Where in Italy is Buccellato a typical Christmas dessert?

Buccellato is an ancient baked dessert consumed during the Christmas period throughout Sicily. Its name derives from the Latin civilization, where the “buccellatum” was a type of donut-shaped bread engraved along the edges.

Buccellato is made with shortbread pastry, which is often sweetened with honey and filled with dried figs, dates, raisins, candied fruits, chocolate, and all kinds of nuts — almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, or even pine nuts.

To add to the fascinating medley of aromas and flavors, coffee and sweet wines such as Marsala or Moscato are often added to the filling. Finally, this Sicilian winter favorite can be either frosted or simply glazed and decorated with candied cherries and other fruits, or a sprinkle of crushed pistachios.

Perhaps even more popular than Buccellato is the buccellatini. Made with the same process and ingredients as the Buccellato, they are biscuits often engraved to form small spirals and croissants. However, unlike Buccellato, buccellatini are garnished with simple icing sugar or sugar glaze and colored beads or tails.