Three-Nut Fingers and The Inaugural Italian Gals Cookie Exchange
A Pop-Up Cookie Event
2014 is the inaugural year of the Italian Gals Christmas Cookie Exchange. One minute Linda, Domenica, Marie and I were gabbing about food (what else?) on Facebook, and the next we were doing what we do best – getting busy in the kitchen. Linda figured out the logistics, and we all baked and packed our goodies for shipment to one another’s homes. Linda sent her spiced Italian Christmas “Brownies.” Domenica tantalized us with Cranberry-Hazelnut Biscotti, a sample from her forthcoming book, Ciao Biscotti.
Marie baked (literally) hundreds of her famous fig-filled, spicy, orange-kissed Cucidati. My Three-Nut Fingers made their way from California to Illinois, New Jersey, and Virginia and into the homes of my partners in this project. We had a ball, and a tradition was born. Sweet Mouthfuls!
Three-Nut Fingers
yield: 32
Whether packed in a tin and mailed away, or stashed under a tree, one bite and these will enter the pantheon of your family’s classic Christmas cookies. Elegant enough for the fanciest cookie tray, yet familiar enough for an office party, these hand-formed delights have a shape reminiscent of Biscotti di Regina, but a flavor all their own. Little nut trios made of toasted and ground walnuts, pecans, and hazelnuts get a flavor boost from almond extract and Sonoma Syrup’s Vanilla Crush. A generous splash of Frangelico, Italy’s hazelnut liqueur, completes the flavor profile. The liqueur is distilled from plump, sweet Tonda Gentile hazelnuts. Larger and sweeter than hazelnuts grown in northwestern America, Italian hazelnuts are sought after by pastry chefs and confectioners worldwide, and the liqueur, with its notes of cocoa and coffee, adds a pleasing richness to the cookies.
I adapted this recipe from Rose Levy Beranbaum’s classic book Rose’s Christmas Cookies.
½ cup (42 g) unblanched sliced almonds
⅓ cup (33 g) pecans
¼ cup (36 g) hazelnuts
¾ cup + 1 tablespoon -dip & sweep method (114 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
Scant ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
2 tablespoons (27 g) light brown sugar, firmly packed
½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened and cut into 8 pieces
1½ teaspoons Frangelico
½ teaspoon Sonoma Syrup Vanilla Crush (or vanilla extract)
¼ teaspoon almond extract
½ cup (100 g) superfine vanilla sugar, for rolling the baked cookies (See Cook’s Note)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Adjust the rack to the center position. Line a baking sheet with Silpat or parchment paper, and set aside. Place the nuts on a second large rimmed cookie sheet, keeping the hazelnuts separate. Toast the nuts for 10 to 12 minutes until fragrant. Remove the nuts from the oven, and place the hazelnuts in a rough, clean, lint-free kitchen towel. Allow the hazelnuts to cool briefly. Gather the towel around the nuts and rub briskly to remove as much of the skins as possible. It is alright if some skins remain; it’s just that leaving all of the skins will impart an unpleasant bitterness. Removing about 60% is plenty. Discard the skins.
Whisk the flour and sea salt together in a small bowl. Set aside. Fit a food processor with the metal blade. Place the cooled nuts and light brown sugar in the bowl of the food processor and process until powder fine. Remove the processor lid, and add the softened butter, Frangelico, and extracts. Replace the processor lid, and process until the mixture is smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down the sides once or twice, as needed. Remove the top of the processor, and sprinkle the flour and salt over the mixture. Replace the top and pulse until just combined.
Scrape the dough into a bowl, and use a 1¼-inch cookie scoop (2 teaspoon capacity) to form oblong, football shaped cookies that are 1¾ inches long and ¾ inches wide. Place the cookies 1½ inches apart on the Silpat or parchment-lined cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees F. On the center rack for about 15 minutes, until lightly browned. For even baking, rotate the cookie sheet front to back halfway through baking.
Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool for 5 minutes. Use a small offset spatula to remove the cookies from the baking sheet. Carefully roll the baked cookies in the superfine vanilla sugar, and transfer to racks to cool thoroughly. Once cool, roll the cookies a second time in the superfine vanilla sugar.
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature or in the freezer. These will keep one month at room temperature or several months if frozen.
Cook’s Note: Vanilla Sugar is sugar infused with pure vanilla. I use C&H Baker’s Sugar, a granulated sugar that is slightly more finely ground than regular granulated sugar, though not as finely ground as superfine sugar. Typically I use 1 or 2 beans per pound of sugar, or more for a stronger vanilla flavor and perfume.
