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Baci di dama
Hazelnut shortbread sandwiches
Baci di dama: Tortona's "lady's kisses", hazelnut shortbread domes joined with chocolate
Baci di dama, "lady's kisses", were born in Tortona in Piedmont in the 1800s: two small domes of buttery hazelnut shortbread pressed together with dark chocolate, like two lips meeting in a kiss. They are sold in every pastry shop in Piedmont and eaten with coffee or as a gift at Christmas. The local Piedmont hazelnuts are some of the best in the world. Contains nuts. Chef's tip: weigh each ball of dough so they're all the same size; matching domes make neat kisses.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 20
Ingredients
- 3 ½ oz blanched hazelnutstoasted
- 3 ½ oz plain flour
- 3 ½ oz caster sugar
- 3 ½ oz cold butterdiced
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 ⅛ oz dark chocolate
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Blend 3 ½ oz blanched hazelnuts with 3 ½ oz caster sugar until fine like sand. Add 3 ½ oz plain flour and 1 pinch salt, then rub in 3 ½ oz cold butter until the dough comes together. Wrap and chill for 1 hour.
Step 2: Heat the oven to 325°F (275°F fan) and line two trays.
Step 3: Roll the dough into 40 balls of 8 g each and put them on the trays. Chill for 15 minutes, so they keep their dome shape.
15 minStep 4: Bake for 14–16 minutes, until pale gold at the base. Common mistake: baking until brown; the hazelnut flavour turns bitter. Cool completely.
15 minStep 5: Melt 2 ⅛ oz dark chocolate, put a small dot on the flat side of half of the domes, and stick another dome to each one. Leave for 30 minutes, until set.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 130 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 12 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does baci di dama take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 20 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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