Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (2024)

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Frappe or cioffe, chiacchiere, bugie (I could go on) are traditional Carnevale Italian bow tie cookies, for lack of a better name. The fried, slightly sweetened dough is transformed into light as angel wings pastries, which taste just as heavenly, especially with a dusting of powdered sugar!

Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (1)

Originally published March 13, 2013.

If you were to ask ten Italians what these lovely, crispy things are called, and I bet you will get close to 10 different responses.

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This causes a problem for those of us who know of these delicious deep fried Italian bow tie cookies, but either do not know what they are called or cannot remember their name. The list of searches which lead readers to this page includes things like Italian ribbon cookies, Italianfried cookies, Italian bow tie cookies, and angel wings recipe. They truly are not cookies, but pastries, however it’s what most people are using to refer to them.

Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (2)

My friend Cynthia from What a Girl Eats always makes a King Cake for Mardi Gras.

Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (3)

What are Italian Frappe or Cioffe or Italian Bow Tie Cookies?

These light and crispy cookies are made from a lightly sweetened dough (similar to pasta dough) that is rolled thinly then deep-fried until they are a light, golden color. I see some that are much darker when fried, but my family doesn’t make them this way (I think they’re overcooked when they’re this color, or the oil isn’t fresh).

Depending from which part of Italy one’s family originates, and what that family named them, they can be called:

  • bugie
  • canestrelle
  • cenci
  • chiacchiere
  • cioffe
  • crostoli
  • frappe
  • galani
  • guandi
  • storce
  • and so many other names.

In English, these are often called bow ties, angel wings, or Italian fried cookies.

Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (4)
My immediate family calls them “cioff” (pronounced CHOFF) which means “bows” in the dialect we speak, but is just an abbreviated form of “cioffe”. They are usually made with some sort of liquor, like marsala or rum, but I’ve made them with good old Scotch whisky, so they’re like me: SCOTTISH-ITALIAN! 😍

Speaking of Scotland, I also grew up eating Shrove Tuesday pancakes (the day before Ash Wednesday).

Frappe, or cioffe, are traditional Italian deep fried pastries which are usually made for Carnevale (just before lent), and at Christmas, but I grew up with my mother and aunts making them all year long. For example, they were always present at birthday celebrations.

Everyone who tastes these light and crispy bow tie cookies just can’t stop after eating only one! The dough is similar to pasta dough in texture, rolled thinly, cut, shaped and then fried. Afterwards, they are often dusted in powdered sugar or decorated with icing and sprinkles.

Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (6)

Italian Bow Tie Cookies Make a Lasting Impact!

A few weeks ago, I received a Facebook message from a Paulineliving in Australia whose name I didn’t recognize (this may seem off-topic, but stay with me).

She asked if I was related to an old neighbor of hers from Scotland (my Aunt Virginia.) I wrote back and told her I was, and the next thing I knew, Pauline was describing how my aunt used to make these things called “choffs” which were little strips of sweetened dough, with the edges “pinked” and she’d dot them with colored icing. She was describing Italian bow tie cookies! She said that my aunt would give them to her and her mother, and they were such a treat! Who knew little fried pieces of dough could make such an impact?

Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (7)

Well, Pauline, here’s the recipe for frappe (or cioffe), so now you can make them for your own family (and neighbors)! For those of you who are interested, the bone china cup and saucer is the Wedgwood, Cornucopia pattern.

Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (8)

Try serving these with a glass of homemade chocolate liqueur. Laura from My Guardian Chef has an authentic Italian recipe for you!

Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (9)

How to Make Italian Bow Tie Cookies
(Frappe or Cioffe)

a family recipe handed down from my Nonna makes about 2 dozen

FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW

Using a mixer, place eggs, sugar, salt, and whisky in a large bowl and mix for two minutes or so (if making by hand, combine the ingredients, and stir well with a wooden spoon.)

Add one cup (in UK, just use a regular cup-no need to measure) of flour and mix well. Next, add the remaining flour and mix until a slightly sticky dough forms.

Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (11)

With hands, shape dough into a ball and refrigerate, covered, for about an hour.

Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (12)

Remove from fridge and cut dough in half and roll out one piece very thinly, on floured workspace.