To make the vanilla sugar, place the vanilla bean on a work surface, and split it open by running a paring knife down the length of the bean. Spread the bean open, and using the non-cutting edge of the paring knife, scrape the seeds out. Drop the seeds into the sugar, and using your fingertips or a whisk, combine the vanilla seeds and sugar. Add the scraped vanilla bean, cover tightly, and set aside for 1 week to infuse. Add more vanilla beans and seeds along with more sugar, as needed. Vanilla beans have varying amounts of moisture, and thus the sugar may clump. Use your fingertips or a whisk to break up the clumps.
To make the superfine sugar for rolling these cookies, simply drop some of the vanilla sugar into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal knife, and process for about 30 seconds or until powder fine. For richer vanilla flavor add the seeds of 1 more vanilla bean.
Note: You can click on any picture to see a slide show!
I have no affiliation with any product, manufacturer, or site mentioned in this article.
Wednesday, December 17th 2014 at 9:22 pm |
These cookies are elegant but the flavor within is so dynamic, loved every bite! What fun we had, next year it’s on again!
Wednesday, December 17th 2014 at 9:23 pm |
Ciao Marie,
I am so glad you enjoyed them. Your Cucidati were absolutely wonderful. This definitely is a tradition worth keeping. Buon Natale!
Wednesday, December 17th 2014 at 9:33 pm |
Darn it! I was going to make it simple this year and I thought I was done. Now I want to make your cookies too!
Wednesday, December 17th 2014 at 9:52 pm |
Hi Laurel,
I certainly hope you enjoy the cookies. These were all so wonderful. Warmest wishes to you and yours for a wonderful Christmas season!
Wednesday, December 17th 2014 at 10:40 pm |
What a wonderful tradition! And such gorgeous and great tasting cookies!
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 7:13 am |
Ciao Ansh,
Yes, we are keen on our new tradition, and each year we’ll be sending more and more great cookies. Thank you for stopping by, and best wishes to you and yours for a wonderful holiday!
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 4:36 am |
I simply love the idea! It is amazing how friendships can grow through the Internet and food interests. Here I am pinning away recipes. You ladies have inspired me to keep baking. I think there should be more time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I love being in the kitchen and I love to bake. I think I got that gene from my mamma. Your biscotti look fantastic. I only made six varieties this year for shipping. Last year we made 20 varieties. Buon Natale e Buon Anno Nuovo a tutti!
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 7:19 am |
Hi Marisa,
This was great fun, and part of its charm was how quickly it all came together. You are so right about Christmas coming all too fast. It is literally upon us, and I am truly not ready. I agree with you about these blogging friendships. I have met the most wonderful people, and really had a ball doing it. It is a pleasure to have met you, and thanks so muich for stopping by. Buon Natale!
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 6:00 am |
Hi Adri, I must get on the ball and start my baking, almost done shopping. Will add these to the mix, they look delicious!
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 7:20 am |
Hi Cher,
Get thee into the kitchen, woman! Let’s see some great cookies on your site. I have no doubt you have plenty of terrific recipes up your sleeve. Merry Christmas to you and Happy Baking!
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 6:42 am |
What a wonderful idea and new tradition, Adri! I love those three nut fingers. My kind of cookie!
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 7:22 am |
Hi Susan,
This really was fun, and it was all very off the cuff. It was such a treat to receive the boxes from back east, and it really got me in the Christmas spirit. Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 7:09 am |
What a warming post, something to print and keep. Leave it up to you, Adri, to pull this together so generously. Grazie mille. Buon Natale and blessings to you all.
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 7:24 am |
Ciao Julia,
I can’t tell you how much fun the Cookie Exchange was. It came together in an afternoon, thanks really to Linda who got right to it with the details and mailing information. We all had a great time. I felt like a little kid when Bart brought in the first two boxes with the mail. Needless to say everything was delicious. This is a tradition worth keeping. Buon Natale!
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 8:38 am |
Love the beginning of this new tradition! What a wonderful cookie assortment. And the recipe for the Three-Nut Fingers is outstanding! Thanks, and I hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 8:58 am |
Hi John,
Thank you! This one came together seamlessly., Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 8:55 am |
You’ve put all my favorite nuts into one cookie…they sound terrific.
