Almond Sweet Rolls

Almond sweet rolls are delicious little treats that can be a great idea for a tasty breakfast or a delightful snack. Here is the recipe to prepare them:

Ingredients

• 500 g of all-purpose flour
• 100 g of sugar
• 25 g of fresh yeast or 7 g of dry yeast
• 250 ml of warm milk
• 1 egg
• 60 g of soft butter
• 1 pinch of salt
• Grated zest of 1 lemon
• 100 g of peeled almonds
• Powdered sugar (for decoration)

Preparation

1. In a bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk and add a few tablespoons of flour, mixing until a soft batter is formed. Let it rest in a warm place for about 15 minutes until bubbles start to form on the surface (this is the sponge).
2. In the meantime, coarsely chop the almonds and set them aside.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl, pour the remaining flour and make a well. Add the sugar, pinch of salt, egg, soft butter, grated lemon zest, and finally the sponge.
4. Knead all the ingredients until you get a smooth and elastic dough. If necessary, add more flour or milk to achieve the desired consistency.
5. Fold the chopped almonds into the dough, making sure they are evenly distributed.
6. Cover the dough with a clean cloth and let it rise in a warm place away from drafts for about 2 hours or until it doubles in size.
7. Take the risen dough and divide it into pieces of about 80 g each. Shape each piece into a ball and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving space between each roll.
8. Let the rolls rise again for about 30 minutes.
9. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
10. Bake the rolls for about 15-20 minutes or until they are golden on the surface.
11. Remove the rolls from the oven and let them cool on a rack.
12. Before serving, dust them with powdered sugar.

Curiosity

Almonds are rich in proteins, healthy fats, and vitamin E, making these rolls not only delicious but also energizing. In many Italian regions, the use of almonds in sweets is a tradition that has been handed down for centuries, and its use dates back to the times of the Romans, who considered them a symbol of good omen. Especially in Sicily, there is extensive use of almonds in sweet preparations, given the abundant local production.