Alternatively, if you have a pasta rolling machine, you can use it to make cioffe. I started on setting #1, and continued until I reached setting #4.

Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (14)

Dough will be elastic, so if you’re hand rolling, give it another roll it if it gets too thick.Use a knife or cutter (shown in photo) to cut into strips.

How to Shape Italian Bow Tie Cookies

Cut a strip: no size is right or wrong, but about 6 or 7 inches is a good size. Make a little cut towards one end.

Now place the opposite end through that slit, and pull through to make a ribbon shape. Don’t be afraid to pull and stretch as you want a thin result.

So it looks like these.

Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (18)

Another way to make cioffe is to make a slit in the middle of a shorter strip.Then take one end and pull it through the hole completely.Repeat, until all of dough is used. You’ve now shaped two different Italian bow tie cookies!

Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (19)

You can use an extra long strip of dough to start to tie a knot and make pretzel shape.

KEEP THE DOUGH COVERED IF YOU ARE NOT USING IT AS IT DRIES OUT QUICKLY. These are best made with a team of two people: one to cut and shape, and one to fry.

Meanwhile, heat some oil in a pot or deep fryer (I use a wok) until hot. Before dropping the pastry in the oil, pull and stretch each one, so that it is thinner (as they shrink after being shaped) then begin frying the pastries until puffed and light brown on each side.

Remove carefully with a strainer and place on a paper towel lined plate to cool.

When cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar. Or decorate with a simple sugar icing (powdered sugar and water or milk) and sprinkles, or honey.

Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (21)

Speaking of honey, this same dough is used to make cicerchiata or struffoliat Christmastime.

Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (23)

Get Creative with Cioffe Dough

As I noted in a photo at the beginning. My mother got creative when I went to a food blogger meeting and made these incredibly beautiful pastries. She cut thin pieces of dough, braided them and fried them in the same manner as the larger ones. I love the super-light, crispy texture.

My cousin Gianfranco suggested cutting the dough with the spaghetti roller and deep frying the thin strips. Those turned out good, too! You can essentially make any sort of shape you like, just make sure that there’s space between the cut parts so that the oil can cook them evenly.

I truly hope you enjoyed my post about cioffe, and now you know the name for those Italian bow tie cookies!

Here’s another traditional Italian treat that’s great for holidays: pizzelle!

Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (26)

Frappe or Cioffe: Bows and Ribbons of Fried Sweetened Dough

Yield: 36

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

A very traditional Italian treat known by lots of different names in Italy. Typically made for Carnevale and Christmas.

Ingredients

  • 3 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup (2 oz) sugar
  • 1/4 cup (2 oz) Scotch whisky (or any similar, clear liquor)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 3/4 cups (12 oz) flour

To Fry

  • olive oil, to fry (or avocado oil)

To decorate

  • powdered (confectioner's) sugar for dusting

Instructions

  1. Using a stand mixer, place eggs, sugar, salt, and whisky in a large bowl and mix for two minutes or so (if making by hand, combine the ingredients, and stir well with a wooden spoon.)
  2. Add one cup (in UK, just use a regular cup-no need to measure) of flour and mix well.
  3. Add the remaining flour and mix until a slightly sticky dough forms.
  4. With hands, shape dough into a ball and refrigerate, covered, for about an hour.
  5. Remove from fridge and cut dough in half and roll out one piece very thinly, on floured workspace.
  6. Dough will be elastic, but re-roll it if it gets too thick. Using a knife or cutter to cut into strips. Use a pasta rolling machine if you have one.
  7. Cut a strip: no size is right or wrong, but about 6 or 7 inches is a good size. Make a little cut towards one end. Now place the opposite end through that slit, and pull through to make a ribbon shape. Repeat, until all of dough is used.
  8. Meanwhile, heat some oil in a pot or deep fryer (I use a wok) until hot. Before dropping the pastry in the oil, pull and stretch each one, so that it is thinner (as they shrink after being shaped) then begin frying the pastries until puffed and light brown on each side.
  9. Remove with strainer and place on a paper towel lined plate to cool.
  10. When cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar (or decorate with icing, or honey.)

Notes

It is really difficult to say how many this makes because it depends on what size and shape and thickness you make them.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 18Serving Size: 2
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 40Total Fat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 58mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 1g

Nutrition information is only estimated.

