I love my Italian roots, so I make sure to always watch all of the events happening in Rome throughout the season. It brings me a sense of calmness and focus. I believe Rome is the heart and soul of what Italy does during this season. It's filled with honor and hope. If you're looking to get more into some of the religious rituals and traditions of this holiday, you can always go to the Vatican News YouTube channel and watch all of the Pope's ceremonies. Even if you're not overly religious, it is certainly something beautiful to watch. Some highlights at the Vatican include the pope's Holy Thursday mass, which honors the washing of the fee...

This delicious cake is a common theme in Italian households during the Easter season. In addition to Lemon and Orange flavoring, we also see a lot of recipes with fresh ricotta. This dessert is no different and takes on the complex flavors of a sweet, yellow cake with a richness and moist texture from the ricotta. Recipe Ingredients 1 3/4 cups flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. salt 10 tbs. unsalted butter, softened 1 1/3 cups sugar 2 large eggs 1 tbs. pure vanilla extract 1 15 oz. container of ricotta cheese 1 cup mini chocolate chips (optional) Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 10-inch springform pan with spray and set aside. 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. 3. In a large bowl, use hand mixer or stand mixer to beat together the butter and sugar until it is a light and fluffy consistency. 4. Add the eggs, one at a time mixing thoroughly after each one. Then add the vanilla and ricotta and beat until combine...

Traditionally eaten on the feast of St. Joseph, March 17th, the concept of Zeppole has many variations. The version eaten on this feast day is usually a larger fried dough filled with ricotta or different kinds of creams and topped with powdered sugar and a cherry. One of the beauties of Italy are the different treats we eat on certain feast days. This fried dough is a perfect example of that tradition. Another version of the zeppole includes a smaller fried dough, about the size of a donut hole, not filled with cream, but just eaten plain. If you travel down to Sicily, they have savory zeppole usually filled with anchovy. Nonetheless, the St. Joseph's day zeppole is one of my favorites and is perfect for a post meal, sweet treat. Recipe Ingredients For the pate a choux: 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 cup water 1 cup flour 1/8 tsp. salt 2 tsp. granulated sugar 4 large eggs For the ricotta filling: 5 cups whole milk ricotta 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar Instructions 1. Preheat the oven to 425...

Biscotto (biscotti plural) is a traditional Italian cookie that can include any ingredients or flavors you're in the mood for. This recipe is all about Almond, a very popular Italian flavor. These delicious cookies are associated with the Tuscan region of Italy and go perfectly with a cup of espresso.   Recipe Ingredients 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 1 1/4 cups sugar 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted 2 tsp. pure almond extract 3 large eggs 1 1/2 cups roasted almonds, coarsely chopped Instructions 1. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. 2. In a large bowl, mix together sugar, butter, and almond extract. Beat in eggs one at a time. Add flour, almonds, and mix until just incorporated. Don't over mix. Refrigerate dough for 30 to 60 minutes. 3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Divide dough in half and shape into two 12 by 2 inch logs. Place each on its own cookie sheet and bake 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer...

You will always see this classic cookie on every Italian cookie tray. It's a great, basic recipe that you can alter according to the season. In the springtime and during Easter, I like to make these cookies with a Lemon flavoring. They're light and crumbly and the perfect dessert post meal. These cookies originated in Prato, which is located towards the North of Florence, in the mid 1850s by a man named Antonio Mattei.       Recipe Ingredients 6 eggs 1 cup corn oil 1 tsp. salt 6 tsp. baking powder 1 cup sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 tsp. lemon extract 4 1/2 cups flour For the glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar 7-8 tsp milk 1 tsp lemon extract (you can also use fresh Lemon juice) Instructions 1. Mix sugar, eggs, salt, vanilla, lemon and oil. 2. Blend in baking powder and mix flour at the end. 3. Let stand for one hour and then roll round tablespoons on to greased (or line with parchment) cookie sheet at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-10 minutes. 4. For the glaze, whisk powdered sugar, m...