Dead Bone Cookies/Ossi dei Morti (Italy)

                                                 Dead Bone Cookies/Ossi dei Morti (Italy)

Dead Bone Cookies/Ossi dei Morti (Italy)

Dead Bone Cookies/Ossi dei Morti (Italy)
November 2 is All SoulsDay, also called the Day of the Dead. Many Italians visit and decorate graves on this day.These crunchy little cookies get their name from their resemblance to bones. On All SoulsDay, many Italian families bake them at home or buy them at shops and markets.

Ingredients of Dead Bone Cookies/Ossi dei Morti (Italy)
* 2/3 c. sugar
* 8 tbsp. unsalted butter
* 2 eggs
* 2 c. sifted all-purpose flour
* 1 tsp. vanilla extract
* 1 c. ground almonds or pistachios* (optional)

Preparation of Dead Bone Cookies/Ossi dei Morti (Italy)
1. Preheat oven to 400ºF.
2. Lightly grease 2 cookie sheets.
3. Combine sugar, butter, and eggs in a medium-sized bowl. Add the flour gradually, beating until smooth. Add the vanilla and nuts and mix well.
4. Break off small pieces of dough (about 1 tbsp. each) and form them into skinny, bonelike shapes. Place them 1 inch apart on the cookie sheets.
5. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cookies are lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheets with a spatula and cool on a wire rack.

Notes for Dead Bone Cookies/Ossi dei Morti (Italy)
*Cut the fat content in this recipe by omitting the nuts.

Dead Bone Cookies/Ossi dei Morti (Italy)
Preparation time: 20 to 25 minutes
Baking time: 10 to 15 minutes
Makes about 2 dozen cookies