200g flour
70g sugar
70g butter
1 egg
1 spoon yeast
1 teaspoon chilli
1 packet vanilla
1 spoon cocoa powder
Jam
Pre-heat oven to 180˚. Sieve all the powders (flour, sugar, cocoa, chilli and yeast) into a bowl. This helps to mix as well as aerate the ingredients. Rub in the cubed butter – don’t worry, the warmth of your hands will ensure the right consistency.
Then add the egg and knead well until you have a smooth ball of dough. Wrap this in cling film and leave to settle in the fridge for at least 15 minutes. Form small balls (for making the daisies) and larger ones for the kisses, remembering you need two balls per kiss.
Place a sheet of oven parchment on a baking tray and place five of the small balls in a tight circle. Place another slightly smaller one centrally on top and press down the middle of each petal with a toothpick so as to make them stick to each other. Place the larger balls singly, remembering they will expand during cooking.
Bake for 9/10 minutes. You can use the toothpick to test whether they are cooked.
Allow to cool. Take a now flattened ball, spread jam on the flat surface and unite with another of similar size. A daisy and a kiss!
Listen to Cocciante’s “Margherita”, or better, sing it! I recommend The Verve’s “Sonnet” and the Beatles’ “We can work it out” to accompany the dough-making. The Pet Shop Boys’ “Rent” is good for spreading jam.
