Recipe: Rose del Deserto (Desert Rose Cookies)

There are a lot of wonderful things about the holidays, but I’d be lying to you and to myself if I didn’t admit that Christmas cookies were at the top of my list.  They’re as fun to bake as they are to eat, and you really can’t have enough recipes for them in your collection.  This traditional Italian cookie recipe from the authors of The Mamma Mia Diet! is the perfect dessert for the holiday season.

Desert Rose Cookies (Rose del Deserto)

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Baking time: 10 minutes
Yield: about 35-40 cookies

Ingredients

⅔ cup (130 g) granulated sugar
4.3 oz (120 g) unsalted butter (at room temperature)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups (240 g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon (5 g) baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup (180 g) chocolate chips
7 oz (200 g) cornflakes
Powdered sugar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 °F (180°C).  Cream the butter and sugar in a medium-sized bowl with an electric mixer.  Add the eggs and the vanilla extract.  Then mix the flour and the baking powder together in a small bowl.  Add the flour mixture to the creamed butter and stir in the chocolate chips.  Roll teaspoon-sized balls of dough in a bowl of cornflakes.  Place the cookies, well-spaced (about 1.5 inches), on a greased cookie sheet and bake for about 10-12 minutes.  Remove from pan and cool on a rack.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar on top, just before serving.

Note:  This recipe makes about 35-40 cookies.  If the dough is too sticky, add one or two spoons of flour.  You can substitute chocolate chips with other ingredients, such as raisins, for an even healthier snack.  Store in a airtight container.  You can also store the baked cookies in the freezer; before serving, let them thaw at room temperature and then sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.

Written by Paola Lovisetti Scamihorn and Paola Palestini, and based on an improved version of the classic Mediterranean diet, The Mamma Mia! Diet provides you with modernized versions of healthy Italian dishes to help you lose weight while still feeling full and satisfied.  The Mamma Mia! Diet brings the health benefits of a Mediterranean-style program with Italian flair and flavor.  It is real Italian food—effective, delicious, and fun!