Best Italian Cenci Cookies Recipes

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CENCI--ITALIAN BOW TIES



Cenci--Italian Bow Ties image

Florentine Love Knot Cookies :There are many regional variations of these sweet fried confections. The best-known Carnival pastries are Cenci (the word means rags), whose many aliases include Frappe, Chiacchere (gossips), Lattughe (lettuce leaves) and Nastrini (ribbons), while they are also called the more poetic "Lover's Knots." They are very pretty when carefully made.. To make a batch you'll need:

Provided by Phil Franco

Categories     Healthy

Time 1h10m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 3/4 cups flour
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon brandy
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pinch salt

Steps:

  • Make a fairly stiff dough with these ingredients, kneading it thoroughly, and adding more flour if it comes out too soft. Flour it and let it rest, covered, for about an hour.
  • Then roll it out into an eighth-of-an-inch-thick sheet, and use a serrated pastry wheel to cut it into strips 4 inches long and two and one half inches wide. Make a cut down the middle of each cencio (so as to obtain two strips joined at the ends), twist the side strips without breaking them,
  • Fry them in hot oil or lard, and dust them with confectioners sugar when they're cool. This recipe is sufficient to make a platterful. Should the dough have formed a crust while it sat, knead it again before you roll it out.
  • My Mom also drizzles honey before the confectioners sugar.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 339.4, Fat 8.8, SaturatedFat 4.5, Cholesterol 121, Sodium 166.6, Carbohydrate 52.3, Fiber 1.5, Sugar 10.3, Protein 8.9

CENCI



Cenci image

These sweet Italian cookies are often referred to as Lovers' Knots because of their knotted shaped. They're most often eaten at carnival time in February, but they make a delight treat anytime of the year. I found the recipe in the Italian cookbook "Italian Kitchen" that was part of a Barnes & Noble series called World Cook's Collection.

Provided by Northwestgal

Categories     Dessert

Time 30m

Yield 24 Cenci cookies, 24 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 1/2 tablespoons rum
vegetable oil (for deep-frying)
confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Steps:

  • Sift flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl, then stir in the sugar. Add the egg, and stir with a fork until it is evenly mixed with the flour. Gradually add the rum and continue mixing until the dough draws together.
  • Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until it is smooth. Divide the dough into quarters.
  • Roll each dough piece out to a 6x3-inch rectangle, and trim to make them straight. Cut each rectangle lengthwise into six strips 1/2-inch wide. Tie each strip into a simple knot.
  • Heat the oil in a deep-fry fryer to a temperature of 375°F Deep-fry the knots in batches for 1-2 minutes, or until crisp and lightly golden brown. Transfer to a paper towel.
  • Serve warm, dusted with confectioner's sugar.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 31.3, Fat 0.3, SaturatedFat 0.1, Cholesterol 7.8, Sodium 17.1, Carbohydrate 5.7, Fiber 0.2, Sugar 0.7, Protein 0.9

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