Crocetta of Caltanissetta facts for kids
Crocette di Caltanissetta, of lemon and orange, left to right
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| Place of origin | Italy |
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| Region or state | Sicily |
The Crocetta di Caltanissetta is a special sweet pastry from Caltanissetta, a town in Italy. This tasty treat was made there until about 1908. Then, it was forgotten for many years. Luckily, it has recently been rediscovered!
The Crocetta di Caltanissetta and another sweet called "Spina Sacra" were traditionally made by nuns. These nuns were called the Benedictine Sisters. They lived in a monastery next to the Church of Santa Croce. The sweets got their name from this church, which means "Holy Cross." The nuns made these pastries for a special celebration called the Feast of the Most Holy Crucifix.
Today, only a few people know the secret recipe for these pastries. A pastry chef and four women from the Santa Croce area are the only ones. The chef spent 20 years searching for the recipe. He found it thanks to someone in the neighborhood. This person remembered how the traditional recipe was passed down from mothers to their daughters over time.
What are the Ingredients?
The ingredients for the Crocetta di Caltanissetta are simple. They are typical of the Caltanissetta area from a long time ago.
- almonds
- sugar
- sweet lemon purée
- oranges or other local fruits
- pistachio
- icing sugar
The Crocetta comes in two main types. One type is flavored with lemon. It is covered with a dusting of powdered sugar. The other type has an orange flavor. It is topped with a sprinkle of pistachio nuts.
