Italian Biscuits

This is a rather sweeping description of those shortbready swirls punctuated by glacé cherries that you see everywhere in Italy, mostly sold by weight. Actually, when you do buy them, they can tend towards challenging dryness and sweetness: these are buttery, light and modestly sugared. Don’t be put off by the fact that an icing bag is required: piping out this kind of batter is extraordinarily satisfying.