Saturday, November 6, 2010

Savory Favors For Your Guests -- Cavallucci (o morsetti) di Siena

 
As your wedding winds down you'll want to send your guests home with a traditional Italian wedding favor.  If your wedding is Tuscan-inspired biscotti are a good choice.  Make or purchase favor bags with a grape vine pattern or stencil the pattern on bags yourself, and fill them with coffee flavored biscotti or cavallucci, a honey flavored rustic biscotti.  
 
Cavallucci are not beautiful cookies so package them in an eyecatching box or bag.  But ah! the taste with some strong coffee will make your guests feel like they've taken a weekend trip to Tuscany. 

I wasn't familiar with cavallucci, but these delicious cookies are easy to make using acacia honey and melted sugar mixed with flour, chopped, toasted almonds, minced candied citron and orange, anise, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander powder and a pinch of baking soda. The trickiest part was finding the right kind of honey, although you might be able to sub regular honey for acacia honey. 

For a recipe to make your own cavalucci go to  http://italianfood.about.com/.  I tested out this recipe, and believe me, if I can manage it, it's perfect for a bride who isn't looking for a complex DIY favor for her wedding.

Decorate your favor table with a grape and vine motif and your guests will love taking these cookies home for a late night snack.  You could consider pairing them with a favor-size packet of espresso for your guests to take home with them or some chocolate nut truffles or jordan almonds.