Baci di Dama are one of Italy's most famous and popular typical biscuits. The name literally translates to "lady kisses" and they first appeared in the pastry shops of Tortona, a small town in the province of Alessandria, during the second half of the 19th century. Baci di Dama di Tortona have been recently added to Piedmont's official registry of Prodotti Agroalimentari Tradizionali (traditional gourmet products) and are made with hazelnuts, which find their spiritual home in Italy in the region as they are most common there.
Made of two hazelnut butter cookies with chocolate hazelnut spread sandwiched between the two, they are not unlike Oreos and take their name from their form: two cookies pressed together that look like two mouths kissing.
Sounds good right? Here's how to make them for yourself!
Ingredients:
125g of plain flour
125g of butter (at room temperature)
125g of caster sugar
100g of finely ground, toasted hazelnuts
For the Filling:
50g of plain or milk chocolate
25g of butter
Or, merely use a chocolate hazelnut spread (such as Nutella)
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180°C and lightly grease a large baking tray.
2. Beat butter and sugar together until light and creamy and then work in the flour and ground hazelnuts until the mixture forms a stiff dough.
3. Break apart 20 pieces of dough and shape them into balls.
4. Arrange them on the baking tray with a little space between them so they don't turn into one giant blob when they expand as they cook!
5. Bake for about 15 minutes until golden brown.
6. Remove from oven and leave to one side to set۪ then allow to cool on a wire rack.
7. If making your own filling, melt the chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, remove from heat and stir in the butter. Leave to cool.
8. Once the biscuits have cooled, use the chocolate butter to sandwich them together.
If you want to try the real deal, however, be sure to browse our vacation rentals in Piedmont and get planning a trip to picturesque Tortona to see how yours compare to a local's!
Sounds good right? Here's how to make them for yourself!
Ingredients:
125g of plain flour
125g of butter (at room temperature)
125g of caster sugar
100g of finely ground, toasted hazelnuts
For the Filling:
50g of plain or milk chocolate
25g of butter
Or, merely use a chocolate hazelnut spread (such as Nutella)
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180°C and lightly grease a large baking tray.
2. Beat butter and sugar together until light and creamy and then work in the flour and ground hazelnuts until the mixture forms a stiff dough.
3. Break apart 20 pieces of dough and shape them into balls.
4. Arrange them on the baking tray with a little space between them so they don't turn into one giant blob when they expand as they cook!
5. Bake for about 15 minutes until golden brown.
6. Remove from oven and leave to one side to set۪ then allow to cool on a wire rack.
7. If making your own filling, melt the chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, remove from heat and stir in the butter. Leave to cool.
8. Once the biscuits have cooled, use the chocolate butter to sandwich them together.
If you want to try the real deal, however, be sure to browse our vacation rentals in Piedmont and get planning a trip to picturesque Tortona to see how yours compare to a local's!
