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Brutti ma Buoni (Italian Hazelnut Cookies)
Brutti ma Buoni (Italian Hazelnut Cookies) are classic Italian cookies from Northern Italy, especially Piedmont. They are naturally gluten-free, made without yeast, milk, or butter, which makes them light yet full of flavor.This easy Brutti ma Buoni recipe requires only three simple ingredients: egg whites, sugar, and hazelnuts. In just a few minutes, you whip up a light meringue, fold in the chopped hazelnuts, and bake until golden and fragrant.
Ingredients
- 150 g hazelnuts - 5 oz - whole, peeled or raw small chopped hazelnuts
- 120 g granulated sugar - ½ cup + 1 ½ tablespoons
- 75 g egg whites - 4 tablespoons, (about 2 medium eggs), at room temperature
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or the seeds of ½ vanilla bean - optional
Instructions
- Place the hazelnuts in a food processor and grind them to your preferred texture, then set aside.NOTE: You can grind them finely for a smoother cookie, or leave them more coarse for a rustic look. Ready-made hazelnut flour also works well.
- Separate the egg whites from the yolks (you only need the whites for this recipe). Beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
- Gradually add the sugar, a little at a time, while continuing to beat the egg whites. For extra flavor, add the vanilla extract or the seeds from half a vanilla bean. You should get a smooth, glossy meringue.
- Gently fold the ground hazelnuts into the meringue with a spatula. Add them little by little until you have a thick, foamy mixture.
- Preheat the oven to 150°C (300°F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto the baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie. They don’t need to be perfectly shaped - after all, the name means “Ugly but Good” - but try to keep them about the same size.
- Bake on the middle rack for about 15 minutes, until the cookies start forming a golden crust. Lower the oven temperature to 120°C (250°F) and continue baking for another 15–20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let cool completely on the baking sheet.
Nutrition
Serving: 100gCalories: 58kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 1gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 5mgPotassium: 46mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 7mgIron: 0.3mg
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