AlmondButterChocolateDessertsHazelnutOlive Oil

Baci Di Dama (Lady’s Kisses)

A sweet treat with a kiss! Baci di Dama, or "lady's kisses," are delicate cookies held together by a layer of chocolate, resembling two mouths about to kiss. Originating from Tortona in Piedmont, these cookies were originally made with hazelnuts, as they were more accessible and affordable. Almonds were later introduced by local bakers to perfect the recipe. Today, you can find versions made with either hazelnuts, almonds, or a mix of both - in this recipe the Hazelnut flavour comes from the Chocolate Hazelnut Spread! For this recipe, we have swapped out the butter for olive oil, this is a much healthier alternative and makes the dough a lot easier to combine!

Prep Time: 20 mins (plus 2-3hrs chilling time)
Cooking Time: 12 mins
70 people

Used in this recipe

Ingredients

120ml Filippo Berio Mild and Light Olive Oil
150g Caster Sugar (the finer the better)
150g Almond Flour
150g Type 00
25g Egg Whites (about 1/2 a large)
1 pinch of Fine Salt
Hazelnut Chocolate Spread (Nutella)

Method

To make Baci di Dama (Hazelnut Cookies), begin by preparing the shortbread dough. Pour the Olive Oil and sugar into the bowl and mix on low speed until the mixture is well combined. Add the almond flour and continue mixing.
In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites with salt until dissolved.
Add the egg whites to the dough mixture and combine well.
Gradually add the sifted flour, continuing to mix on low speed. When the flour is fully incorporated, transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface.
Lightly flour the top of the dough and gently press it down, without kneading.
Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. After chilling, transfer the dough to a floured surface. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin to an even thickness of about 1/2 inch (1 cm).
Create a grid pattern by cutting the dough this will help to ensure your biscuits are of the same size (weighing about 0.2 oz (4-5 g) each). Roll each cube into a ball using the palms of your hands and arrange them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spaced apart.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and bake the cookies for about 12 minutes, or until golden. Remove them from the oven and allow them to cool.
Once cooled, add Nutella to the flat surface of one cookie and lightly press together with a second cookie so that they stick together.
Sprinkle with topping of your choice or enjoy as they are!

Mild & Light In Colour Olive Oil

From £10.99

This Olive Oil is a healthy substitute for other cooking oils. With its high smoke point it is the ideal choice for frying, stir-frying and baking. The light bouquet allows the natural flavour of food to come through.