The late-Baroque, Italian painter, Cristoforno Munari worked predominantly in still life. The standards of Baroque art were encouraged by the Roman Catholic church and embodied iconography and monarchy though an intensely precise handling of paint. Munari was an official court painter for the Medici family, the predominant sponsor of all Renaissance art in Florence. The disarray of the subject matter, the overturned bowl, curled pages, and precariously place instrument were characteristic of Munari’s compositions. He often suggested the jovial glut of the court through carefully composed chaos (1).
Originally made by Pepperidge Farm, the Milano cookie was invented through the failure of the Naples cookie. Much like the Milano, the Naples was made of a wafer-like cookie with a rich chocolate topping. However, in warmer climates the cookies would stick together prompting Pepperidge Farm to turn them into a sandwich cookie. The Milano was part of the ‘European’ series the company rolled out and were marketed to adults as an indulgence sweet rather than a treat for children (2).
Milano Cookies
adapted from the Food Network (recipe by Gale Gand)
makes about a baker’s dozen
6 TB butter
1 1/4 cups icing sugar
3 egg whites
1 TB vanilla extract
1 TB lemon zest
3/4 cup flour
Filling:
1/4 cup double cream
3/4 cup chocolate chips
1 TB orange zest
Cream the butter and the sugar together. Gradually add the egg whites and the vanilla extract and lemon zest. Add the flour and mix until just combined. With a small tip, pipe 1-inch sections of batter onto parchment paper on a baking tray. Space the batter two inches apart (they will spread while baking).
Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C and bake for 10 minutes until the edges are golden. Let cool.
Heat the double cream in a small saucepan until scalded. Pour over the chocolate and whisk. Add the orange zest and continue to whisk until well combined. Let cool. Sandwich the filling between the flat sides of two cookies.
0 comments
peasepudding says:
Jul 27, 2009
Your Cookies have turned out wonderful and I love your Blog! Thanks for your comment on mine.
Cakelaw says:
Jul 27, 2009
Your Milanos look terrific – well done. Your comment on the still-life is interesting too.
Belle@Ooh, Look says:
Jul 27, 2009
Your milano cookies look delicate yet rich. Well done! PS: Is there any link with Munari#39;s claim of #39;glut through composed chaos#39;?
Anh says:
Jul 27, 2009
You always have a special perspectibe in your post. :) love the cookies, the photos and the painting. Very artistic.
Karen says:
Jul 27, 2009
Pepperidge Farm Mint Milanos are my favorite cookie ever. I would never had dreamed I could make my own. I#39;ll have to try this recipe out for sure!
Lisa Michelle says:
Jul 27, 2009
Your cookies look exactly like the Pepperidge farm cookies, but with the perfect hint of homemade. Beautifully executed and mouth watering :)
Heavenly Housewife says:
Jul 27, 2009
Beautiful job. I love it.br /p.s. I lost this site for a bit and then found it again, thank goodness :) –i totally love it. I think its one of the most original food blogs on the net (so u will be see ing alot more of me ;))
Snooky doodle says:
Jul 27, 2009
THESE LOOK DELICIOUS! I didn t know about the Naples cookies. Really interesting
shaz says:
Jul 27, 2009
Your Milanos look picture perfect and great background info. Love your artistic info as well :)
Ellie says:
Jul 27, 2009
Your milanos look pretty! I love the shot of the half eaten one! :)
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says:
Jul 27, 2009
Gorgeous work Meg! They look wonderful and happy second DB challenge! :)
Karen says:
Jul 27, 2009
I love that last photo. What beautiful light!
Audax says:
Jul 27, 2009
Your photos are excellent and I LOVE how you include art in your posting and I just LOVE art so a double bonus. Wonderful cookies. Cheers from Audax
Sandra Jackson says:
Jul 27, 2009
Looking Delicious !!!br /i will prepare these cookies and share the taste with you …
Lone Acorn says:
Jul 27, 2009
These cookies look so tempting. And are so easy to make.
Olga says:
Jul 27, 2009
Those look so cute. And the blue plate is very pretty!
Hannah says:
Jul 27, 2009
Lovely work! Your cookies look even better than the originals. :)
liz {zested} says:
Jul 27, 2009
Hilarious! I#39;m intrigued by the choice of Murani to go with the milanos, instead of a typical Milanese Baroque type like Caravaggio. Do tell.
dessert girl says:
Jul 27, 2009
Yay! The Pepperidge Farm outlet! I love the idea of making your own Milano cookies. When I lived with my folks, it seemed like there was always a bag around the house! I love the stacked pic, too!
Megan@Feasting on Art says:
Jul 27, 2009
Thank you very much everyone for the comments!!br /br /@Belle, Munari#39;s composed chaos was to mimic the disarray of the court after a night of revelry. Or did you mean a link to the dessert?br /br /@liz, I didn#39;t even think of matching the city! To tell you the truth, this post was pretty last minute so I grabbed the first Italian still life painting I found in my archive folder and used that.
Y says:
Jul 27, 2009
Those look yummy. I kind of wish I#39;d had the time to make them as well as the marshmallow ones.
April says:
Jul 27, 2009
Great job on your first DB challenge! The cookies look great!
Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction says:
Jul 27, 2009
Beautifully done! The Milan cookies look wonderful!
Julie says:
Jul 28, 2009
Wow, your dad just bought a package of these for our wine club! I bet yours tasted much better. : )
Lauren says:
Jul 28, 2009
Yum! Your cookies look amazing =D. Beautiful job on this challenge – I love your photos!!
chou says:
Jul 28, 2009
quot;carefully composed chaosquot;–that could describe a kitchen in addition to a court. Fun!
MeetaK says:
Jul 28, 2009
love the painting! great job on your DB challenge you did a beautiful job! perfect!
petoskeygirl says:
Jul 28, 2009
The cookies look so good!! Wish I could enjoy them with you. I am going to try to make them for Grandpa.
Andrea says:
Jul 28, 2009
Very pretty Milans! I especially like the last photo, very nicely composed.
kellypea says:
Jul 28, 2009
Ironically, I enjoyed Milanos far more than I ever did Mallowmars so I#39;m still wondering why I chose the less favored cookie for this challenge. I hadn#39;t realized that Pepperidge Farms no longer makes them. Yours are simply beautiful!
Amy I. says:
Jul 29, 2009
Lovely as always, Megan! And I adore your aqua-rimmed plates.
Lisa says:
Jul 29, 2009
I love the history of the milano cookies, never knew that, really interesting.br /br /And your cookies look yummy!
Rosa's Yummy Yums says:
Jul 29, 2009
Your Milan Cookies look pretty and so delicious! Great job and nice blog!br /br /Cheers,br /br /Rosa
art and lemons says:
Jul 29, 2009
Your stacked milano cookie photo is perfectly focused on the slightly oozing chocolate center. Nice touch with the complimentary sky blue and apple red, just lovely.
Jill says:
Jul 29, 2009
You have a really great and interesting-to-read blog! :) I love that you gave the background information about the painting, as well as the cookies. Well done for you first Daring Bakers challenge and welcome!
Elissa says:
Jul 29, 2009
The background of the cookie was really interesting, thanks for sharing it! Your milans came out lovely, congrats on your second challenge!
jillian says:
Jul 30, 2009
Great looking Milanos and very interesting post
Engineer Baker says:
Jul 30, 2009
Really, it was part of a quot;Europeanquot; series? Too neat, and something I never knew! Beautiful job!
isa says:
Jul 31, 2009
Your cookies are very beautiful and extremely tempting!br /Love your post!