Italian cookies or Baci Di Dama

Baci di dama consists of two cookies sandwiched together with dark chocolate in between the cookies. These Italian cookies are also known as lady kisses.

These cookies are simply out of this world with a fantastic taste and very simple and easy to make.

Ingredients

• 100 g or 3/4 cup ‏All-purpose flour(shifted)
• 100 g or 7 tablespoons ‏Unsalted Cold Butter(cut into small cubes)
• 75 g or 1/3 cup ‏sugar
• A pinch of ‏salt
• 50 g ‏dark chocolate (chopped)

Directions:

1. FOR COOKIES: Add toasted and skinned hazelnuts in a food processor. Process for few minutes until it turn into crumbs.

2. In a large bowl add hazelnut crumbs, all-purpose flour, butter cubes, salt and sugar.

3. Mix all ingredients with your hands to form a dough.

4. Knead the dough on work surface until smooth and butter is fully incorporated. NOTE: the dough should be smooth with no cracks on it.

5. Divide the dough into 4 portions.

6. Roll each portion into a 3/4 inch thick log.

7. Wrap the logs with plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.

8. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets/cookie sheet with parchment paper.

9. Cut the logs into equal size pieces and roll them into small balls.

10. Place all the balls on lined baking sheets. NOTE: Leave 2 cm space between cookies.

11.  Bake in a preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes until lightly golden. NOTE: place the baking sheet on the middle rack in the oven.

12. Remove the baking sheet from oven and let the cookies cool completely.

13. FOR FILLING: Place heatproof dry bowl over simmering water pan. NOTE: the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl.

14. Add chopped dark chocolate into the bowl. Stir until chocolate melts.

15. Remove the bowl from heat. Let it cool for 5 minutes.

16. Add teaspoon of melted chocolate on one cookie and place the other one on top.

17. Repeat the above step for all the cookies. Leave them for 20 minutes until chocolate is firm.

18. Store them in an air tight jar and Enjoy with your afternoon tea!!