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 8:59 am |
Hi Karen,
Leave it to Rose Levy Beranbaum to come up with something fabulous! These are tender and tasty – plus they really are easy to do. Warmest wishes to you and yours for a wonderful holiday season!
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 9:41 am |
Ciao! I’m glad you posted the recipe for your readers, Adri, because these cookies are really wonderful. We’ve been enjoying them and I’ve set some away in the freezer to bring up to my family in NJ. I’m lucky to be part of this exchange and I’m already looking forward to next year. Buon Natale e felice anno nuovo. Domenica
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 9:57 am |
Ciao!
I am so pleased to hear that you are enjoying the cookies. This Exchange was great fun. I am so pleased that we got our collective act together and got to work, and I too am looking forward to 2015. Buon Natale!
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 11:56 am |
Tanti biscotti italiani per festeggiare il Natale “italian style ” ! Buon Natale Adri to you and your family, un grande abbraccio !
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 1:39 pm |
Ciao Chiara!
Grazie a te. Buon Natale!
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 12:19 pm |
Adri – i am so happy this all went so well. But how could it not with three fabulous cooks like you gals. Your three nut cookies were sensational. A half dozen are missing but the rest are safely tucked in the freezer for next week. Thanks for posting this for all your readers. This is the beginning of a delicious new tradition.
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 1:41 pm |
Hi Linda,
It could not have been better, and really it happened because you were such a superior facilitator. I bet you were a super organized mom. I am also impressed with your restraint as all of the cookies we received are gone! This was so much fun, and I am already looking forward to 2015.
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 2:13 pm |
All of these cookies looks like heaven! What a fun idea to exchange Italian cookies and between pro chefs…can’t be beat! I’m going to start making my cookie dough tonight for festive sugar cookies this weekend.
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 2:24 pm |
Ciao Pam,
We had a ball, and it all started with a thread on Facebook. We have started a real tradition now. Call a few friends and start an Exchange. It is such a nice to do. It is fun and you get the benefit of a selection of treats to share with family and friends. I hope you are enjoying the Christmas season, and I bet you will put together a wonderful Christmas feast. Buon Natale!
Thursday, December 18th 2014 at 6:11 pm |
Great cookie recipes from 4 of my favorite Italian cooks! I love this time of year! I’ll have to do this next Christmas . . . brilliant!
Friday, December 19th 2014 at 6:11 am |
Ciao Roz,
Grazei! This was so much fun. I hope we have inspired lots of people to try this in 2015. Buon Natale a te!
Friday, December 19th 2014 at 2:13 am |
Cookies look like heaven! I wish I could eat at least..10 of them 😉
Friday, December 19th 2014 at 6:14 am |
Ciao Marcela,
It really was a heavenly bunch of treats. We enjoyed all of them. Best wishes to you for a wonderful holiday season!
Friday, December 19th 2014 at 5:02 am |
Cookies, cookies, cookies! A lovely selection, Adri. Happy holidays!
Friday, December 19th 2014 at 6:15 am |
Ciao Frank,
Christmas time is cookie time, no doubt about it. Warmest wishes to you and yours for a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy 2015!
Friday, December 19th 2014 at 9:36 am |
Adri, what a fun cookie exchange! I’m so excited to discover more Italian food bloggers and look forward to trying the recipes. Buon Natale!
Friday, December 19th 2014 at 3:29 pm |
Ciao Mamma C!
It’s a pleasure to meet another Italian food blogger, and I hope you enjoy my friends’ blogs along with mine. Buona Natale a te!
Friday, December 19th 2014 at 11:07 am |
What a great idea and thanks for sharing the recipe – nothing is better than getting a box of cookies in the mail…(other than getting two boxes of cookies in the mail!) Have a wonderful Christmas! xo
Friday, December 19th 2014 at 3:30 pm |
Hi Laney,
This was fun, and you are right about getting the cookies in the mail. It really was fun. We all had a ball. This is how traditions are born. Buon Natale a te, amica!
Friday, December 19th 2014 at 6:24 pm |
After reading about this on FB…so glad to see the post! What a fantastic thing! So jealous…super idea!
Friday, December 19th 2014 at 7:17 pm |
Ciao Phyllis,
We had fun with this one! Buon Natale a te!
Saturday, December 20th 2014 at 5:45 am |
These look delicious! I will definitely be making them this season 🙂
Saturday, December 20th 2014 at 11:54 am |
Benvenuta!
