These Italian Bocconotti Cookies are seductive little morsels with their scalloped buttery shells and a lovely fig jam cocooned within. All that’s needed is a light dusting of powdered sugar before serving and then simply relax in your comfy chair with a hot cup of tea while nibbling on these dainty treats.
There are so many variations of these cute bocconotti cookies, which easily translates to “small bites” and aptly named I might add for these two bite morsels.
They’re more commonly served during Christmas with a chocolate and nut filling, much like the bocconotti abruzzesi or even the bocconotti calabresi from southern Italy.
However in my opinion when a cookie is as seductive in appearance and taste as these jam filled pastries, well any day of the year is a good day to bake them! As I’m sure you’ll all agree when you try them out for yourselves!
One question that I get asked often when posting a new recipe is, “but is it easy to make”?
My answer is always “yes”! And yes I see some eyes rolling right now so roll them back!
If you’ve never worked with a pastry dough before, you’ll be happy to know that your food processor will be doing most of the work here.
Then there’s a gentle kneading of the dough by hand so that it all comes together in a cohesive ball.
Once the dough has been chilled and your ready to assemble the bocconotti cookies…the fun begins!
With a little background music softly playing and your work station prepped…
Set an hour of your time to shape out and assemble the bocconotti.
Although I used a fig jam you can just as easily replace it with any flavor you prefer and even Nutella would be a wonderful choice!
Once all assembled and ready for the oven, in they go for about 18 to 20 minutes or until a beautiful golden brown!
You’ll have the most enticing aromas wafting thorough your kitchen and beckoning family members in.
Then a simple light…or generous dusting of powdered sugar to finish them off and enjoy!
Show your family or friends some love this weekend with these easy to make Italian Bocconotti Cookies!
If you make this recipe remember to tag @marisasitaliankitchen on Instagram so I can see your creation!
Italian Bocconotti Cookies
Ingredients
- FOR THE PASTRY
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 3/4 cup chilled butter cubed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
- Icing sugar powdered sugar for dusting.
- 24 mini tart tins or mini muffin tins 2 inches in diameter
- FOR THE FILLING
- 3/4 cup fig jam approximately
Instructions
- Place the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together in a food processor and pulse for a few seconds to combine the ingredients.
- Add the chilled cubed butter and pulse the mixture together, just until you achieve coarse crumbs.
- Whisk together the egg with the grated orange zest in a small bowl and add this egg mixture to the food processor.
- Blend in the food processor until half of the dough mixture has come together then transfer to a work surface and keep kneading gently by hand until the dough has formed a ball.
- Wrap the pastry dough in cling wrap and chill for 1 hour.
- When ready to assemble the pastries, grease well 24 mini tart molds or use mini muffin pans.
- Break off a tablespoon of dough and form into a ball then take the ball of dough and press it into the mini tart mold and up against the edges.
- Trim off any excess with your fingers or the dull side of a knife. (I find fingers work best)
- Repeat with the remaining molds.
- Fill each tartlet with about a teaspoon of jam.
- Take another tablespoon of dough, form into a ball and with the palm of your hands press it between two sheets of cling wrap.
- Place the flattened disks over the jam filled tartlets and press the dough around the edges of the mini molds to seal and then cut off any excess dough.
- The excess dough can be reused to form more tops if needed.
- Place the mini tartlets on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for about 18 to 20 minutes or until a lovely golden brown.
- Allow the bocconotti to cool before dusting with icing sugar.
- Brew a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy!