Italian Desserts for Kids
Introducing children to Italian food through desserts is a sweet way to introduce cultural awareness. The Italian culture has many desserts that bakers have developed that are an integral part of the nation's history. Treating your children to these desserts will give them an appreciation of both Italian cuisine and history. Does this Spark an idea?
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Biscotti
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Modern biscotti are associated with the Tuscan region of Italy but the cookie originates in Roman times. The word biscotti is from the Latin word "bis" or twice and "coctum" or baked. The then-unflavored cookie was a hard pastry for travelers; unleavened biscotti was baked twice, ensuring it would not mold or spoil. You can introduce this hard cookie of sweet almond and anise flavor to children as a treat to dip in milk.
Santa Lucia Cookies
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Santa Lucia cookies are vanilla-flavored pastries baked for December 13 to honor Saint Lucia, patron saint of the poor. The saint brings gifts to children and the cookies are one way to commemorate this gift-bringing.
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Tiramisu
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Tiramisu consists of sponge cake or ladyfingers soaked in a liqueur such as rum and covered with grated chocolate or coffee and custard. However, avoid liqueur or coffee variants when you are making tiramisu for children. Since the 1970s, bakers make tiramisu with mascarpone cheese to give the dessert body. Tiramisu originated in the 17th century when the dessert was first made for Grand Duke Cosimo de' Medici III when he visited Siena, Italy. The dessert then was soft custard and called zuppa del duca or the duke's soup.
Candied Orange Peel
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Oranges were imported to Italy from ancient Roman times. Candied orange peel is the skin of an orange that you preserve in a sugar syrup. You can eat these as a snack, use in baked goods or dip the peels in chocolate.
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