Baci Di Dama {Lady's Kisses Cookies}
Baci di Dama, translate as Lady’s Kisses, are irresistable Italian shortbread nut cookies sandwiched together with a layer of dark chocolate. They can be made with hazelnut or almond flour.
Servings: 12
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups almond flour or hazelnut flour, 250 grams
- 2 scant cups all purpose flour , 250 grams
- 1 cup sugar , 220 grams
- 9 oz unsalted butter , cold, 250 grams
- 2 tablespoon egg white , scant egg white from 1 medium egg, 25 grams
- 5 oz dark chocolate , about 150 grams
- Salt generous pinch
Instructions
- Start by blending together cold butter, sugar and a generous pinch of salt. I use the dough blender but you can do everything in a food processor following the same steps.1 cup sugar, 9 oz unsalted butter, Salt
- Add all purpose flour and nut flour, mix again until you have a crumbly dough.2 ½ cups almond flour, 2 scant cups all purpose flour
- Add egg white. Knead until the dough comes together. There should be no dry flour left. If needed add a teaspoon of cold water to form the dough.2 tablespoon egg white
- Form a rectangular rolling the dough between the parchment paper. If needed use a rolling pin to even the edges.
- Cover the dough with parchment paper and seal the sides to prevent the dough from drying. You can additionally wrap in a plastic wrap. I alLet rest in the fridge for 3 hours or overnight.so suggest to put it on a board or on a tray for easy placement in the fridge.
- Once the dough is chilled, cut it into small squares.Take a square piece and roll it into a ball between the palms of your hand. Pinch off or add a little bit more dough to adjust the size of each dough ball.Aim for the size of a hazelnut in a shell or about 5 grams. This will make bite size cookies. You can form slightly bigger balls (up to 8 grams or ⅓ of an ounce) for larger cookies. It’ll also take a little less time to roll them all. Whatever size you decide to go with, try to make balls more or less of the same size to guarantee even cooking and eventually “kissing” together in a sandwich.EXTRA TIP: If the ball is crumbling as you roll it simply pinch it together to compact and then roll again.
- Place all rolled balls on a baking sheet or on a tray. Cover with a plastic wrap and let rest in the fridge for another 3 hours or better yet overnight.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 320F (160C). Place on static setting (fan off).Once the dough balls are chilled transfer them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper slightly distanced apart.Bake in a preheated to 320F (160C) oven for 17-20 minutes depending on the size of the cookies.While the first sheet of cookies is in the oven, arrange the rest of the cookies on baking sheets and keep them in the fridge while the first batch is baking.
- Once cookies are out of the oven, leave them on the baking sheet to cool without touching. If you touch cookies while they’re still hot they’ll break apart.
- Once all cookies are cool, melt dark chocolate.5 oz dark chocolate
- You can use a teaspoon to pour chocolate on the flat side of the cookie or use a pastry bag which is less messy and easier to do.
- Sandwich chocolate covered parts with plain ones trying to find 2 of the same size to “kiss”.Let baci di dama rest until chocolate solidifies.