The scarcelle Apulian Easter recipe is a traditional Apulian sweet, typical of the Easter period, which has its roots in ancient peasant customs. More than just a simple cookie, the scarcella is a true symbol of Easter, bringing wishes and prosperity.
What is the Scarcella?
It’s a shortcrust pastry cookie with a variable shape (dove, basket, doll, heart, etc.) decorated with one or more whole boiled eggs, held in place by strips of dough. Its surface is often embellished with colored royal icing, sprinkles (diavolilli), and small sugar decorations.
The egg, the central element of the scarcella, has always been a symbol of rebirth and fertility, closely linked to the meaning of the Christian Easter. The shape of the cookie and the additional decorations can vary depending on the area and family traditions, making each scarcella a unique and special piece.
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- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Very economical
- Rest time: 1 Hour
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 5 scarcelle
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 4 cups All-purpose Flour
- 3/4 cup Sugar
- 2.5 oz Egg
- 6.5 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/3 cup Milk
- 1 Lemon (grated zest)
- 1 tbsp Orange (orange paste or if you don't have it, orange zest)
- 2 g Baking Soda
- 5 Eggs
- to taste Colored Sprinkles
- 7 g Cream of Tartar
- to taste Egg White (for brushing)
Tools
- 1 Stand Mixer
- Parchment Paper
Preparation
Boil the eggs for 6 minutes
In a stand mixer or by hand on a work surface, pour the flour, sugar, cream of tartar, baking soda, and stir with a spoon to combine the ingredients.
Add the grated lemon zest and orange paste. If you don’t have orange paste, you can replace it with grated orange zest
Add the slightly beaten egg.
Start working the mixture and gradually add the olive oil.
Then gradually add the milk at room temperature.
Work the mixture until compact.
Let it rest in the fridge for 1 hour
At this point, take a piece
Form two sticks 8 inches long
Twist them
and form a ring.
Make 5 scarcelle and place the cooled boiled egg in the center
With the remaining dough, form two sticks and cross them over the egg so that it stays upright during baking.
Brush with egg white
Add the sprinkles and bake in a static oven at 350°F for about 35 minutes, or less depending on your oven.
