Baci di Dama

Ingredients:

- 1 cup (120g) ground almonds

- 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour

- 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened

- 1/3 cup (65g) granulated sugar

- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

- Pinch of salt

- 3.5 ounces (100g) dark chocolate, chopped

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine the ground almonds, flour, and salt. Set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and mix until well combined.

4. Gradually add the almond-flour mixture to the butter-sugar mixture. Mix until the dough comes together and forms a smooth ball. If the dough is too dry, you can add a teaspoon of milk to help bind it.

5. Pinch off small pieces of dough (about 1 teaspoon) and roll them into small balls. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them a little apart as they will spread slightly.

6. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes or until they are lightly golden. Keep an eye on them as they can quickly overcook.

7. Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.

8. While the cookies are cooling, melt the dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, making sure the bowl does not touch the water. Stir the chocolate until smooth and fully melted.

9. Take one cooled cookie and spread a small amount of melted chocolate on the flat side. Take another cookie and gently press it against the chocolate, sandwiching the two cookies together. Repeat with the remaining cookies.

10. Let the cookies sit at room temperature until the chocolate sets and hardens.

Baci di Dama cookies are ready to be enjoyed! They are delicate, buttery cookies with a hint of almond, sandwiched together with rich dark chocolate. They make a perfect treat with a cup of coffee or tea.