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It's wednesday! Which means it's time for an #ItalianThread. This saturday, I will cover a grim subject, so for today I have something more lighthearted in mind. Since it's December, what about...
ITALIAN CHRISTMAS SWEETS
1/?
ITALIAN CHRISTMAS SWEETS 1/?
The most iconic Italian christmas sweets are the Pandoro and the Panettone - and since Italians are never chill about food, we have a huge feud going to choose which one of them is best lmao.
Choose your fighter! 2/?
Choose your fighter! 2/?
THE PANETTONE is a typical sweet from the Milanese area. It's made with soft dough garnished with raisins and candied fruit - there are many other versions, however, but this is the traditional one! 3/?
The origin of the panettone is uncertain, but two are the stories that hold a bit of credit: one sees a falconer who wanted to impress a baker's daughter as the creator of the sweet. 4/?
Another places its origin at Ludovico il Moro's court. Ludovico's cook, after burning the dish he was supposed to serve, created the panettone from scraps. The court loved it, making it widely popular. 5/?
Most likely, however, the panettone is just one interpretation of traditional sweets that were common among the populace. In the 15th century, it was costumary for the common people to eat the same bread as their lords - called pan de ton - garnished with honey 6/?
The PANDORO's origins, on the other hand, are well known! This sweet is typical of Verona and its name means 'golden bread'. It was served on the tables of venetian nobles and, despite the recipe changed somehow during the years, it dates back to the 13th century. 7/?
The pandoro is rather simple, it's a soft, sweet bread faintly flavoured with vanilla and served with powdered sugar. In modern times, just like with the panettone, there are many variants, so you'd find pandoro filled with creams... but the traditional version's plain! 8/?
Panettone and pandoro are definitely the most popular Italian christmas sweets, but they're not alone! Personally, my absolute fav Italian Xmas sweet are these... THE STRUFFOLI! Typical of Neapolitan cuisine, they are small dough balls fried and covered in honey. Delicious! 9/?
Another popular Italian Xmas sweet is the PANFORTE, typical of Siena and very ancient - some even say it dates back to 1000 AD! It's basically made with nuts and candied fruit pressed together with flour. One slice of this and you'll be full for days lmao. 10/?
Similar - but not so similar - is the CERTOSINO from Bologna, known also as 'panspeziale'. In fact, it dates back to the middle ages, when it was made by the 'speziali' (pharmacists)! It's a chocolate bread garnished with 'mostarda' - basically fruit and syrup. 11/?
And of course, a Roman sweet could not be missing! As in, ancient Roman. Meet the PANGIALLO (yellow bread), a traditional christmas sweet that dates back to Imperial Rome - even if the Roman served it for a different celebration. 12/?
It's made with nuts and candied fruit pressed together in a ball and covered with yellow icing. Yepp, candied fruit and nuts are a constant in traditional Xmas sweets... but it's coz these sweets are all very ancient, and it's not like there were many other options back then 13/?
(omg a friend mentioned this peculiar panettone variant which has candied apricots instead of oranges: it's called MUGNAIA and now I want to taste it 13bis/?)
A typical christmas sweet from Friuli is the GUBANA, a sweet bread shaped like a snail, soaked in grappa (a traditional grape-based sort of brandy) and garnished with - you guess it - candied fruit. It takes THREE DAYS to cook, so it must be delicious for real 14/?
Way simpler, but no less delicious, are the FICHI CHINI from Calabria - dried figues stuffed with chocolate, nuts and candied fruit. They are traditionally arranged in the shape of a cross and gifted to family and friends! 15/?
Finally, from Apulia, we have the CARTELLATE - made by wrapping a thin layer of dough in the shape of a rose, fried and soaked in warm wine and honey. They probably date back to the VIth centry BC, when they were called lanxsatura and offered to Ceres! 16/?
BONUS: thanks to @RacheleRaka for making me discover this traditional Xmas sweet from the Marche region - LU SERPE (the snake), a chocolate-filled pastry in the shape of a snake because... what's more xmassy than snakes, right? 17/?
I want to end this thread by saying something smart but I'm too enthralled by the CHRISTMAS SNAKE - so, I'll just ask you to share your own traditional Xmas food with me! I'm curious, drown me in sweets. 18/?
And if you're curious to learn more about Italy, browse this moment! 19/19 https://twitter.com/i/events/1300196333505179648
