We've previously discussed Italy's Santa, a witch called Befana, before. Befana is a good witch, whose name comes from the Roman dialect's pronunciation of the Italian "epifania" (or Epiphany), and comes delivering gifts for the good children, and lumps of coal to the bad ones on the 5th of January, the night before Epiphany, to make up for missing Jesus long ago. She is visualised as an old and ugly witch who flies on her broom and delivers presents in stockings hanging over the fireplace (sounds familiar!), coming down from the chimney.
Befanini, meanwhile, are soft, sprinkle-covered, cake-like lemon-scented cookies that are typical of the Versilia area on the Tuscan coast. Traditionally made on the 5th, when the Befana is coming to visit, they are beloved of kids and adults alike and for good reason: they're delicious!
Befanini, meanwhile, are soft, sprinkle-covered, cake-like lemon-scented cookies that are typical of the Versilia area on the Tuscan coast. Traditionally made on the 5th, when the Befana is coming to visit, they are beloved of kids and adults alike and for good reason: they're delicious!
Easy to make, tasty and perfect for wrapping and giving out as gifts or merely making with the kids and scoffing the lot at home, why not try the recipe out yourself? If you develop a taste for them, then why not find a vacation rental in Versilia and start the new year out with a getaway to beautiful Tuscany? You'll easily find the cookies in shops and bakeries all over the region!
Ingredients:
500g of flour
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
A pinch of salt
250g of sugar
4 eggs
A splash of rum (optional)
A splash of milk (if needed)
The zest of 1 lemon
Coloured sprinkles
1. Pour the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl and make a ‘well’ in the centre.
2. Crack three of the eggs (keeping one aside for glazing the cookies later) into another bowl and mix with the sugar, until frothy. Pour this into the well, along with the liqueur and zest.
3. Mix everything together until it becomes a smooth dough, add the milk if necessary.
4. Leave to stand for 45 minutes in the fridge.
5. Preheat the oven to 170ºC.
6. Flour a counter and roll out the dough to a thickness of about 5mm. Cut shapes using cookie cutters, glaze the tops with the remaining egg and decorate with the sprinkles (this is the fun bit that kids will really enjoy!).
7. Bake at for 15-20 minutes, until the cookies are puffed and lightly golden on top.
8. Allow to cool, grab a glass of milk and some cookies and wait for Befana to visit!
