Sportella
The wedding cake with aniseed

Easter dessert made of flour, eggs, sugar and aniseed. Traditionally it was exchanged between engaged couples at Easter together with the cerimito (its male counterpart): the symbolic shape represented the wish for a fertile season. Documented tradition of the villages of Marciana and Poggio.

Ingredients

• Flour 1 kg
• Sugar 500 g
• Butter 100 g
• Eggs 6
• Baking powder 2 sachets
• Milk half a glass
• Zest of 1 lemon
• A handful of aniseed
• Coloured sugar sprinkles
• 1 egg yolk for brushing

Method

1. Beat the eggs with the sugar and lemon zest.
2. Gradually work in the flour, baking powder and melted butter; add the aniseed and the milk.
3. Shape into a ball and let the dough rest for at least an hour.
4. Divide into six parts, roll into long cylinders and close them into a horseshoe with the ends crossed over.
5. Brush with diluted egg yolk, scatter coloured sugar sprinkles and bake at 180° until golden.