The soft Calabrian susumelle are one of those sweets that, if you’ve tasted them once during the holidays, you won’t forget them. With the aroma of cocoa and cinnamon, soft on the bite and wrapped in a coating of dark chocolate, they are among the most beloved traditional Calabrian cookies of the Christmas period… but so delicious that one leads to another all year long.
The surprising thing?
👉 They are egg-free, butter-free, and oil-free
👉 They are prepared in no time
👉 With these doses, you get about 20 large susumelle, perfect even for gifting
A simple, ancient, genuine recipe that smells like home and tradition.
And yes: if you’ve tasted them during these holidays, you’ve fallen in love with them too.
✨ Make them right away, because these susumelle go straight to the heart!
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If you’re looking for more delicious recipes, take a look here:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Cheap
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 20 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Fall, Winter, Christmas
Ingredients
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsps unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 tsps ground cinnamon
- 2/3 cup wildflower honey
- 1/4 cup milk (also high digestibility)
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 8 3/4 oz dark chocolate
Tools
- Mixer
Steps
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, unsweetened cocoa, cinnamon, and baking powder. Mix the powders well.
Add the honey, milk, and water, then quickly knead until you get a soft, compact, and slightly sticky mixture.
Divide the dough into portions of about 50-55 g (1.75-2 oz).Shape small sausages, then flatten them with your hands to give them the classic susumelle shape.
Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in a static oven at 180°C (355°F) for 15 minutes. They should remain soft: do not extend the baking time too much.
Let them cool slightly, then transfer them to a rack and let them cool completely.Once cooled, melt the dark chocolate in a bain-marie and completely glaze the susumelle. Let them dry on a rack.
An extra tip? Prepare them the day before: resting allows them to settle and become even better.
Storage
The soft susumelle can be stored for 5-6 days in an airtight container, in a cool and dry place.
They are also perfect to prepare in advance for homemade gifts.
Tips
You can slightly reduce the sugar if you prefer them less sweet.
Add raisins (not soaked) for an even more traditional variant, but decrease the sugar to 150 g.
If you use only water instead of milk, the result is still soft and fragrant.
FAQ
Are the susumelle egg-free?
Yes, this recipe is completely egg-free.
Can I make the susumelle without milk?
Sure, you can replace the milk with the same amount of water.
