The Befana, the old lady who in the night between 5 and 6 January brings sweets and delicacies to deserving children, leaving coal for those who have not behaved very well, represents, in ancient pagan beliefs, the old year which leaves, to make way for the new one.
Even if brought to less good children, coal performs the important function of a talisman: in fact, it refers to the fire that was lit on the evening of January 6, as an auspicious element and whose ashes were once scattered on the ground to propitiate the harvest .
For all gourmands, whether they are children or have remained so in spirit, here is the recipe for Sweet Coal to munch on Epiphany day!
Let's tie up the apron and let's get started!
INGREDIENTS for a 10x22 cm mold:
For the caramel:
300 g granulated white sugar
100 g water
For the black royal icing:
200 g granulated white sugar
100 g icing sugar
1 medium egg white
9 g charcoal powder: since the black dye is really hard to find in normal supermarkets, charcoal is a great alternative!
PROCEEDINGS
Let's start preparing the royal icing by whipping the egg white with an electric whisk and gradually adding the white sugar:
Combine the charcoal powder and the icing sugar and continue to whisk at maximum speed:
Preparation of the Caramel
In a pan with high edges, pour the sugar and water and heat on the smallest burner of your kitchen, without stirring!
Leave on the fire until the mixture takes on a golden color (not too brown, otherwise it will taste burnt):
At this point, remove from the heat, pour the glaze into it and mix very quickly:
Immediately pour the mixture into a 10x22 cm plum cake mould:
Let it cool and solidify for a couple of hours and then enjoy it, breaking the sugary mixture into irregular pieces:
We can keep the Sweet Coal for a couple of weeks in a container closed with a lid.
If you want to download this recipe card, click on the link below
ENG version:
ITA version:
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