Twelve Days of Desserts: Day Four

Calabrian Sesame Cookies/ Biscotti di Regina

These cookies are a family favorite. Since antiquity, sesame seeds were seen as symbols of fertility. For this reason, in the Southern Italian province of Calabria they are served on Christmas Day and at weddings. Their Italian name means ?Queen?s Cookies? in honor of the Virgin Mary. These simple to make cookies can be made a month ahead of time and frozen. They can be found in my upcoming cookbook, The Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook (ADA March 2010). Click here to watch the video:

Makes about 30 cookies

Serves: 15

Serving Size: 2 cookies

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus extra for work surface
1/3 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup canola oil, placed in freezer for 20 minutes before using ? 1/3 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup sesame seeds, untoasted

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 375 F degrees. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners.
2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
3. Stir in canola oil and mix well to combine.
4. Combine milk and vanilla in a small bowl and stir into mixture.
5. Mix ingredients well to form a dough and turn out onto a lightly floured work surface.
6. Pour sesame seeds onto a plate.
7. Break off 1-inch pieces of dough and roll them to create finger shapes.
8. Roll in sesame seeds to coat.
9. Place on baking sheets and flatten top of cookies slightly with a finger.
10. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until very light golden.