Description
Rich chocolate toto cookies from Italy blend classic cocoa with delicate nutty notes, creating a sublime dessert experience. Homemade treats offer sweet comfort and traditional Mediterranean charm for delightful family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) powdered sugar
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup (30 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup (120 ml) milk
- 2–3 tbsps milk or orange juice
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp orange or lemon zest
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup (80 g) mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts (optional)
- Colored sprinkles
- Chopped nuts
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats for effortless cookie release.
- Dry Mixture: Thoroughly combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, warming spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves), and salt in a medium bowl to create a harmonious dry blend.
- Butter Blend: Whip softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture transforms into a light, fluffy consistency with a pale hue.
- Wet Ingredients: Gently integrate eggs, vanilla extract, and citrus zest into the butter mixture, ensuring complete incorporation and aromatic infusion.
- Dough Formation: Carefully fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, alternating with milk to develop a smooth, cohesive dough. Delicately mix in mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts for textural complexity.
- Shaping and Baking: Scoop and roll dough into uniform balls, positioning them on prepared sheets with adequate spacing. Bake for 12-15 minutes until cookies achieve a tender, cake-like consistency with subtle puffing.
- Cooling and Glazing: Rest cookies on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Craft a silky glaze by whisking powdered sugar, milk or orange juice, and vanilla extract until perfectly smooth.
- Finishing Touches: Once cooled, elegantly dip or drizzle cookies with glaze, immediately adorning with sprinkles or chopped nuts. Allow glaze to set completely at room temperature.
- Storage: Preserve in an airtight container for up to one week, or freeze for extended enjoyment.
Notes
- Master Texture Control: Soft, cake-like consistency requires precise mixing – avoid overmixing which creates dense, tough cookies that lose delicate crumb structure.
- Enhance Flavor Complexity: Experiment with additional warm spices like cardamom or ginger to elevate traditional Italian chocolate flavor profile, creating deeper aromatic dimensions.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Substitute all-purpose flour with almond or gluten-free blend, adding xanthan gum to maintain proper cookie structure and prevent crumbling.
- Temperature Precision: Use room temperature ingredients, especially butter and eggs, ensuring smooth incorporation and consistent cookie texture during baking process.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 23
- Calories: 178
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg