Rustic almond rings with citrus and pisto spices, made as a smaller, less-hard home interpretation of Neapolitan roccocò.
Neapolitan Roccocò
Follow the tray sizes, portions and baking intervals in the instructions below.
Allow about 145 minutes: 35 hands-on, 30 chilling or resting, 40 whole-batch cooking and 40 cooling/setting. Cooling includes tray rest. Follow the method for batch sizes and doneness cues.
Kitchen tools you’ll need
- Kitchen scale or US measures
- Two mixing bowls
- Bench scraper
- Two parchment-lined 13 × 18-inch baking sheets
- Pastry brush
- Cooling rack
Rustic almond rings with citrus and pisto spices, made as a smaller, less-hard home interpretation of Neapolitan roccocò.
Ingredients
Optional sprinkles are for decoration and are not included in the nutrition estimate. Spice weights are approximate.
Instructions
Combine without a hard syrup
- 1Combine without a hard syrupStir sugar and honey into the warm water until evenly moistened; there is no need to boil a syrup. Mix flour, baking powder, salt and the four spices in another bowl. Add the sweetened water, butter, citrus zests and chopped almonds. Knead just until the dough holds together. Cover and rest 30 minutes.
Make open rings
- 2Make open ringsHeat the oven to 350°F (177°C) conventional or 325°F (163°C) fan. Divide into 16 portions of about 48 g. Roll each into a 7-inch rope, join the ends securely and gently flatten into a ring about 3 inches across, keeping a generous center opening.
Brush and decorate
- 3Brush and decoratePlace eight rings on each of two parchment-lined large sheets, 2 inches apart. Mix yolk with the measured wash water. Brush a thin film onto the rings and press two whole almonds into each top. Discard leftover wash.
Bake to a yielding center
- 4Bake to a yielding centerBake one sheet at a time for 17–20 minutes, allowing 40 minutes for both. Remove when the rings are lightly browned and set but still yield to gentle pressure in the thickest part. Do not prolong baking to reproduce the exceptionally hard versions sold by some bakeries.
Let the crumb settle
- 5Let the crumb settleCool on each sheet for 10 minutes and on a rack for 30 minutes. These are firm cookies after cooling, but the butter, baking powder and moderate sugar level are deliberate home adaptations for a less-hard bite.
Chef’s Science & Pro Tips
Ingredient science
Chop the dough almonds rather than leaving all of them whole, which makes ropes easier to join.
Technique & texture
Keep the central hole about 1 inch wide before baking so it remains visible.
Finishing & serving
Thickness is a better guide than deep color: an overbaked ring will become much harder when cold.
Storage and make-ahead
| Method | How long | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Room temperature | Up to 5 days | Pack fully cooled rings airtight. |
| Refrigerator | Not recommended for texture | Store in a cool pantry rather than a humid refrigerator. |
| Freezer | Up to 1 month | Freeze baked rings airtight with parchment between layers. |
| Make ahead | Up to 1 day | Chill covered dough; soften enough to roll before shaping. |
| Serving | At room temperature | Serve with coffee or tea; do not judge the final texture while the rings are hot. |
Notes
- Chop the dough almonds rather than leaving all of them whole, which makes ropes easier to join. Keep the central hole about 1 inch wide before baking so it remains visible. Thickness is a better guide than deep color: an overbaked ring will become much harder when cold. This home formula has not been kitchen-tested.
Nutrition
Approximate nutrition per serving calculated from ingredient weights divided by 16; required fillings and toppings included, optional decorations excluded. Brands, unused coating and actual serving size affect the estimate.
THE COOKIE INDEXITALIANCHRISTMAS COOKIES
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the very hard traditional roccocò?
It is a labeled home adaptation with a less-hard texture; butter and baking powder change the traditional flour, sugar and ammonia balance.
Why did the holes close?
Small openings and thick ropes can expand shut. Shape a generous hole and gently flatten the rings.
What is pisto here?
The individually listed cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and white pepper make the spice blend used in this formula.
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