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Savoiardi

Savoiardi: Piedmont's light ladyfinger sponge biscuits

Savoiardi were created in the 1300s at the court of the House of Savoy in Piedmont, for a visit by the King of France. They are long, light finger biscuits of whipped eggs, sugar and flour, with a crisp sugary crust and a dry, spongy inside, made to be soaked: in coffee for tiramisù, in liqueur for zuppa inglese, or in milk for children's breakfast. Chef's tip: dust the piped fingers twice with icing sugar, 5 minutes apart; this forms the pearly crust that keeps them crisp outside.
Total time
37 min
Difficulty
medium
Serves
24
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Ingredients

Serves24

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Method

0/6 done
  1. Step 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan) and line two trays.

  2. Step 2: Whisk the egg whites from 3 eggs with 1 pinch salt to soft peaks, then add half of 1 ⅝ oz caster sugar and whisk until stiff and glossy.

  3. Step 3: Whisk the yolks with the rest of the sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract for 3 minutes, until pale. Fold into the whites, then sift over 2 ⅞ oz plain flour and ⅔ oz potato starch or cornflour and fold gently until just combined. Common mistake: overmixing; the batter loses its air and the fingers flatten.

    3 min
  4. Step 4: Pipe fingers 10 cm long with a 1.5 cm plain nozzle, leaving space between them.

  5. Step 5: Dust with half of 1 ⅜ oz icing sugar, wait 5 minutes and dust again.

    5 min
  6. Step 6: Bake for 10–12 minutes, until pale gold and dry to the touch. Cool on the tray, then store in a tin.

    12 min

Nutrition per serving

Calories
62 kcal
Protein
2 g
Carbs
11 g
Fat
1 g
Fibre
0 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does savoiardi take?
About 37 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 12 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
24 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 eggs?
1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
What can I use instead of caster sugar?
Caster sugar, same amount.

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