Dec 3, 2013

Lady's kisses w/whole spelt


Baci di dama...who can think of a better name..?

Recipe adapted from Giallo Zafferano
time: 20 min preparation + 90 min inactive + 22 min baking
makes about 30 kisses

ingredients
  • 150 g (1 cup) regular flour OR, what I used:
    • 60 g (1/2 cup) whole spelt flour and
    • 75 g (1/2 cup) regular flour
  • 150 g (1 cup) whole almonds
  • 150 g (1 1/4 stick) butter, room temperature but not too warm
  • 110 g (1 cup + 2 teaspoons) sugar
  • grated zest from 1/2 orange
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch fine salt
  • 100 g (3.5 oz) dark chocolate, broken in pieces
instructions

  1. In a food processor with a steal blade, blend almonds with sugar till fine. 
  2. In a bowl of a standing mixer equipped with a paddle attachment, mix together butter, flour(s), almond mix, zest, vanilla and salt, just till combined. Form a disc, wrap it in a plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for  at least 1 hour. 
  3. Prepare two sheets lined with parchment paper. Remove the chilled dough and form little balls (size of a small cherry). Arrange them on the parchment paper, spaced 1-inch (2.5cm) apart. Put sheets with balls in the fridge for 20 minutes. 
  4. Meanwhile, turn the oven on 160C/325F (static function). Transfer baking sheets from the fridge to the oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes, till cookies are just brown around the edges. Remove and let them cool on a cooling rack for 10 minutes.
  5. Meanwhile...melt chocolate over hot water. Apply about 1/4 teaspoon of warm chocolate between two cookies. Let the chocolate set and enjoy!


notes
  • no baking powder, no eggs but the cookies are light, delicate and soft; I couldn't believe it!
  • my kisses are little rough; the original recipe used blanched almonds and white flour only;
  • those little things are full of taste: from orange, almonds and chocolate; 
  • if you use fan forced function, bake in 135C/275F;
  • I baked two sheets of cookies at once, since the oven time was kind of long; the bottom sheet baked faster;
  • they don't get hard and come in one bite size.

20 comments:

  1. Gorgeous! Love the nutty look of these chocolate filled cookies, I can imagine they taste so good and they look perfect for holiday cookie sharing ;)

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    1. I love that sharing idea. Thanks, Patty :))

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  2. I love that you have the chocolate orange combination going on in these! So perfect for holiday cookie baking!

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  3. Yeah..my outing to the convenient store to get that orange was well worth it. Thanks, Ashley :)

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  4. Mmm. They look delicious!

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  5. ...just had the last one! :)

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  6. Whole grain flours lend a rustic appeal to baked goods and these little gems are a perfect example! A terrific holiday cookie!

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  7. Thanks, Deb. I can't stay away from that spelt flour lately. It seems to work every time :)

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  8. I love using spelt flour. I can make it in minutes and it's so good! Your lady's kisses sound perfect for the holidays.

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    1. Ah...so you grind your grains! Not bad, not bad :)

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  9. Beautiful photo! I love that you use spelt flour. So many people only use wheat flours and miss out on all the other great flours that can be used! Your recipe looks and sounds delicious :)

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    1. Thanks, Ann. I like to think that variety is a good thing :)

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  10. I never tried spelt flour and I think it is about the time I should try. Your cookies look very wholesome. I love the chocolate and orange combination.

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    1. There are some many flours out there. I got hooked to spelt lately...it hasn't disappointed me yet :) Thanks, Holly.

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  11. Beautiful. Such a lovely adaptation with the spelt. I'm sure it adds a wonderful nuttiness. Thank you for sharing it!

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    1. Everybody in the house asks for that nuttiness...except maybe in a pizza. Thanks, Monet :)

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  12. I love one bite cookies...especially when they're filled with chocolate!!!

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    1. They do have a tendency to become addictive. Thanks, Liz :)

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  13. These look yummy! I can snack on these all day.

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