Ciambelline al vino Rosso (Red Wine Doughnut Cookies)

These beautiful purple doughnuts are great for anytime of the day. They also taste fabulous dipped in a glass of wine.

Makes About: 20-30 cookies depending on their size

Takes About: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Difficulty: 2 out of 5

Ingredients:

3/4 cup olive oil

1 2/3 cup full-bodied red wine

5 1/2 cups flour + some for dusting

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon aniseed extract

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

A pinch of salt

Prep:

Place a piece of parchment paper on a large baking sheet.

Instructions:

- Step 1 - Mix Wet Ingredients

Mix the 3/4 cup of olive oil and 1 2/3 cup of red wine in a large bowl.

Mix the two liquids very well until completely combined, once combined set aside.

It should not be separated.

- Step 2 - Flour the Counter

Place 5 1/2 cups of flour in a mound on the counter and form a well in the middle.

- Step 3 - Add the Ingredients in the Mound

Add the 3/4 cup of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of aniseed extract, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt in the middle of the well.

- Step 4 - Add Wine and Olive Oil Mixture

Pour the olive oil and wine mixture into the middle of the well slowly until most of it or all of it is in the middle.

If not all the olive old and wine mixture can fit, don't force it, it can be added later.

The picture below shows what can happen if the walls break. If this happens sprinkle flower around the work surface to keep the liquid from spreading.

Once the wine is in the middle and the walls are stabilized, using a fork start pushing the flour into the wine mixture while whisking.

Once it starts to come together and become hard to mix with the fork, knead the dough until it comes together and is smooth.

While you are kneading the dough, add the remaining liquid if there is any left.

If the dough seems really wet, add more flour, but it should still be a little sticky or the cookies will be too dry.

The picture above shows a mess on the counter. The wine had broke through all the walls and started to spread across the counter quickly, but by spreading flour over the loose wine it keeps the wine from spreading more and keeps from creating too much of a mess.

- Step 5 - Let the Dough Rest

Place the dough into a large bowl, cover with a tea-towel, and let rest for 30 minutes.

As the dough is resting, preheat the oven to 350 degree F.

- Step 6 - Make the Doughnut Rolls

Take small balls of dough, between 4 and 6 tablespoons, and roll them into a 4-7 inch log.

Once the logs are at the desired length, bring the ends together into a circle and press together.

Place the doughnut cookies on the prepaid cookie sheet 3 inches apart.

- Step 7 - Sugar the Doughnut Cookies

Sprinkle a little sugar over each of the doughnuts.

- Step 8 - Bake The Doughnut Cookies

Bake the doughnut cookies for about 10-15 minutes or until the tops are slightly brown.

Once baked, move to a cooling rack until completely cooled .

- Step 9 - Enjoy All These Bites

Dip these delicious semi-sweet bites in wine, milk, or eat them just on his own - they are great at anytime.

This recipe was found in Melissa Forti's book "The Italian Baker."