Our first experience with Ciambelle Cookies or Italian Wine Cookies was at a little restaurant in Rome.
As we finished our meal, the waitress refilled our wine glasses with red wine and placed these little plump cookies on our table, telling us to dip them in the wine.
I was unprepared for the explosion of lemon flavor in my mouth on the first bite. Then I tried the cookie on its own. NO LEMON!
It’s the combination of being dipped in the wine with anise that creates the lemon flavor. Chemistry at its finest!
Ciambelle cookies are a simple Italian cookie made mostly of flour, anise seeds, sugar and wine.
It’s now one of my favorite cookies. I just love the simpleness of them. And while dipping them in wine is my favorite way to eat them, they are also good with coffee and tea.
And while I wish I was eating them in Italy, it’s still nice to get authentic ciambelle cookies anywhere I go with this delightful recipe.
Directions for Making Your Ciambelle Cookies Food Gift Kit
Since this is an Italian cookie, I highly recommend you use an Italian white wine for the recipe. It’s also possible to substitute red wine for the white based on preference.
Buy a nice white Italian wine to include in your kits.
Combine the sugar, anise seeds, baking powder and all-purpose or whole wheat flour in a container together.
Include a separate container with granulated or raw sugar for rolling the cookies in.
For extra additions, include baking sheets, wooden spoons and mixing bowls. Or even an extra bottle of wine for dipping the cookies into.
And don’t forget to treat yourself with a few for yourself.
Happy Holidays!
Ciambelle with Wine: Italian Wine Cookies
heidi medina
These traditional Italian anise cookies are eaten in Italy dipped in red wine or with cappuccino.
Combine flour, sugar, anise seeds and baking powder on a large cutting board or flat counter.
Mound flour mix and make a well in the center. Slowly pour in some of the wine and oil and start mixing as you go.
Continue adding the wine and oil until you’ve used all the oil and the dough resembles a stiff bread dough.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Start shaping the cookies by breaking off a small piece and rolling between your palms into a 1 1/2 inch rope. Join the ends of the dough to form a ring. You want the cookies to be about 1 1/2 to 2 inches across.
Roll the top fo the ring in the sugar and place on a baking sheet.
Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes.
Cool well before storing in a tightly closed container.
