Baci di Alassio

Baci di Alassio are decadent chocolate-hazelnut cookies from the small picturesque Ligurian town of Alassio. They are called baci, meaning kisses, because they consist of two small hazelnut cookies with a rich chocolate ganache sandwiched in between, so the whole thing looks similar to lips sending a kiss. Unlike the more famous baci di dama, they are neither hard nor crunchy, but chewy and soft, with a texture similar to the popular French macarons. Wonderful when consumed on their own, they taste even better when paired with a cup of strong Italian espresso.