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Bugie, chiacchere, cioffe or frappe Italian recipe - Christina's Cucina (2024)

FAQs

What is a frappe in Italy? ›

Frappe are Italian sweets, typical of the carnival period. Although, as I often explain, Italian cuisine varies from region to region, frappe are known almost everywhere. They are made by frying thin strips of dough in abundant oil. Finally they are sprinkled with powdered sugar.

What is a frappe or cioffe bows and ribbons of fried sweetened dough? ›

Frappe or cioffe, chiacchiere, bugie (I could go on) are traditional Carnevale Italian bow tie cookies, for lack of a better name. The fried, slightly sweetened dough is transformed into light as angel wings pastries, which taste just as heavenly, especially with a dusting of powdered sugar!

What are Italian biscuits called? ›

In a hurry?
Cookie NameRegion of OriginFlavor Profile
CantucciTuscanyCrunchy, Nutty
AmarettiLombardySweet, Soft
RicciarelliTuscanySoft, Chewy
PignoliSicilySoft, Nutty
3 more rows
Dec 24, 2023

What's the difference between frappe and frappe? ›

A frappe is a Greek coffee drink that is made by blending instant coffee, sugar, and ice. It is typically served with whipped cream on top. 2. A frap, short for frappuccino, is a trademarked name by Starbucks and it is a blended iced coffee drink that is made with espresso, milk, and ice.

Do Italians put sugar in their coffee? ›

Your caffé won't come with sugar. With few exceptions, like a summery iced coffee called caffé shakerato (coffee shaken with ice and sugar), your cup won't come with any sugar in it. You can add it with the jars or packets of sugar at the counter.

Why is it called a frappé? ›

History. The name frappé ('punched', figuratively 'shaken') comes from French, which describes drinks chilled with ice. Beginning in the 19th century, a variety of cold coffee drinks named café frappé (à la glace) are documented, some similar to slushes, others more like iced coffee.

What is the foam for frappé? ›

Add the instant coffee, sugar and water to a cocktail shaker or jar with a lid and shake for 30 seconds or until foamy. If using a blender or a frother, the set on a lower speed for approximately 10 seconds to achieve the richest, creamiest foam.

Is frappé a frozen dessert? ›

In other areas, a frappe is a frozen coffee drink, a variation on fruity shaved ice, or even a crispy pastry. The French source is frappé, "made cold with ice."

What is the most famous dessert in Italy? ›

Perhaps the most iconic Italian dessert, tiramisu appears on menus at restaurants not only throughout Italy but also all over the world.

What is the most popular Italian cookie in the United States? ›

Biscotti Amaretti is the most famous Italian cookie of all. Made without flour or any added fat this almond macaroon is light, crunchy and intensely almond.

What do Italians call their cookies? ›

The word biscotto, used in modern Italian to refer to a biscuit (or cookie) of any kind, originates from the Medieval Latin word biscoctus, meaning 'twice-cooked'. It characterised oven-baked goods that were baked twice, so they became very dry and could be stored for long periods of time.

What is a frappe in Europe? ›

The Frappé we know and love is pronounced 'frap-pay' and when loosely translated from French, it literally means 'iced'. This delicious drink is generally made of water, espresso, sugar, milk, ice and is shaken, blended or beaten to combine the ingredients.

Does Italy have frappuccinos? ›

Not in Italy. In Italy coffee is synonymous with espresso. Ask for a coffee in a bar from Trieste to Palermo and you will be presented with an espresso. You may drink it seated (usually more expensive), or standing, al banco.

What's the difference between a latte and a frappe? ›

What is the difference between a latte and a frappe? A latte is a coffee-based beverage made with espresso, steamed milk, and a small layer of foam on top. A frappe, on the other hand, is a blended drink made with espresso or coffee, milk, and ice.

Is a frappe like a cappuccino? ›

A Cappuccino is a hot espresso based drink made with steam milk and micro-foam. It is typically served in a coffee cup as a hot drink. A Frappuccino is a cold coffee based dessert drink, trademarked and sold exclusively by Starbucks. The base is made by blending coffee, milk and ice.

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