Cantucci Di Prato Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Place the almonds on a cookie sheet and toast them in the oven for about 8 to 10 minutes, then transfer to a wide ceramic platter to cool off. Do not leave them on the cookie sheet or they will continue to cook and burn.
• Turn oven up to 350 degrees F.
• In a stand mixer using a paddle attachment, beat 2 eggs, 2 yolks, melted butter, and 10 1/2 ounces sugar on medium speed.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, package of Lievito Pane degu Angeli, orange zest, and pinch of salt then slowly, one spoonful at the time, add the dry ingredients to the egg and sugar mixture and work until the dough forms and starts coming away from the sides of the bowl, about 2 minutes. Cook's Note: The dough should not be too wet. If the dough crumbles, add an extra egg yolk to bind the ingredients.
• Remove the bowl from the mixer and stir in the almonds; do this final step by hand as the almonds would break if added into the mixer.
• Butter 2 cookie sheets and, using your hands, separate the dough in two equal parts that you will roll into cylinders approximately 2-inches thick by 8-inches long.
• In a small bowl mix 2 tablespoons sugar and one egg, then with a pastry brush glaze the cookie dough evenly and place the sheets in the oven.
• Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes, until the top has reached a nice golden brown color.
• Remove from the oven and rest on a cooling rack for about 1 hour, then using a bread knife, slice the cookies about 3/4-inch thick.
• To ensure a proper crunchiness, leave the cookies to rest uncovered through the night, and then toast them in the oven at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes on each side the day after. When they cool off for the second time the will be perfectly "tempered".

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Sift flour, sugar, one pinch of salt, baking soda and baking powder together three times. Place in a large mixing bowl and make a well in the center.
• Beat three eggs and vanilla together and pour into the middle of the dry ingredients. Using a rubber spatula, begin to work the flour mixture into the eggs, drawing the dry ingredients from the outside to the center. The mixture will be crumbly at first, but gradually will form a soft dough. When the dough cleans the sides of the bowl, allow it to rest a minute or two. It will soften further.
• Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and flatten to form a rectangle about six by 10 inches. Scatter almonds over the dough and roll the dough up over the almonds. Flatten the dough slightly, then cut into three equal portions. Roll each portion under the palms of your hands to form a cylinder 12 inches long. Place the three cylinders on the baking sheet.
• Beat the remaining egg with a pinch of salt and brush the egg wash over each cylinder. Bake about 20 minutes, until golden and firm to the touch.
• Place cylinders on a cutting board and slice through them at a 45-degree angle at one-half inch intervals. Remove the parchment paper from the baking sheet. Place the slices standing up on the baking sheet and return them to the oven for another 15 minutes to dry. Allow to cool, then store airtight.