The cavallucci di Siena are traditional sweets mainly eaten during the Christmas season. The main ingredients are candied fruits, walnuts, and anise among other spices. They are rustic in both appearance and dough, but with a very delicate taste.
It’s a quick and very easy preparation; everything is done by hand, without stand mixers. Furthermore, they need to rest in the fridge, and don’t require special molds.
They are perfect to gift during the Christmas season along with maybe some good homemade liqueurs/digestifs.
These are very ancient, soft, delicious, and fragrant sweets. They are called cavallucci because they used to be served in taverns to horse drivers.
You might be interested in these recipes:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 2 Hours
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 12 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Christmas
INGREDIENTS FOR CAVALLUCCI DI SIENA
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 1/3 cups walnuts (shelled and chopped)
- 2.8 oz candied orange (chopped)
- 1/2 cup water
- 8 g baker's ammonia
- 1 teaspoon anise seeds (ground)
- 1 teaspoon spices (nutmeg, coriander, cinnamon)
- 1.4 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1.4 tbsp powdered sugar
Tools
- 1 Baking Tray
PREPARATION OF CAVALLUCCI DI SIENA
Mix the flour with the chopped walnuts, candied orange, baking ammonia, anise, and other spices.
In a saucepan, bring the sugar and honey with water to a boil for 5 minutes. Then pour the syrup into the bowl with the dry ingredients.
Quickly knead with a spatula, then transfer the dough to the work surface and form a long roll of about 2 inches in diameter.
Cut it into cylinders of 1.5 inches or break them into small pieces with your hands and roll them in a plate where you have mixed flour and powdered sugar. Press them slightly with your thumb and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Cook at 300°F (static oven) for 15 minutes. Let them rest for a few hours before enjoying them.
Adriana’s Advice
Do not cook them longer than 15 minutes or they will become too hard. If they seem soft when you take them out, don’t worry, they will harden gradually.
Do not cook them longer than 15 minutes or they will become too hard. If they seem soft when you take them out, don’t worry, they will harden gradually.
