Zuccherini montanari: a taste of happiness and childhood memories

In the Bolognese Apennines, amidst ravines and ancient villages, there's a sweet treat that has the power to make us feel like children again, to make us feel part of a community, to make us dream of eternal love, and to relive special moments. This cookie is called zuccherono montanaro (in dialect). zucarèn ) and its history is as long and fascinating as a novel, enriched by the memories of those who have eaten it and loved it since childhood.

You know that feeling of happiness you get when you taste something delicious, made with love? Zuccherini montanari are just that: an explosion of flavor that makes you feel instantly at home, a blast from the past that evokes precious memories.

For example, I still remember when I was a child and I saw those enormous cookies, bigger than my hands, that almost looked like donuts. They weren't my favorite dessert, to be honest, but I always ate them with joy because I knew they were linked to something special, a celebration, an anniversary, a wedding.

And then there was my grandmother, who prepared them with so much love and wouldn't let me near her while she glazed them, because the sugar was hot and dangerous. But I would sneak a peek, fascinated by that magical ritual, and I could smell the intoxicating scent of anise wafting throughout the restaurant.

A must-have at weddings, at the end of the banquet, the newlyweds, beaming with happiness, offered their guests special gifts of sugared almonds and sugared almonds ( zucarein in dialect) . These biscuits, especially in mountainous areas, were the very symbol of marriage, so much so that to ask "when are you getting married?" it was customary to say " quand fèt i zucarein? ", " when are you making the sugared almonds? " A way of expressing that the wedding was not just a day of celebration, but also a pledge of love, a sugar ring that united forever.

The dough is simple, but the result is surprising: flour, oil, eggs, and a touch of anise, adding that special touch reminiscent of wild mountain herbs. The icing is truly spectacular, its crispy white coating creating a perfect contrast with the crispiness of the biscuit.

If you happen to pass through the Bolognese Apennines, you can't miss tasting these mountain sweets. Look for them in bakeries, at village festivals, and at weddings.

What makes Montana Sugar Cookies special?

• Their intoxicating aniseed scent will make you want to dive into a flowery meadow and will remind you of happy moments of your childhood.
• Their unique texture, crunchy and crumbly at the same time, is like a hug that isn't too tight and that gives you a reassuring feeling of protection and love.
• Their ring shape, a symbol of eternal love, like that sworn by spouses, and of an unbreakable bond with our land and our roots.
• Their thousand-year history, made of traditions, legends, and passion, will make you feel part of something great and important.

Zuccherini montanari are much more than just a cookie: they are a piece of history, a symbol of love, a taste of happiness, and a blast from the past. A dessert that will make you fall in love at first bite and will remain in your heart forever, just like the memories of our childhood.

If you want, you can buy them directly on our website

For traditional mountain sugar cookies click HERE

For the sugar snowballs click HERE

For the sugary morsels click HERE