Baci Di Dama

I love cookies that have stories and legend has it that Baci Di Dama were made for the Savoy Royal family to represent the kiss between two lovers.   I am sure the King was impressed by these bite-sized crumbly delicious cookies pressed together to resemble a kiss..…eh?  These “kisses from a lady” cookies are irresistible, but beware…..one thing may lead to another…!!

Baci di Dama (Kisses from a Lady) 

Adapted from Cooks Illustrated magazine

Makes about 40 cookies

5 ounces hazelnuts, toasted and skinned

2 ½ ounces all-purpose flour

1 ¾ ounces sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

¼ salt

5 tablespoons butter, cut into small cubes and chilled

½ teaspoon vanilla

Nutella spread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.  Adjust oven racks to upper middle and lower middle positions.

Place the hazelnuts, all-purpose flour, sugar, cornstarch and salt in a food processor and process until the hazelnuts are finely ground.  Add the butter and vanilla and process until the dough comes together.

Divide the dough into four pieces.  Working with one piece dough at a time, roll 20 small balls and place 1- inch apart on the lined baking sheet.  Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 16 minutes or until the edges are lightly brown, switching and rotating the baking sheets halfway through baking.  Cookies will be very delicate.  Let cookies cool completely on the sheets.

Spread about a ¼ teaspoon of nutella over bottom of half of the cookies; top the remaining cookie and press lightly to adhere.