Italian S Cookies - Biscotti A Esse (2024)

Published: Jun 4, 2022 · Updated: Sep 8, 2022 by Andrea

Italian S cookies are super popular breakfast cookies. Learn how to make these traditional Sicilian cookies at home with basic ingredients.

Growing up in Sicily, I remember making these Italian S cookies with my nonna during the weekend or around the holidays.

And today I'm sharing exactly my nonna's Italian S cookie recipe (one of the very few she has written down with measurements!).

I promise these breakfast cookies are incredibly easy to make, you can actually ask your kids to help you out, my 4-year-old loves making them with me!

WHAT ARE ITALIAN S COOKIES?

Together with amaretti cookies and Italian butter cookies, these are one of the most popular cookies in Italy.

The S cookies are called "biscotti esse" in Italian, but they also go by the name of biscotti squisiti (which literally means "delicious cookies"!).

These Sicilian S-shaped cookies originate from Ragusa, one of the most fascinating towns in Sicily.

Traditionally they were made through a grinder with a cookie attachment, to give them a nice wavy texture.

But these days they're made simply by rolling the dough into thin ropes arranged in a classic S-shape.

They have a delicious lemon aroma and a lovely crumbly texture.

In Sicily, we usually serve them for breakfast with milk or tea, or as an afternoon snack.

INGREDIENTS

You won't believe how easy these cookies are!

The Italian S cookie dough is made with the most simple ingredients, in typical Italian fashion.

You'll need just 6 ingredients:

• Butter: Use softened butter cut into chunks, it makes it easier to mix it with the flour.

• Flour: I use regular all-plain flour or Italian 00 flour.

• Eggs: go for large-sized eggs.

• Lemon: Lemon zest adds a beautiful citrusy note to the cookies, you can swap it with orange zest if you like. Opt for unwaxed organic lemons if possible.

• Sugar: you can use regular caster sugar for this recipe.

• Baking powder: a little baking powder gives the cookies a nice slightly softer texture.

• Milk: This is optional, but depending on the flour brand you use, or the size of the eggs, if the cookie dough is a bit too tough, I usually add 1 tablespoon of milk to soften it a bit.

HOW TO MAKE ITALIAN S COOKIES

This is a quick overview of how to make Sicilian S cookies with step-step pictures.

For the full recipe, scroll down to the easy-to-print recipe card.

STEP 1 - Mix butter with flour.

In a large bowl mix the softened butter and flour.

STEP 2 - Mix in the remaining ingredients.

Add in the eggs, sugar, lemon zest, and finally the baking powder.

STEP 3 - Rest the dough.

Mix all the ingredients to form a smooth dough, and let it rest in the fridge for 15 minutes.

STEP 4 - Form the cookies.

Place the dough on a work surface, and divide it into small balls.

Roll each ball to form a 7cm/2.5-inch rope, model it into an S shape with your hands, and arrange it on a baking tray.

Bake for 10 minutes, then cool and serve.

HOW TO STORE

Store the baked cookies in an airtight container or sealed jar. Keep them in a cool spot in your kitchen or in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

CAN I MAKE THEM AHEAD?

Yes, you can! You canform your S cookies the night before,refrigerate them overnight then bake them in the morning.

You can also freeze them before they are baked.

Place them on a baking sheet for an hour, then transfer them to a ziplock bag andfreeze them for up to one month.

To bake them after freezing, let them thaw for 2-3 hours in the refrigerator, then bake them.

You can also freeze them after baking them.

Place them on a baking sheet for an hour, then transfer them to a ziplock bag and freeze them for up to two months.

DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?

Please let me know how you liked it! Leave a comment below and share a picture onInstagramwith the hashtag#thepetitecook!

Looking at your pictures always makes me smile *and super hungry*!

Recipe