Italian Desserts Recipes - Cherry Biscuits (Pasticcine ai Ciliegi) Recipe

Ingredients                                 

• 50 g/2 oz/1/4 cup unsalted (sweet) butter

• 50 g/2 oz/1/4 cup caster (superfine) sugar

• 2 eggs

• 225 g/8 oz/2 cups plain (all-purpose) flour

• 5 ml/1 tsp baking powder

• 2.5 ml/1/2 tsp grated nutmeg

• 120 ml/4 fl oz/1/2 cup milk

• 450 g/1 lb cherries, stoned (pitted) and roughly chopped

• 30 ml/2 tbsp brandy or Kirsch

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Method:

1. Cream the butter with the sugar and beat in three-quarters of the eggs until the mixture is smooth.

2. Gradually blend in most of the flour, reserving a little for rolling out and add the baking powder, nutmeg, milk, brandy or Kirsch and the cherries and mix to a stiff dough.

3. If necessary a little cold water can be added to make the dough more manageable. Roll out thinly onto a floured board and cut in fingers.

4. Place on a greased baking sheet and brush lightly with beaten egg.

5. Bake in a preheated oven for 20 minutes at 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4 until golden brown. Serve hot or cold.