Italian Pastries For Breakfast, Because Yum, That’s Why

When you think about Italy, it’s common to picture a small corner cafe where you’ll people-watch and drink a cappuccino. Cafe culture is a large part of this country’s identity, as is the food. While lunch and dinner are filled with pizza, pasta, and more, breakfast takes the cake when it comes to baked goods.

Here are some well-known Italian breakfast pastries that people interested in the baking and pastry arts can recreate in their own kitchens:

Cornetti

While the French have croissants, Italians have cornetti. These crescent-shaped pastries share a similar look to their French counterparts, but the taste and texture are completely different. Cornetti are softer and infused with a citrus taste, which sets them apart from the buttery and flaky croissant, according to the Chicago Tribune. The process of making cornetti is akin to that of a croissant and requires lamination, which is adding butter to the dough several times. Silvia Colloca recommended beginning the baking steps a day before you want the cornetti to be eaten.

“Adding chocolate is a nice way to incorporate a little extra flavor.”

Biscotti

If you’re looking for a small baked good to go with morning coffee or tea, biscotti is perfect. The crunchy cookie can be dipped in drinks and add a nice balance for a particularly strong espresso. Adding chocolate to the simple mix is a nice way to incorporate a little extra flavor into the treat, according to Food Network.

Panino

If you know what panini is, you’ll likely also understand panino. Panini is simply the plural form of panino. Therefore, a customer would buy one panino, but two panini. Chefs can use many kinds of ingredients in these more hearty meals, but they tend to include cheese and meat of some kind. Simply put the items on bread – baguette, ciabatta, and michetta are the most common types of panino bread in Italy – and press the sandwich on a grill to warm it up.

Fette biscottate

This Italian baked good pairs perfectly with jam, especially if it’s homemade. Some tend to be sweet, while others have a more buttery taste. Baking takes place in a small cake mold and the pieces are cut once the item has finished rising. The key is that fette biscottate should have a nice brown color and crunchy texture. It is very similar to brioche and should be enjoyed as such.

Coffee pairings

To enjoy breakfast like a true Italian, you can’t leave out coffee. Italian culture has stringent rules surrounding its different cups of joe. For example, cappuccinos shouldn’t be ordered after 10 a.m. as the calories from the heavy milk content can be burned off throughout the day, but not after lunch or dinner, according to Lonely Planet.

In addition, coffee is meant to be enjoyed, so ordering something to go is not a concept that exists in Italian culture. Instead, people will stand at the bar to interact with one another or sit at a nearby table to savor their espresso.

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