Ossi di Morto, literally bones of the dead, are a Tuscan cookie made especially for November 2nd, All Souls Day (called Day of the Dead in some cultures).
I thought they might be fun to make for Halloween.
These cookies are crunchy and delicious--perfect with an espresso or glass on Vin Santo. Children love them, too.
One of the most famous bakeries in Siena, La Fabbrica del Panforte, exports bags of Ossi di Morto and you can sometimes find them in gourmet stores. But they are also easy to make yourself.
This recipe takes about 40 minutes from start to finish.
Ossi di Morto
Preheat your oven to 350.
- 2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup hazelnuts (about 4 ounces), roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup almond, roughly chopped
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 egg whites
- the juice of one lemon
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, egg whites, sugar, and lemon juice. Add the nuts, and work the mixture until the dough is firm.
Shape the dough into a ball and then roll it out into a long thick snake shape (just like kids do with clay). Cut the snake into 1/2 inch thick slices and break into 2 or 3 pieces and flatten into "bones." (See the photo above)
Butter a cookie sheet, dust it flour, lay the bones on it, and bake for about 20 minutes. Do not let them get too brown. Cool before serving.
