Nonna Vivian Cardia’s Ligurian Butter Cookies

Name: Nonna Vivian Cardia’s Ligurian Butter Cookies (Canestrelli di Torriglia)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 38 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 cup (2 sticks, or 240 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for greasing; 6 tablespoons (75 g) granulated sugar; 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature; Zest of ½ lemon or 2 teaspoons Nonna Laura’s Sweet Lemon Zest; Zest of ½ lemon or 2 teaspoons Nonna Laura’s Sweet Lemon Zest; 1 packet (½ ounce, or 15 g) Italian vanilla powder or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 packet (½ ounce, or 15 g) Italian vanilla powder or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 tablespoon (15 ml) white rum; 1½ cups (180 g) all-purpose or 00 flour; 1½ cups (180 g) all-purpose or 00 flour; ¾ cup (96 g) cornstarch; Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

Canestrelli di Torriglia

Preparation info

Yield: About
36
cookies

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
40 min

Appears in

Cooking with Nonna

By Rossella Rago

Published 2018

About

When it comes to Christmas cookies, Nonna Vivian keeps it simple and chic with these classic Ligurian butter cookies. Canestrelli is an easy shortbread recipe that has a hint of lemon and white rum. The cookies are then cut into a lovely daisy shape with a cookie cutter and dusted with a light coating of powdered sugar.

Ingredients

Europe
Italy
Liguria
Cookies
Vegetarian
Christmas

Ingredients

Method