Fiorellini di Frolla Ripieni (Italian Shortcrust Cookies Filled with Pineapple Jam)
Category: Desserts
Servings/Pieces: 30
These delightful little shortcrust cookies, filled with sweet pineapple jam, are an irresistible treat that combines the rich flavor of buttery pastry with the tangy sweetness of fruit filling. Perfect for afternoon tea or as a special dessert for a gathering, these Fiorellini di Frolla Ripieni are sure to captivate anyone who takes a bite.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| 00 Flour (All-purpose) | 250g |
| Icing Sugar | 100g |
| Butter (Cold, Cubed) | 125g |
| Egg | 1 |
| Lemon Zest (Grated) | ½ |
| Pineapple Jam | 145g |
| Icing Sugar (For Dusting) | As needed |
Instructions
-
Prepare the Shortcrust Pastry:
Start by making the pastry dough. Place the flour into a food processor and pulse a few times to break it up. Add the cold cubed butter to the flour and pulse again until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs or a sandy texture. This process helps to distribute the butter evenly through the flour, creating that desired flaky texture in the final cookies. -
Incorporate Wet Ingredients:
Add the icing sugar, grated lemon zest, and the lightly beaten egg to the mixture. Pulse again for a few seconds to combine the ingredients, making sure that the dough just starts to come together. Avoid over-mixing to ensure the dough remains tender. If you don’t have a food processor, you can do this by hand using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, working the butter into the flour until it forms a crumbly texture, then adding the sugar, zest, and egg. -
Form the Dough:
Once the dough is mixed, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Bring it together with your hands, kneading it gently just until it forms a smooth ball. Be careful not to overwork the dough, as this can develop gluten and make the cookies tough. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes to allow it to rest and firm up. -
Roll and Cut the Dough:
After chilling, remove the dough from the refrigerator and place it onto a lightly floured surface. Roll it out to about 3mm thickness. Using a 5 cm flower-shaped cookie cutter, cut out as many flower shapes as possible from the dough. You should be able to make around 60 flower cutouts, as you’ll be using two per cookie. -
Assemble the Cookies:
Place half of the cut-out flowers on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a small brush or your finger, lightly dampen the edges of the flowers with water. This will help seal the cookies once they’re assembled. Spoon about half a teaspoon of pineapple jam onto the center of each flower. Be careful not to overfill, as the jam may spill out while baking. -
Create the Cookie Sandwiches:
Take the remaining flower-shaped dough cutouts and gently place them over the jam-covered flowers, pressing lightly around the edges to seal them. The water you brushed on will help them stick together. -
Bake the Cookies:
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) with the heat set to static (conventional) baking. Place the cookies into the oven and bake for about 22 minutes, or until they are lightly golden around the edges. Keep an eye on them to ensure they don’t brown too quickly. -
Cool and Dust with Powdered Sugar:
Once baked, remove the fiorellini from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, lightly dust the tops of the cookies with a generous sprinkling of icing sugar. This adds a lovely touch of sweetness and enhances their delicate appearance. -
Serve and Enjoy:
Once the sugar has settled, these beautiful fiorellini di frolla ripieni are ready to serve. They are the perfect treat for any occasion, from family gatherings to afternoon tea, and even as a delightful homemade gift for friends and loved ones.
These cookies, with their crisp shortcrust pastry and luscious pineapple jam filling, are a classic example of Italian baking at its finest. Each bite offers a balance of textures and flavors that will have you coming back for more. Perfect for sharing, or keeping all to yourself – these Fiorellini di Frolla Ripieni are guaranteed to be a hit with anyone who tastes them.
Enjoy the process of making them, and savor the delicious results!
