Hello, Good News! Welcome to another article where we share with you some of the best recipes from around the world. Today, we are going to show you how to make celli pieni cookies, a traditional Italian biscuit that is filled with jam, chocolate, and nuts. These cookies are perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a holiday, a family gathering, or just a sweet snack. They are easy to make and will impress your guests with their rich flavor and flaky texture.
Celli pieni cookies are also known as celli ripieni, which means “full cells” in Italian. They are named after the shape of the dough, which is folded over the filling to create a crescent or round shape. The filling is usually made with grape jam or dark berry jam, dark chocolate, crushed biscuits, and walnuts or almonds. Some recipes also add orange and lemon zest, vincotto (a sweet wine syrup), or liqueur for extra flavor. The dough is made with flour, sugar, olive oil, and white wine, and it is rolled out thin using a pasta machine. The cookies are then baked until golden and rolled in sugar for a crunchy finish.
History of Celli Pieni Cookies
Celli pieni cookies are a typical dessert from the region of Abruzzo, in central Italy. Abruzzo is known for its diverse landscape, which includes mountains, hills, and coastline. It is also famous for its cuisine, which reflects the rural traditions and influences of neighboring regions. Abruzzo’s food is hearty, simple, and flavorful, using local ingredients such as lamb, cheese, pasta, saffron, truffles, and grapes.
Grapes are especially important in Abruzzo’s culture and economy, as they are used to make wine and jam. Grape jam is one of the main ingredients of celli pieni cookies, and it is usually homemade using a special variety of grapes called Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. These grapes have a deep purple color and a sweet taste, and they are also used to make a famous red wine of the same name. Grape jam is often made in large quantities during the harvest season and stored in jars for later use.
How Celli Pieni Cookies Became Popular
Celli pieni cookies are a traditional treat that has been passed down from generation to generation in Abruzzo. They are usually made for special occasions such as Christmas, Easter, weddings, or birthdays. They are also a common gift that people bring to their relatives or friends when they visit them. Celli pieni cookies are considered a symbol of hospitality and friendship in Abruzzo.
Celli pieni cookies have also spread to other regions of Italy and abroad, thanks to the migration of many Abruzzese people who left their homeland in search of better opportunities. Many Abruzzese immigrants settled in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United States, Argentina, and Brazil, where they brought their culinary traditions with them. Celli pieni cookies are still made by many Abruzzese families around the world today, especially during the holidays.
How Celli Pieni Cookies Are Made
Celli pieni cookies are not difficult to make, but they do require some time and patience. The first step is to prepare the filling by heating up the jam in a saucepan and stirring in the chocolate until it melts. Then, the crushed biscuits, nuts, zest, and liqueur are added and mixed well. The filling is set aside to cool down while the dough is made.
The dough is made by combining the flour, sugar, olive oil, and wine in a food processor or a large bowl. The ingredients are mixed until they form a smooth and elastic dough that is not too sticky or too dry. The dough is wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated for about 30 minutes to rest. Then, the dough is divided into small pieces and rolled out thin using a pasta machine or a rolling pin. The dough is cut into strips or circles using a cup or a cookie cutter.
How Celli Pieni Cookies Are Shaped
The next step is to shape the celli pieni cookies by placing a teaspoon of filling on one half of each strip or circle of dough. Then, the other half of the dough is folded over the filling and pressed together to seal it. The edges of the dough are cut with a knife or a pastry cutter to create a crescent or round shape. The celli pieni cookies are then rolled in sugar and placed on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
The celli pieni cookies are baked in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 20 minutes or until they are lightly golden. They are then transferred to a wire rack and allowed to cool completely. The celli pieni cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week or frozen for up to two months. They are best enjoyed with a cup of coffee or tea, or a glass of wine.
Benefits of Celli Pieni Cookies
Celli pieni cookies are not only delicious, but they also have some benefits for your health and well-being. Here are some of the reasons why you should try them:
- They are made with natural and wholesome ingredients, such as grapes, nuts, chocolate, and olive oil, which provide antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats.
- They are rich in fiber, thanks to the jam and the crushed biscuits, which help with digestion and prevent constipation.
- They are satisfying and filling, thanks to the protein and fat from the nuts and chocolate, which help curb your appetite and prevent overeating.
- They are a source of happiness and joy, thanks to the sugar and the chocolate, which stimulate the production of serotonin and endorphins, the hormones that regulate mood and emotions.
