Ligurian Canestrello

The Ligurian canestrello finds its home in the hinterland of the whole Ligurian territory, varying slightly from area to area. It is a typical shortcrust pastry biscuit with the shape of a donut, with a diameter of about 10 cm, and a central hole of about 3 cm; thickness: 6-7 mm. The color is brownish and it has a crumbly and soft consistency. Canestrelli can often be found scattered with powdered or granulated sugar.
The canestrelli are excellent as a snack with tea or sweet wine. These soft and crumbly shortcrust pastry donuts are recognizable by the scalloping of the border which makes them look like daisies and for the abundance of butter.

 

A son de vende reste e canestrelli…
This ancient saying shows that there is also a poorer version of the canestrelli, made with bread dough. Caterina Campodonico sold them to the village festivals and, with the proceeds of the hazelnut necklaces and these sweets, she managed to buy a funerary monument in the cemetery of Staglieno in Genoa, imperishable memory of her person and her work.