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Befanini Cookies

The recipe for Befanini cookies is typical of Tuscany. We prepare these biscuits to celebrate Epiphany and the arrival of La Befana, the good old witch that delivers candies to the good children in Italy. They are super easy to make, and you can also do it with your children.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time1 hour 5 minutes
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: Lucca, Lunigiana and Apuan Area, Versilia
Servings: 50 cookies
Author: Edoardo Pucciarelli

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour 500 g
  • 1,5 cup sugar 300 g
  • 1/3 cup butter 150 g
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 Tbsp rum
  • 3 Tbsp milk only if needed to softner the dough
  • 1 grated rind of orange
  • 1 yolk to brush the cookies
  • rainbow sugar crystal

Instructions

  • Sift the flour in a bowl, and put in the center the soft butter cut into small pieces, the sugar, and eggs.
  • Use your hands to knead. Add the orange rind, the baking powder, and the rum (avoid it if you are preparing them for kids). If needed, a little at a time add also the milk and knead until you obtain a smooth and homogeneous mixture.
  • Create a ball of dough with your hands and cover it with the clingfilm. Let it rests in the refrigerator for half an hour.
  • After this time roll out the dough with a thickness of about 5 - 7 mm / 0.20 - 0.27 inches and make the Befanini cookies with the appropriate molds. I chose classic stars, comet stars, hearts, little flowers, but you can do them any way you like. Depending on the size of molds, you should be able to make about 50 cookies.
  • Cover a baking tray with baking paper and place the biscuits. Brush them with the yolk and cover them with colored sprinkles.
  • Bake in the oven already hot and static at 180°C/350°F for 10/15 minutes.