I make an Italian cookie with olive oil instead of butter and lemon extract instead of almond. My grandmother called it WAND? made the same way as this recipe except we would cut out and braid the dough and then deep fry it. The same dough could be made in little circles and baked and then iced. They were called Tottanelli? Is this the same as Farfellette?

These cookies are not too sweet, by choice & are delicate. Store them in a metal cookie container and they remain fresh. Truly an Italian treat. They are not like Totaroni's.

My mother also made these fried cookies and she also called them "Wand". I have tried various versions and cannot come up with the same thing. Have you made this version? Would you share your recipe? We are having a family reunion and I would love to show up with the real thing!!!

Does anyone remember these cookies covered in a syrupy dark sauce? - my grandmother from southern Italy.

I am familiar with that same dark syrupy sauce; I believe it is a derivative of raisin sauce. For the life of me I can't remember how my grandmother made the sauce although I do remember the raisins specifically. I make the bow knots and a mixture of guava jelly and plum sauce. Crazy as it seems the closest I've come to 'tasting that memory' was a few months back, ordering General Tso's Chicken at the local Chinese take out....That sauce was IT. When I asked the owner, I basically got yelled at: "That cook all day, all day long, you never know what in there. I never tell." Darn it!!

The syrup is made with a combo of raisins, dried figs, orange zest, bay leaf, nutmeg and cinnamon. Cover with water cook until it becomes a syrup. This year it took about 8 hrs. to cook until all the juices from the ingredients became a beautiful dark syrup.

Ladies the name of the syrup is Vinicotto. Mum uses it in her fruit mince pies.

I've been dreaming of these cookies for years. My mother made them. I have recipe for the bows but to now know the fig syrup puts me in outer space. I must make! Never thought I'd researching as it was unique to my mother ! Thank you for even naming it!!! My grandmother was from Bari, Italy.