6.1K Christmas in Abruzzo isn’t just a time of baking delicious biscuits and cookies, there are also some spectacular feel good deep fried goodies that are guaranteed to see off icy bora and mistral blasts, or, fend off end-of-school hunger pangs as my son and his 2 friends verified when they tested them out as their after school treat (merenda in Italian). Abruzzese Christmas Cookie Recipes We’re trying out 3 new Abruzzesi recipes for the international Christmas Cookie Swap, arranged by the always inspiring Tuscan-based blog Juls Kitchen, kept by the food writer Giulia Scarpaleggia. She matches you to two other participants who you bake for and who send you surprise Christmas cookies! We had already tried out these 4 Abruzzesi Christmas cookie favourites below, now onto new tempting delights, keep scrolling down! Caggionetti Mostaccioli Ceci Ripieni Pizelle Caciunitt, Caggionetti or Calcionetti Abruzzesi These delicious and addictive fried ravioli from the Teramo province are stuffed with soft chocolate, chestnut, orange peel and rum filling, try the recipe. Mostaccioli Mooreish spiced Italian Christmas cookies that can use up half-drunk bottles of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo left over from the night before and coated in thick chocolate, try the recipe Ceci Ripieni These team chickpeas, almonds and dark chocolate and coat them in the town of Prezza’s famous mosto cotto, encasing them in a soft egg-based fried pastry that easily fools you into having six with an espresso, try the recipe Pizzelle An Abruzzese light and tasty must-try dish that rivals the region’s beloved arrosticini for fame is Pizzelle, Cancellate, Neole or Ferratelle depending on which of the provinces you are in, try the recipe. Pepatelli Teramani Dolcemente Inventando These healthy wholewheat biscuits from Teramo are delicious a couple of days after you have baked them when they have softened with a glass of wine! They are named after the black pepper used in the recipe and can also be found in Molise. Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 10 minutes minsCook Time 15 minutes minsTotal Time 25 minutes mins Course Pepatelli TeramaniCuisine Italian Servings 20 Ingredients 1x2x3x200 g Wholewheat flour200 g Blanched almonds200 g Orange honeyZest from 1 organic orange1 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper Instructions In a bowl mix together the almonds, flour, orange zest and pepper.In a saucepan, gently heat the honey until it becomes fluid.Add the honey and knead until the dough is smooth.Cut into 2 and shape into rectangular 5 cm wide loaves and place them on a baking tray.Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 10 minutes, then once cooked, cut the loaves into slices diagonally, 1 cm thick.Bake once more for 5 minutes or until golden brown.They can be kept in tin boxes for 2-3 months, they become softer as they get older! Serve with wine! Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was! Torcinelli or li turcinill Incucinadaeva Adored by children and grown ups alike Torcinelli or li turcinill are delicious traditional finger shaped Christmas doughnuts that are made with potato which makes them crunchy on the outside and super soft inside. Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 3 hours hrsCook Time 2 minutes minsTotal Time 3 hours hrs 2 minutes mins Course BiscuitsCuisine Italian Servings 35 Ingredients 1x2x3x500 g 00 flour150 g of finely mashed boiled potato50 g of water100 ml of extra virgin olive oil100 ml of white wine or milk125 g of raisinsGrated zest from 1 lemonA pinch of salt and sugar1 square of brewer's yeast or 1 packet of yeast Instructions Mix the yeast with warm water and 100 grams of flour and let it rise for an hour in a bowl.A the wet ingredients and then mix in the rest of the dry ingredients.Knead the dough well, cover and let it rise for 3 hours in a warm place.After rising, pull pieces of dough and roll to the size of an index finger. Fry in plenty of hot ground nut or light olive oil for a couple of minutes till crisp They should rise to the surface when they are done!Drain on kitchen paper and sprinkle with brown granulated sugar and cinnamon. Thanks to Incucina daeva for use of her image and recipe! Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was! Torroncini Dolci da Sogno How could one ever be bored of eating almonds when you have Torroncini! These delicious feather-light meringue style biscuits are utterly delicious and so easy to make! Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 20 minutes minsCook Time 1 hour hrTotal Time 1 hour hr 20 minutes mins Course BiscuitsCuisine Italian Servings 30 Ingredients 1x2x3x330 g Blanched almonds230 g Icing sugar2 Egg whites1 pinch CinnamonGrated zest 1/2 unwaxed lemon Instructions Wash the lemon, dry it and grate half of it.Toast the almonds in a frying pan and then chop the almonds or chop them with the mixer (they should not be too coarse or too fine), pour them into a bowl and season with the grated lemon rind and a pinch of cinnamon.Whisk the egg whites with the electric whisk until stiff, add the sugar and continue to beat until you get a shiny and solid meringue.Stir in 3/4 of the almond meringue, mix gently with a spatula until a thick, well-blended mixture is obtained.Shape the dough, about 3 cm high and 7/8 cm wide. With a knife, spread the remaining meringue over the entire surface excluding the edges.Cut the nougat into small rectangles.Place them on a baking sheet covered with baking paper.Bake at 90 °C for about an hour (they must only dry and not color). Turn off and let cool in the oven. Thanks to Dolci da Sogno for use of image and recipe! Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was! Author: Sam Dunham Sam is a very lucky midlife Mum to A who is 13 and juggles working as a freelance SEO copywriter with teaching IGCSEs at Istituto Cristo Re in Rome. She is the founder of the Life In Abruzzo Cultural Association, co-founder of Let's Blog Abruzzo and the 'English in the Woods' initiative. Protecting Abruzzo’s Charm,Empowering Generations to Come:Grow Life in Abruzzo! Support our not-for-profit cultural association: Donate now FREE NEWSLETTER Leave this field empty if you're human: