In Italian mostacciaoli means "mustache." These cookies are traditionally made in an "S" shape to mimic a handlebar mustache. Another tradition has it that Latin mustacea, a cake made out of �must� that is the unfermented grape juice.
Recipe I
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 Tbs butter, room temperature
- 1/3 cup milk
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/3 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 tsp orange flavoring
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup almond slivers, toasted
Directions
- In a large mixing bowl stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves.
- Blend in the butter in with pastry cutter or fork.
- Mix in the egg, milk, orange flavoring, the chocolate chips, and the almond slivers.
- Allow the dough to rest for 1 hour in a cool place.
- Form the cookies into an S shape. The dough is sticky and you will need either wet hands or buttered hands to handle the dough.
- Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes at 350F. To test insert a toothpick. They are done when the toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow to cool.
- Sprinkle with a little confectioner's sugar.
Recipe II
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- grated zest of 1 orange
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- parchment paper for baking sheets
Directions
- In a bowl combine the flour and sugar.
- In a small bowl mix together the water, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, pepper, orange zest, baking powder and baking soda.
- Add the water-spice mixture to the flour and mix. If the dough is too dry add a little more water.
- On a floured work area knead the dough until is smooth. Avoid working the dough too much or it may toughen.
- Wrap the dough in plastic and allow it to rest for 1 hour at room temperature.
- On a floured work surface roll out the dough until it is 1/4" thick.
- With a knife or pizza cutter cut out diamond shapes, 2" wide.
- Place the cookies on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
- Bake at 325F for 30 minutes or until golden.
- When cool you may frost the cookies with a simple chocolate icing.
Note:The cookies will feel soft when they come out of the oven but will harden as they cool. Do not over bake! The icing will help lock in moisture.