Brutti ma Buoni (ugly but good) are delicious Italian cookies made with meringue and chopped hazelnuts. They're crispy and crunchy with a slight chew, deliciously sweet and totally addictive. Made with just 3 simple ingredients and super easy to make!
1 and 1/2cupsblanched hazelnuts(200g) see notes if you can’t find blanched
½cupcaster sugar (superfine)(100g)
If making chocolate Brutti ma Buoni
2ouncesdark chocolate(70%+ cocoa) (50g)
Instructions
Pre-heat the oven to 350F (180C). Line a baking tray with baking parchment.
Tip the hazelnuts onto a baking tray and toast them in the oven for 10 minutes until lightly golden. Let them cool then pulse them in a food processor until roughly chopped (you can also do this with a knife).
Put the egg whites in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric whisk, beat the eggs until they become frothy and white. Start to add the sugar gradually whilst whisking until they turn into a thick, stiff and glossy meringue.
Add the chopped hazelnuts and stir together. Tip the mixture into a large saucepan and heat it on a medium-low heat for 10 minutes whilst constantly stirring until the mixture turns golden brown.
Once ready, dollop heaped teaspoons of the mixture onto a lined baking tray (do tablespoons for larger cookies) and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes (they should be just lightly golden).
Let them cool then peel from the baking parchment and serve.
To make chocolate Brutti ma Buoni
Melt the dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl above a pot of simmering water (bain-marie). Once melted, dip each cookie into the chocolate so the tops are covered and place on a baking tray lined with parchment to set.
Video
Notes
Roasting the nuts - keep an eye on the hazelnuts as they are roasting so they don't burn or they will taste bitter.
Making meringue - start to add the sugar when the egg whites turn a frothy white colour and not before or they won't stiffen. Add the sugar gradually (in 3 goes) until the whites have turned thick, stiff and glossy.
Cooking the meringue - keep stirring the mixture or it'll burn. Stir it on a medium-low heat for 10 minutes until it thickens and turns golden. It should almost look like thick porridge (oatmeal).
Storage - will keep well in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks.