Chocolate and walnut sweet pasta recipe (maccheroni dolce). A traditional holiday recipe from Umbria.

User Reviews

5.0

54 reviews
Excellent
  • Prep Time

    30 mins

  • Cook Time

    30 mins

  • Refrigerator time

    12 hrs

  • Total Time

    12 hrs 45 mins

  • Servings

    8

  • Calories

    468 kcal

  • Course

    Dessert

  • Cuisine

    Italian

Chocolate and walnut sweet pasta recipe (maccheroni dolce). A traditional holiday recipe from Umbria.

This easy to make chocolate and walnut sweet pasta recipe from Umbria in Central Italy is a unique dessert. This 'cake' is traditional at Halloween and Christmas Eve. But, I think it’s a fabulous way to wow your guests any timeof year!

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 200 g pasta tubes (7oz) maccheroni, rigatoni, tortiglioni etc
  • 200 g breadcrumbs (7oz)
  • 200 g walnuts (7oz) ground or finely chopped
  • 100 g sugar (3.5oz) I used fine cane sugar
  • 25 g sweet cocoa (1oz)
  • 25 g bitter cocoa (1oz)
  • 50 g dark chocolate (2oz)
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
  • zest of half a lemon
  • 100 g Alchermes (3floz)
  • 1 shot rum (1.5 floz) or 2 if not using Alchermes
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Instructions

  1. Grind or crush the walnuts into small pieces (not too fine) in a food processor. You can also put them in a bag and crush them with a rolling pin or mallet.
  2. Put the ground walnuts in a bowl, add the breadcrumbs and sugar and mix. Then add the 2 kinds of cocoa and mix again. Next put in the cinnamon and lemon zest and finally add the rum and Alchermes (or just rum). Mix everything together well. Remove a cupful of the mixture and set aside.
  3. Put a pot of water on to boil for the pasta. I didn’t add salt. Cook the pasta a little more than al dente so it’s a bit soft and sticky. Once the pasta is ready, save a cupful of the cooking water, drain and add it to the chocolate mixture. Mix well until all the pasta is incorporated in the chocolate condiment. Add some of the saved pasta cooking water if it seems to dry.
  4. Put the pasta and chocolate mix into a round, square or rectangular dish. I used a springform cake tin. Using a spatula or wooden spoon press the cake down so that the surface is even and the sides are full. You don’t want gaps along the edges ofthe cake.
  5. Spread the extra chocolate and walnut mixture over the top of the cake. Then melt the dark chocolate with some of the pasta cooking water in the microwave or on the stove top. Then pour and spread this sauce over the top of the cake.
  6. Refrigerate for 12 hours or overnight. Bring your Umbrian sweet pasta cake to room temperature before slicing and serving!

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 468kcal (23%) Carbohydrates 59g (20%) Protein 12g (24%) Fat 22g (34%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Polyunsaturated Fat 13g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Trans Fat 0.001g Cholesterol 0.2mg (0%) Sodium 188mg (8%) Potassium 356mg (10%) Fiber 7g (28%) Sugar 17g (34%) Vitamin A 8IU (0%) Vitamin C 0.3mg (0%) Calcium 91mg (9%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 468 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 468kcal 23%
Carbohydrates 59g 20%
Protein 12g 24%
Fat 22g 34%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 13g 76%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Trans Fat 0.001g 0%
Cholesterol 0.2mg 0%
Sodium 188mg 8%
Potassium 356mg 8%
Fiber 7g 28%
Sugar 17g 34%
Vitamin A 8IU 0%
Vitamin C 0.3mg 0%
Calcium 91mg 9%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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5.0

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