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Ricette di Sicilia

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Traditional Sicilian Bersaglieri biscuits

Bersaglieri Biscuits - A Chocolate-Glazed Sicilian Treat for All Saints’ Day

Discover Bersaglieri biscuits, a traditional Sicilian sweet enjoyed for All Saints’ Day: light, fragrant and dipped in rich dark chocolate.

⏱️
Prep Time
1 hour
🔥
Cook Time
30 minutes
👥
Serve
Serves 8
📊
Difficulty
Medium
💰 Medium
🗓️ Autumn
4.9/5

🛒 Ingredients

  • 500 g plain flour
  • 200 g sourdough starter
  • 80 g lard
  • 120 g caster sugar
  • 500 g dark chocolate
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • A pinch of salt
  • 1 sachet vanilla sugar or a few drops of vanilla extract

📊 Nutritional Information

Calories
490 kcal
Protein
9 g
Fat
22 g
Carbohydrates
65 g
Fiber
3 g
Sodium
210 mg

Bersaglieri biscuits are a beloved Sicilian classic traditionally prepared for All Saints’ Day and the Day of the Dead.
Originating from the Etna region, these autumnal biscuits are light and aromatic, finished with a glorious coating of glossy dark chocolate.

With their rustic charm and comforting flavour, they embody the heart of Sicilian home baking - sweets prepared slowly, shared generously and remembered fondly from childhood.

👨‍🍳 Preparation

  1. 1

    Sift the flour onto a pastry board and shape into a well.

  2. 2

    Pour a decilitre of warm, lightly salted water into the centre, add the lard and begin mixing.

  3. 3

    Add the sourdough starter and sugar, kneading until you obtain a soft, smooth dough.

  4. 4

    Shape the dough into sticks about 10 cm long and arrange them on a greased baking tray.

  5. 5

    Cover and leave to rise until doubled in size.

  6. 6

    Bake at 200°C for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 150°C and continue baking for a further 20 minutes.

  7. 7

    Melt the dark chocolate with the butter over a bain-marie and stir in the vanilla.

  8. 8

    Dip each biscuit in the melted chocolate, place on a rack and let the coating set before serving.

💡 Tips and Variations

For a more fragrant dough, add a little grated orange zest.
For a sweeter flavour, replace some of the dark chocolate with milk chocolate.

📦 Storage

  • Store Bersaglieri biscuits in a tin for 4–5 days in a cool, dry place.

🍷 Pairing

Enjoy these biscuits with a glass of Moscato Passito di Pantelleria Liquoroso, which beautifully enhances the sweetness of the dough and the toasted notes of the chocolate.

Bersaglieri biscuits are autumn in a bite - nostalgic, fragrant and steeped in Sicilian tradition.
Perfect for All Saints’ celebrations, they invite you to rediscover the genuine flavours of classic homemade sweets.

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