Italian Cenci Cookies
My mother brought this special family recipe from Europe a century ago, Cenci can be "dressed up" for any holiday—at Easter, I sprinkle yellow, pink and lavender jelly beans over them, and for Christmas, red and green candy sprinkles give the cenci a festive look. Even without the garnish, they always disappear fast!24 ServingsPrep: 30 min. Cook: 20 min.
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1-1/2 teaspoons butter, softened
- Oil for deep-fat frying
- Confectioners' sugar
Directions
- In a bowl, beat eggs, sugar and salt until frothy. Stir in vanilla.
- Sift flour with baking powder; gradually add to batter. Add butter
- and mix well. Turn out onto a floured surface; knead for 10 minutes.
- Divide dough in half; roll each half as thin as possible (noodle
- thickness). Cut into 5-in. x 1-in. strips with a knife or scalloped
- pastry wheel.
- Preheat oil to 375°; fry cookies until golden brown, about 1
- minute per side. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with confectioners'
- sugar. Cookies are best served the same day. Yield: about 4 dozen.
-