• Crostoli, or “sweet knots”, are called by different names depending on the region of Italy: frappe, chiacchere and cenci are just a few. Although they’re eaten all over Italy, these pastry twists are especially popular in the north. They’re not too sweet and are delicious served with coffee after dinner.

    Crostoli

    Serves: 4
    Cooking Time: 1 hour

    Ingredients

    • DOUGH
    • 240g cake flour
    • 2 eggs
    • 30ml butter
    • zest of 1 lemon
    • 80ml dry white wine or grappa
    • a pinch of baking powder
    • 10ml vanilla extract
    • 40ml sugar
    • oil, for deep-frying
    • icing sugar, to dust

    Instructions

    1

    Combine all the ingredients for the dough in a bowl. Pour out on a lightly floured work surface and knead well for a few minutes. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

    2

    Take a little of the dough and roll it out as thinly as possible. Cut with a fluted pastry wheel into long narrow strips and twist to resemble bows.

    3

    Heat the oil in a heavy-based pot and fry the crostoli a couple at a time, constantly turning them, until they are golden, about 2 minutes. Drain on paper towel and cool.

    4

    Place the crostoli in a bowl and sprinkle generously with sugar before serving.

    Notes

    If you don’t have a fluted pastry wheel you can use a knife.

     

     

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