What is this Italian Cookie called?

Question

I'm looking for a recipe for an Italian cookie that I remember having as a child. The cookie is shaped like a gnocchi or cavatelli but is much bigger, about 1.5 inches long and slightly larger than a quarter in diameter.  It is distinctly 'C' shaped, though.  The cookie was fried, probably deep fried, and then soaked in honey.  The color is a very deep, dark brown.

The cookie is very dense but flaky.  There was not a very strong flavor other than the honey that I recall (i.e. not anise-flavored or something strong like that).  The texture is what I'm really after, I think.

It is not a Zeppole (it doesn't puff up) or a Bow Tie (not as brittle in texture, certainly not as thin) or the little pea-shaped cookies (Struffoli?).

Based on our family tree these are probably going to be a Southern Italian cookie, from Calabria.  But that's just a guess/hint.

Dr. belisarius · Accepted Answer

Gnocchi shaped?  I am pretty sure they are  Turdilli! .

It's a traditional Calabrian recipe:

They are deep-fried:

And hot-soaked in honey too:

Same biscotti, slightly different shapes:

Bear in mind that fried cookies soaked in honey are a traditional treat for carnival and Christmas seasons all over Italy, so you may find many, many similar recipes. From  http://www.marinacepedafuentes.com/2010_02_01_archive.html :

Evviva i Dolci di Carnevale rigorosamente fritti, che ricevono nomi diversi secondo i luoghi.
In Toscana chiacchiere o trecce, e poi frappe laziali, castagnole romane, frittelle di riso molisane, fritole triestine, nigelan altoatesini, sfincitelle siciliane, tortelli romagnoli, bomboloni fiorentini, cicerchiata umbra e chi più ne ha più ne metta!

At left with figs syrup, at right with honey:

A full blown italian fritti feast:

Turdilli recipes in Italian

Turdilli recipes in English

Video: Making Turdilli

A shop near my house sells turdilli (hold your envy)

FoodTasted · Answer

I believe you might be looking for Cartellate, or Honey Pinwheels?  Check this site out and see if they look familiar. http://www.mangiabenepasta.com/cartellate.html
There are a lot of different recipes for them, but some of what I came across look like what you were describing.

Sklivvz · Answer

Maybe you are thinking about Krumiri? They are very popular in Italy.

Vicki · Answer

my family calls them sculeete, but not sure that is the right spelling.  Ours were braided and had whiskey, ginger, etc

cheryl pirrera · Answer

It sounds like the cookie my family makes.  we call it a dudela it is a dough that gets rolled on a grater then deep fried and soaks in honey with an orange peel.

Steven Scancella · Answer

I make a cookie like that. Our family calls it Conalicle. I it rolled and deep fried, then can be covered in Honey or heated caro. If your still looking for the recipe, I have it. I also have a picture, but it is too large to post here.

Answered by Steven Scancella on August 5, 2021

What is this Italian Cookie called?

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