(Brutti-boni)
Brutti ma buoni (which means "ugly but pretty") are cookies found in many regions of Italy, usually made from finely ground almonds in a meringue base. But the Mattei bakery, in Prato, makes them in typical Tuscan style, which is quite different. The egg whites are only beaten lightly, and the nuts are coarsely ground. They are known in the Tuscan dialect as brutti-boni.
Cookies keep in an airtight container at room temperature 1 week.
Recipe information
Total Time
1 hour
Yield
Makes about 48 cookies
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Step 2
Coarsely chop almonds and pine nuts with sugar in a food processor. Lightly beat 2 whites and add to nuts with flour and salt. Blend until evenly moist. (Dough should be slightly sticky but firm enough to hold together. If it is too dry, lightly beat remaining egg white and blend into dough 1 teaspoon at a time.)
Step 3
Drop heaping teaspoons about 1/2 inch apart onto a parchment paper–lined baking sheet. Gently squeeze each with your fingers to form a rough cone shape.
Step 4
Bake cookies in middle of oven until barely browned and moist in center, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool 5 minutes on sheet, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
