Baci di Dama – Hazelnut Butter Cookies with Chocolate Filling

Written by Published on in Dessert, Oven Baked
Baked Hazelnut Cookies

Baci di Dama is a classic Italian cookie made from ground hazelnuts, flour, sugar and lots of butter. Lots of buttah….. Buttery cookies are the best kind!

Cold cubed butter

The Italian name translates to Dame’s kisses or Lady’s Kisses but I think they could also be named hazelnut butter kisses. Or buttery hazelnut chocolate kisses. Sounds kinda nice….don’t you think?

Anyways, I definitely think they should come with their own smooching sound effect *muahhhhh*…just saying.

Now did you know that “Baci di dama” are PAT (prodotto agroalimentare tradizionale) branded by the Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies? They’re essentially categorized as a traditional culinary product of Italy, making them very important.

So…. I guess you could say these little cookies are V.I.P

…Very Important Pastry.

Ground Hazelnuts

Now I dunno know who exactly came up with the name, but somebody out there thought that these cookies looked like a lady’s pursed kissy lips. I suppose if you stare at them long and hard, you can see the resemblance….but cookies are for eating, not staring at. In the words of somebody’s Nona (Italian word for grandma) “Mangia Mangia!”….translation : “Eat-ah da Baci …no stare!”.

In my opinion, these cookies are pretty similar to shortbread, slightly crumbly, with a luscious mouth feel. The addition of nuts add a layer of flavour and texture which make these cookies a true lip smacking favourite. Ah….now maybe it could be that Baci induces a lip smacking state by all who eat them…..thus, giving them the name…. Yeah? *eyebrows raised*…. No?*shrugs*

Cookie Dough Balls

Now if buttery nutty cookies didn’t already get your attention….there’s the dark chocolate layer that sandwiches the cookies together. We all know chocolate and hazelnuts are a match made in heaven…we all know!

Chocolate Chunks

But don’t take my word for it, try them for yourself. Make your very own batch of Baci and tell me what you think….sidenote maybe a lil Andrea Bocelli playing in the background might really set the ambience.

Baci e abrazzi (Kisses and Hugs)

Baci di Dama - Hazelnut Butter Cookies with Chocolate Filling
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Baci di Dama – Hazelnut Butter Cookies with Chocolate Filling

Recipe by Amelia Does DinnerCourse: DessertCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy
Prep time

30

minutes
Baking time

7

minutes
Resting Time

1

minute

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup Sugar

  • 2/3 cup cold Butter (cubed)

  • 2 cups all purpose flour

  • 2 cups ground hazelnuts (hazelnut flour)

  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

  • 1 cup dark chocolate (melted)

Directions

  • Combine all the dry ingredients : flour-all purpose, ground hazelnut, sugar.
  • Add the cubed butter. Work the butter into the flour mixture by rubbing the butter into the flour (using your fingers)
  • Add the vanilla extract
  • Chill for at least 20 mins in the fridge
  • Preheat the oven to 325 F
  • Using a small cookie scoop, or a spoon portion out the dough into equal parts and roll into small balls.
  • Place on a parchment lined baking tray and bake for 7 mins.
  • Allow to cool for 1 hour.
  • Using a double boiler method, or microwave melt the chocolate.
  • Allow the melted chocolate to cool slightly before applying it to the cookies. Using a spoon or piping bag add chocolate to the flat side of one cookie, allow the chocolate to set (give it at least 10 mins, longer in a warm kitchen) then apply another cookie on top creating a sandwich.

Recipe Video

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