Candlemas Navettes: the cookies from Provençal tradition!
The Candlemas navettes, celebrated every year on February 2nd, are simple yet rich in history. They symbolize conviviality and the traditions linked to the Christian calendar and the culinary culture of southern France.
Their name, ‘navettes’, derives from their particular shape that resembles a small, elegant boat.
The recipe for navettes is surprisingly simple… few ingredients, easily available, which when combined create fragrant cookies with a delicate flavor.
The base includes flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and natural flavors like orange zest or orange blossom, giving the cookies a unique and unmistakable aroma.
The real art of preparation lies in the shape; each cookie is hand-molded into a small boat, making each navette a unique piece, perfect to share with friends and family during the holiday.
Navettes are not just a dessert; they represent a connection to tradition and Provençal culture. In the past, they were homemade as a propitiatory rite, but today they are also available in Provençal patisseries, maintaining their authentic charm.
The Candlemas celebration itself is linked to light and hope, and offering these cookies to your guests means symbolically sharing good fortune and sweetness.
If you want to try making Candlemas navettes at home, it will only take a few steps and some patience in shaping them.
They are perfect with tea or a warm herbal infusion, but they can also become an original gift, packaged in small bags or decorated boxes.
With this recipe, you will not only bring a fragrant dessert to the table but also celebrate an ancient tradition that unites gastronomy and culture.
Approximately 55 Kcal per navette
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Affordable
- Rest time: 1 Hour
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 33 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Electric oven
- Cuisine: French
- Seasonality: Winter
Ingredients to make Candlemas Navettes
- 2 eggs (small)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 4 tbsp butter (softened)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- zest and juice of 1/2 untreated lemon or orange (or 2 vials of orange blossom essence)
- as needed powdered sugar (optional)
Tools
- 1 Non-stick baking sheet Non-stick baking sheet
Preparation of Candlemas Navettes
In a bowl, beat the eggs, add the sugar and mix again, then add the grated lemon zest and the juice of half a lemon, or alternatively, orange juice and zest.
Mix this as well, then add the softened butter and the flour little by little until all is incorporated and a soft, well-worked dough is obtained.
Once the dough is formed, wrap it in cling film, or leave it in the bowl and cover with cling film, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Take the dough and create pieces of equal weight, making rolls about 3/5 inch in diameter and 2 inches long (approximately).
Once formed, slightly taper the ends, almost forming points.
Make a cut with a knife down the center of the cookie lengthwise.
Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and let the navettes rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Bake in a preheated oven at 340-355°F for 20 minutes; at the end of baking, the navettes will appear slightly golden.