- They are a way of connecting with your roots and traditions, especially if you have Abruzzese ancestry or friends, or if you simply love Italian culture and cuisine.
Table Breakdown of Celli Pieni Cookies
To give you a better idea of what celli pieni cookies are made of and how they compare to other types of cookies, we have prepared a table breakdown that shows the main ingredients, the nutritional values, and the origin of celli pieni cookies and three other popular cookies: chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal raisin cookies, and gingerbread cookies. Here is the table:
| Cookie | Main Ingredients | Calories per Cookie | Fat per Cookie | Carbs per Cookie | Protein per Cookie | Origin |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Celli pieni | Grape jam, dark chocolate, walnuts or almonds, flour, sugar, olive oil, white wine | 150 | 7 g | 20 g | 3 g | Abruzzo, Italy |
| Chocolate chip | Butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking soda, salt, chocolate chips | 78 | 4 g | 10 g | 1 g | Massachusetts, USA |
| Oatmeal raisin | Butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking soda, salt, oats, raisins | 93 | 4 g | 14 g | 1 g | Scotland |
| Gingerbread | Butter, sugar, molasses or honey, eggs, flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves | 106 | 4 g | 17 g | 1 g | Germany |
FAQs about Celli Pieni Cookies
The traditional jam for celli pieni cookies is grape jam or dark berry jam. However, you can also use other types of jam that you like or have on hand. Some examples are apricot jam, cherry jam, fig jam, or plum jam. Just make sure that the jam is not too runny or too sweet.
The traditional chocolate for celli pieni cookies is dark chocolate or bittersweet chocolate. However, you can also use other types of chocolate that you prefer or have on hand. Some examples are milk chocolate, white chocolate, or semi-sweet chocolate. Just make sure that the chocolate is finely grated or chopped.
The traditional nuts for celli pieni cookies are walnuts or almonds. However, you can also use other types of nuts that you like or have on hand. Some examples are pecans, pistachios, hazelnuts, or peanuts. Just make sure that the nuts are roasted and ground or crushed.
The traditional liqueur for celli pieni cookies is Grand Marnier or Cointreau. However, you can also use other types of liqueur that you like or have on hand. Some examples are rum, brandy, amaretto, or limoncello. Just make sure that the liqueur is not too strong or too sweet.
If you don’t have a pasta machine toroll out the dough by hand, you can use a rolling pin and a large cutting board. You will need to dust the board and the rolling pin with some flour to prevent the dough from sticking. You will also need to work with small pieces of dough at a time and roll them out as thin as possible. You can use a cup or a cookie cutter to cut out the shapes of the dough.
If you want to make celli pieni cookies vegan or gluten-free, you will need to make some substitutions for the ingredients. For vegan celli pieni cookies, you can use vegan butter or margarine instead of butter, agave nectar or maple syrup instead of honey or molasses, and flax eggs or chia eggs instead of eggs. For gluten-free celli pieni cookies, you can use gluten-free flour or almond flour instead of regular flour, and gluten-free biscuits or oatmeal instead of regular biscuits.
Celli pieni cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week at room temperature or in the refrigerator. You can also freeze them for up to two months in a freezer bag or a freezer-safe container. To thaw them, you can leave them at room temperature for a few hours or microwave them for a few seconds.
Celli pieni cookies are delicious on their own, but you can also serve them with some extra toppings or accompaniments. Some ideas are whipped cream, ice cream, custard, fruit, chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, or nutella. You can also serve them with a hot or cold beverage of your choice, such as coffee, tea, milk, hot chocolate, or wine.
If you don’t have the time or the ingredients to make celli pieni cookies at home, you can also buy them from some specialty stores or online shops that sell Italian products. Some examples are [Italian Food Online Store], [Eataly], [Nonna Box], and [Amazon]. However, be aware that the quality and the price of the celli pieni cookies may vary depending on the source and the shipping.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this article about how to make celli pieni cookies, a delicious Italian treat that is filled with jam, chocolate, and nuts. Celli pieni cookies are a traditional dessert from Abruzzo that has a rich history and culture behind it. They are easy to make and will impress your guests with their flavor and texture. They are also good for your health and happiness, as they provide antioxidants, fiber, protein, and serotonin. They are perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a holiday, a family gathering, or just a sweet snack.
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