Description
Traditional Italian Mostaccioli cookies are soft spiced cocoa cookies shaped into diamonds and coated with a rich dark chocolate glaze. These festive treats feature warm spices, citrus zest, and a smooth chocolate finish, making them a classic holiday dessert.
Ingredients
- 250 g all-purpose flour
- 100 g granulated sugar
- 25 g unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 large egg
- 60 ml milk
- 40 g unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch salt
- 150 g dark chocolate
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt.
- In another bowl, mix the egg, honey, milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and orange zest until smooth.
- Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until a soft dough forms. Add a small amount of flour if the dough is too sticky.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and roll it out to about 1 cm thickness.
- Cut the dough into diamond shapes using a knife or pastry cutter.
- Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between them.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes until the cookies are set but still soft.
- Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Melt the dark chocolate with the vegetable oil or butter in a heatproof bowl over simmering water or in short microwave intervals, stirring until smooth.
- Dip the tops of the cookies into the melted chocolate or spoon the glaze over them.
- Place the glazed cookies on parchment paper and allow the chocolate to set before serving.
Notes
- Do not overbake the cookies to keep them soft and tender.
- Use high-quality dark chocolate (60–70% cocoa) for the best glaze flavor.
- The cookies taste even better the next day as the spices deepen.
- Store with parchment between layers to prevent sticking.
- You can add finely ground almonds or almond flour for extra richness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 60 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
