Go Back
close up wooden board with on top italian toto cookies, pistachios, a towel, an orange and more cookies around, on a marble background

Italian Toto Cookies

Rich and spiced Sicilian Toto cookies blend cocoa, warm spices, and citrus for a bold, festive flavor. Traditionally baked for All Saints’ Day, they’re glazed and shared as a sweet symbol of remembrance.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Resting Time 30 minutes
Total Time 59 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Sicilian
Servings 20 biscuits

Ingredients
  

For the biscuits

  • 250 g 00 flour
  • 100 g white sugar
  • 25 g cocoa powder
  • 1 egg
  • 50 ml milk
  • 20 g butter
  • 7 g baking powder
  • 1 orange zest from 1 orange
  • 1 pinch cinnamon powder

For the chocolate glaze

  • 125 g icing sugar
  • 5 g cocoa powder
  • 40 ml water
  • any crushed nuts to decorate

Instructions
 

  • Start by melting the butter, either in a small saucepan over low heat or in the microwave, and set it aside to cool slightly.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg and sugar until light and well combined. Pour in the milk and the melted butter, then give everything a good stir.
  • Sift the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder directly into the bowl, then add the grated orange zest and a pinch of cinnamon. Mix until the dough comes together, soft and smooth, then shape it into a ball and wrap it in plastic wrap. Let it rest in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
  • Once chilled, take the dough out and roll into either small walnut-sized balls or bigger cookies like we did.
  • Arrange them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, leaving some space between each one.
  • Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 12 minutes for the smaller ones, 15-18 minutes for the bigger ones.
  • While the cookies cool, prepare the glaze. Heat the water, then sift the powdered sugar and cocoa into a bowl.
  • Add the hot water and mix quickly until you have a smooth, glossy glaze with no lumps.
  • Dip each biscuit into the glaze and place on a wire rack, sprinkle with the chopped nuts of your choice and leave to set until the coating firms up.
  • Store your Sicilian Toto biscuits in an airtight container or a tin, they’ll stay fresh and delicious for days.

Notes

You can also freeze the italian toto cookies for up to three months.
Keyword italian toto cookies