Savory Animal-Shaped Cookies
- Difficulty: Easy
- Prep time: 15 min
- Cook time: 10 min
- Makes: 18 pieces
- Cost: Low
PRESENTATION
Biscotti salati a forma di animali are just one of those snacks that instantly make any table more fun. Really good stuff, especially when you’re planning a party for kids or need some finger food per feste. These little animal-shaped bites come straight from Italian kitchens—where folks love to mix a bit of playfulness with classic flavors. The dough for these biscottini salati is packed with grated Parmigiano cheese, so every bite feels a bit rich and savory. They’re not sweet like traditional cookies; instead, you get a cheesy, crispy outside and a moist crumb that’s pretty hard to resist. And you know what? Whether you use bunny, bear, or even little hedgehog molds, the animal shapes make these cookies look great on the buffet. Kids get excited to grab one. Seriously good. They show up a lot at birthday parties in Northern Italy, where Parmigiano is king, but you’ll find them all over the country now. For real, they’re a go-to snack salati fatti in casa for big family gatherings.
Italian parents are always looking for fun but easy ways to please a crowd. And here's the thing: this ricetta biscottini salati is just right for that. Pretty much. Unlike the usual sandwiches or chips, these bring something playful and a bit special to the party—kids love the shapes, and adults like the tender cheese flavor that hits just the right spot. Some folks even add a pinch of black pepper or a sprinkle of rosemary to change things up, but Parmigiano is always the main flavor. To be honest, they’re pretty quick to make, and you don’t need fancy skills to get that golden, crispy finish. Whether you’re passing them out as antipasti sfiziosi or piling them up as biscotti salati per bambini, these cheesy little animals bring something different to any snack table. And listen, they’re the sort of treat people keep coming back for. For sure. Grabbing another whenever they walk by. You can call them biscotti salati al parmigiano or just party cookies, but either way, they’re a sure way to put smiles on faces, especially when you want to mix some tangy flavor with a little bit of fun. These really really good snacks make any gathering feel more special and lively.
INGREDIENTS
- Ingredients for 18 small cookies
- Parmigiano Reggiano PDO cheese - grated 100 g
- Salt to taste
- Butter - soft salted 80 g
- Flour - type 00 125 g
- for garnish
- Milk to taste
- Black sesame seeds to taste
How to prepare Savory Animal-Shaped Cookies
Start the preparation of the savory animal-shaped cookies by placing the flour on a work surface, then use a spoon to create a well in the center 1 and pour in the finely grated parmesan 2, add the butter in pieces, and the salt 3
then knead with your fingers quickly until you get a smooth dough 4. Form a dough ball, wrap it with plastic wrap 5, and let it rest in the fridge for 30 minutes. After the resting time, take the dough ball and roll it out with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface 6 creating a sheet about 1/8 inch thick
then, with the help of animal-shaped cookie cutters (such as butterflies, teddy bears, and bunnies), cut out the small cookies (7-8) and place them on a tray 9, put the cookies in the fridge for at least 15 minutes, this way they will retain their shape during baking.
Then transfer the cookies to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and decorate the shapes with poppy seeds: brush the surface with milk 10 and apply the poppy seeds with a toothpick to define the animal features: eyes, mouth, ears, or even just the edge of the shape 11. Bake the cookies in a preheated static oven at 356°F for 10 minutes (if using a fan oven, at 320°F for 5-6 minutes), then, once cooked, take the cookies out of the oven and let them cool on a rack before enjoying them 12!