Sienese Ricciarelli

Panforte is Siena’s contribution to the confectionary world. Somewhat like a fruitcake (though nothing like the American kind), it is dense and chewy, containing nuts, fruits and spices and is sweetened with honey. But, for our money, we much preferred the cookie known as ricciarelli, a heavenly combination of almonds, honey, confectioners’ sugar and egg white, the latter lending it the most sublime, lightly chewy, definitely ethereal texture. It was our misfortune that we didn’t purchase a box of them to take with us to eat during our long bus rides.