Canistrelli: Recipes, History and Flavours of Corsican Biscuits

Canistrelli recipes: How to make them yourself

Canistrelli are Corsican cookies that are easy to make at home. The basic recipe usually includes wheat flour, sugar, raising agent and sunflower oil. You can personalize your recipe by adding flavors such as almonds, hazelnuts, lemon, chestnuts or other ingredients of your choice. You'll find plenty of recipes online to inspire you and create your own canistrelli.

Here's a recipe for preparing around 30 canistrelli:

Ingredients:

• 500 g flour
• 200 g caster sugar
• 1 sachet vanilla sugar (optional)
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/2 sachet baking powder
• 100 ml olive or sunflower oil
• 100 ml white wine
• Flavors: lemon zest, vanilla powder, aniseed, chocolate chips (according to your preference)

Instructions:

- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
- In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, vanilla sugar (if using), salt and baking powder.
- Add the oil and dry white wine, then mix well with a spoon until the dough is smooth. If the dough is too dry, add a little white wine.
- Add flavourings (e.g. lemon zest) and mix well.
- On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough with a rolling pin to a thickness of about 1 cm.
- Cut out shapes from the dough using a cookie cutter or knife. You can make round, square or diamond shapes, as you like.
- Arrange the canistrelli on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them slightly apart.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until lightly browned. Keep an eye on them to prevent them from browning too much.
- Leave to cool on a wire rack before serving.

Canistrelli can be stored for several days in an airtight tin.

History and origin of canistrelli

Canistrelli come from a long Corsican culinary tradition. These cookies were once prepared for special occasions and religious festivals. Today, they have become a symbol of the island of beauty and an integral part of the island's culture and heritage. Canistrelli are appreciated for their crunchy texture and their flavors, which come in all flavors, sometimes the most unexpected.

Canistrelli varieties and flavors

Canistrelli come in a multitude of flavors to satisfy every taste bud. Among the most popular varieties are almond, hazelnut, chestnut, chocolate chip, lemon, orange, caramel & salted butter, fig, cinnamon and many more. Each flavor offers a unique experience, allowing you to savor the richness and diversity of Corsican gastronomy through these delicious cookies.

Corsican cookie makers

Corsican cookie makers are the guarantors of the know-how and quality of these local pastries. You'll find many artisanal cookie factories on the island that perpetuate this culinary tradition. In Balagne, on the eastern plain, in Ajaccio, here's our list of Corsican cookie factories where you can find canistrelli: Our artisan cookie factories.

Buy canistrelli online

If you'd like to buy canistrelli, many Corsican cookie factories send their products by mail order, so don't hesitate to get in touch with them. You can also order your favorite cookies and have them delivered straight to your door, by visiting our partner site Canistrelli Brin de Corse, which offers a wide range of flavors and varieties, as well as a wealth of expertise.