Chiacchiere are sweet treats and are among the the most popular traditional foods made during Italian carnival. They are made from dough and are usually deep fried or baked and sprinkled with sugar powder to become a sweet crispy pastry. The name of these pastries differs from region to region, but in Lombardy they are known as Chiacchiere – literally meaning “chatter” or “gossip”.

What you will need:
(serves 6)

50g Unstalted butter
500g Flour
3 Eggs (3 whole, 1 yolk)
25ml Grappa (or another liquor)
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
70g Caster sugar
Sugar Powder (confectioner’s sugar) to dust
Peanut oil for frying (or olive oil)

Method:

Sift the flour with the baking powder into a bowl. Make a sort of nest in the bowl from the flour and baking powder and add the butter, caster sugar, vanilla extract, eggs, pinch of salt and the grappa…