Thank you for stopping by. I hope you enjoy the cookies. Best wishes to you and yours for a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year!
Saturday, December 20th 2014 at 10:19 am |
I can’t get enough of cookies at this time of year..your 3-nut-fingers look so delish! I love the cookie exchange tradtion.
Saturday, December 20th 2014 at 11:55 am |
Hi Angie,
I am a regular cookie eating machine at this time of year also. I hope you try some of the recipes. We really had a ball with our Cookie Exchange, and it’s a tradition worth keeping. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Sunday, December 21st 2014 at 3:29 pm |
Wow, I wish I were an Italian gal. Oh well no time for cookies anyway, I leave for S. America soon. So if it seems I’ve dropped off the planet just know I’ve only changed hemispheres for a few weeks. I’ll be back. GREG
Sunday, December 21st 2014 at 9:51 pm |
Ciao Greg,
So how about if I declare you an honorary Italian gal? Will that work for you? Wow – South America – how cool is that? I hope you have a wonderful trip, and I look forward to reading about your travels. Buon viaggio e Buon Natale a te!
Monday, December 22nd 2014 at 7:55 pm |
SO many cookies. This looks absolutely heavenly!!
Tuesday, December 23rd 2014 at 7:43 am |
Hi,
We had ball. I hope we inspire others to set up a long-distance Cookie Exchange in 2015. Merry Christmas to you!
Tuesday, December 23rd 2014 at 2:41 am |
Wow what a wonderful idea. I grew up with our neighbors, The Simmons, having their annual cookie exchange and what fun that was. We had a blast preparing our own cookies at home and then choosing our plateful of other people’s cookies at the party to take home with us afterwards. The cookies above look like real works of art and how special to receive delicious packages in the mail. Last night I was at a dinner with a man who says he makes homemade panettone– I told him I want to be invited over for a lesson next year.
Wishing you a happy holiday season and a marvelous 2015
Un grande abbraccio, Trisha
Tuesday, December 23rd 2014 at 4:51 am |
Thank you for the great posts all year round. Auguroni di cuore per le feste e per l’anno nuovo … che sia pieno di sorrisi, salute e serenità!
Tuesday, December 23rd 2014 at 7:47 am |
Ciao Laura,
The pleasure in mine entirely! Thank you for the kind words, and Buon Natale a te!
Wednesday, December 24th 2014 at 2:43 am |
Thank you so much! Have a Marvelous Christmas, dear!
Wednesday, December 24th 2014 at 8:10 am |
Ciao Marcela,
Merry Christmas!
Saturday, January 3rd 2015 at 6:21 am |
HI Adri, I am woefully behind wishing my blogging friends all the best for the season. We’ve had a long visit from family, including our very busy 2 year-old grandson! Love the Italian gal cookie exchange! I recently met Domenica, and she is so talented and kind.
Saturday, January 3rd 2015 at 12:18 pm |
Hi Nancy,
I am a bit behind myself! Thank you for the good wisher, and I bet you had a terrific visit with your family. I am so pleased that you enjoyed the Italian Gal experience! We had a ball – a tradition is born. All the best to you and yours. Let’s all have a grand 2015!
Friday, January 9th 2015 at 12:44 pm |
Hello there, thank you for the introduction to Marie and this wonderful array of biscuits. xo
Friday, January 9th 2015 at 2:37 pm |
Ciao Lizzy,
The pleasure is mine entirely!
Monday, January 12th 2015 at 10:35 am |
WOW great idea to ship and share them! Next year I may want to be a part of your cookie exchange! If you’ll invite us! Fabulous cookies, brings back wonderful childhood memories. thanks Adri!
Monday, January 12th 2015 at 1:15 pm |
Hello,
Oh, but we had a ball with this one. I am out here on the west coast, and my compatriots in this project all live on the east coast, so Priority Mail was the way to go for us. I hope you try our cookies. The project brought back memories of cookie exchanges from college. I hope you and your families had a terrific Christmas, and I wish you all the best in 2015!
Tuesday, January 13th 2015 at 11:46 am |
What a wonderful idea! I’ve done cookie swaps before + they are such fun. It looks like you both sent and received some amazing cookies – YUM!
Tuesday, January 13th 2015 at 3:24 pm |
Hi Amy,
Linda, Domenica, Marie, and I had fun with this project. I am out here in California, and the others are on the east coast. So this was one VERY long distance Cookie Swap. I hope this inspires you to organize one for Christmas 2015!