The cuzzupe, are delicious traditional Calabrian cookies prepared for Easter, symbolizing rebirth and prosperity.
Similar preparations can be found in other Italian regions, where they have slightly different names and variations (scarcelle, cuddure, pupe, etc…), but they retain the same symbolic meaning related to Easter.
Every family has its recipe, passed down from generation to generation, representing a sweet ritual that brings the whole family together around the holiday table. With their slightly crunchy exterior and soft interior, they are perfect both for breakfast and as a dessert. The egg, often placed on top of the dough, symbolizes life and fertility, making these treats not only tasty but also full of meaning.
Made with simple and genuine ingredients like flour, eggs, and sugar, cuzzupe can be personalized with flavors like lemon or vanilla, and are traditionally decorated with colorful sprinkles for a festive touch. They are ideal for celebrating Easter with authenticity and flavor. Discover how to prepare them at home with this easy and irresistible recipe!
If you are looking for other recipes for the Easter or Easter Monday table, take a look here:
- Difficulty: Medium
- Preparation time: 1 Hour
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Easter
Ingredients
To prepare your cuzzupe, you will need:
- 8 cups all-purpose flour
- 1.5 cups granulated sugar
- 1.5 cups butter (soft)
- 4 eggs
- 2 tbsp baking powder (two packets)
- 3 tbsp milk
- 2 pinches salt
- 2 packets vanillin (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)
- hard-boiled eggs (for decoration)
- sprinkles (for decoration)
Tools
To make this recipe I used some products that I purchased on Amazon which helped me in making these fantastic desserts:
- Cookie Cutters letters
- Stand Mixer
- Board
- Rolling Pins
- Molds heart
- Molds flower
Steps
In this article, I will explain how to quickly prepare cuzzupe using instant baking powder, and I will give you some tips to make a perfect and tasty dessert. Keep reading to discover all the secrets of my Easter cuzzupe!
Start by cooking the eggs you will use for decoration! In a saucepan, add the eggs, cover them with water, and add the magic egg boiling timer! This will help you not to miss the cooking times of the eggs! If you don’t have the magic egg timer, count about 12 minutes over medium heat.
In a stand mixer or large bowl, mix the butter with the sugar and quickly work it until you get a creamy consistency, add one egg at a time (making sure the previous one is completely absorbed), the pinch of salt, the milk, the vanillin, and gradually the sifted baking powder and flour.
Move to a floured board and if the dough still needs it, add some more flour and knead until you get a smooth and homogeneous dough. Roll out the dough and shape your Easter cuzzupe!
I started with a 20 cm heart-shaped mold, with some dough I formed a braid, creating a sort of basket, and laid it over the heart, placed the egg (previously boiled) inside the nest, covered with another braid to form the handle of the basket. Decorated with small flowers, sprinkles, and the writing “HAPPY EASTER”
I repeated the procedure for the entire quantity of dough, also creating other shapes dictated by fantasy! I’ll leave the photos!
Place your cuzzupe on the baking sheet, brush them with a bit of milk, a sprinkle of sugar, and bake them in a preheated oven at 356°F (180°C) for about 30 minutes.
Remove the cuzzupe from the oven and let them cool completely before serving.
Happy preparation and happy Easter!
Tips
For medium-sized cuzzupe, calculate a cooking time of 20 minutes.
Perfect to eat with family or to gift to loved ones!
They are also perfect to eat at breakfast, dipped in milk!!!
