Nonna Pina Recipes

05/13/2026

🍰☕ ITALIAN NONNA’S CIAMBELLONE — THE CLASSIC GRANDMOTHER’S RING CAKE 🇮🇹✨

There’s something magical about the simple cakes Italian grandmothers used to bake. No frosting, no fancy decorations — just a tall, golden cake cooling on the kitchen table while coffee brewed on the stove. ☕❤️

Ciambellone della Nonna is exactly that kind of cake. Soft, fluffy, lightly scented with citrus, and made with simple pantry ingredients. It’s the cake many Italians grew up eating for breakfast, dipped into warm milk or enjoyed with a morning espresso.

What makes this traditional version special? No butter is needed. The oil keeps the crumb incredibly moist and tender, and the flavor becomes even better the next day.

👉 SAVE OR PRINT RECIPE HERE

https://mangiawithnonna.com/ciambellone-della-nonna-soft-and-fluffy-italian-breakfast-cake/

⏱️ Cooking Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings: 10–12 slices

📝 Ingredients

3¼ cups all-purpose flour

4 large eggs

1¼ cups granulated sugar

¾ cup + 1 tablespoon sunflower oil
(or another neutral vegetable oil)

1 cup whole milk

1½ teaspoons baking powder

1 pinch of salt

1 tablespoon Italian herbal liqueur
(Strega or similar – optional)

1 tablespoon grated lemon zest or orange zest

Powdered sugar, for dusting

👩‍🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Prepare the Batter

In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar using an electric mixer.

Continue mixing until the mixture becomes pale, thick, and airy.

2️⃣ Add the Liquids

Reduce the mixer speed and slowly pour in the vegetable oil.

Add the milk and continue mixing until the batter becomes smooth.

3️⃣ Add the Flavorings

Stir in:

citrus zest
a pinch of salt
the optional liqueur

These ingredients give the cake its traditional aromatic flavor.

4️⃣ Add the Dry Ingredients

Sift together the flour and baking powder.

Gradually add them to the batter while mixing until the mixture becomes smooth and lump-free.

5️⃣ Prepare the Pan

Grease and flour a 10-inch (26 cm) ring cake pan with high sides.

Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan.

6️⃣ Bake

Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for about 45–50 minutes.

Insert a toothpick into the center — if it comes out clean, the cake is ready.

7️⃣ Finish the Cake

Allow the cake to cool for about 10 minutes, then gently remove it from the pan.

Once fully cooled, dust generously with powdered sugar before serving.

💡 Nonna’s Tips

🍊 Use fresh lemon or orange zest for the best aroma.

☕ This cake is perfect for breakfast with coffee or milk.

🍰 Ciambellone often tastes even better the next day.

🍫 You can also add chocolate chips for a delicious variation.

03/24/2026

🍋✨ MY NONNA’S SOFT ITALIAN LEMON COOKIES (BISCOTTI AL LIMONE) ✨🍋

These cookies are pure sunshine in every bite. ☀️💛
Soft, delicate, and bursting with fresh lemon flavor, they melt in your mouth just like the ones Italian grandmothers have been making for generations.

Every time Nonna made these, her kitchen smelled like warm butter, fresh lemon zest, and love.

She always said lemon brought a little happiness to the table, especially on cloudy days.

And honestly… one bite of these soft, sweet cookies with that glossy lemon glaze, and you’ll understand exactly what she meant. 🍋🍪

Perfect with coffee, tea, or as a sweet little treat after dinner, these cookies are simple, beautiful, and unforgettable.

SAVE OR PRINT RECIPE HERE:

https://mangiawithnonna.com/my-nonnas-soft-lemon-cookies/

⏰ Cooking Times

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 10 minutes
Chill Time: 15 minutes
Yield: About 25 small cookies

🛒 Ingredients
For the Cookie Dough
🍚 2 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
🧈 8 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
🍬 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
🥚 1 large egg, room temperature
🍋 Zest of 1 organic lemon
🍋 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
🥄 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
🌼 1 packet vanilla sugar or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Rolling (Optional but Traditional)
🍬 Granulated sugar, as needed
❄️ Powdered sugar, as needed
For the Lemon Drop Glaze
❄️ 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
🍋 2–3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, start with 2
🍋 1 teaspoon lemon zest, optional
🧈 1 tablespoon melted butter or 1 teaspoon light corn syrup, optional for shine
🧂 Tiny pinch of salt, optional
👩‍🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Make the Cookie Dough

Zest the lemon, avoiding the white pith, then squeeze the juice and set both aside.

In a large bowl, mix the softened butter and granulated sugar until creamy and smooth.

Add the lemon zest and lemon juice, then mix again.

Add the vanilla sugar or vanilla extract and the egg. Mix until fully combined.

Gradually add the flour, mixing a little at a time until a dough begins to form.

Add the baking powder and mix until fully absorbed.

Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly, just until smooth, soft, and no longer sticky.

Wrap the dough and chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

2️⃣ Shape and Bake

Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Cut the dough into small portions, about 0.7 ounces (20 grams) each, and roll into balls.

Roll each ball first in granulated sugar and then generously in powdered sugar, if desired.

Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes only. Do not overbake, or they will lose their softness.

Let the cookies cool on the baking tray for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

3️⃣ Make the Lemon Glaze

Sift the powdered sugar into a bowl.

Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, the melted butter or corn syrup if using, and a tiny pinch of salt if desired.

Whisk until smooth and glossy.

If the glaze is too thick, add more lemon juice 1 teaspoon at a time.

If the glaze is too thin, add more powdered sugar 1 tablespoon at a time.

Stir in the lemon zest if using.

4️⃣ Glaze the Cookies

Once the cookies are fully cooled, dip the tops into the glaze.

Let the excess glaze drip back into the bowl, then place the cookies on a wire rack or parchment paper.

Let the glaze set for 15 to 30 minutes, until dry to the touch.

Make sure the cookies are completely cool before glazing, or the glaze will melt and slide off.

💡 Tips & Tricks
✨ For perfectly soft cookies, remove them from the oven at exactly 10 minutes, even if they still look pale.
🍋 If you want a stronger glazed finish, skip the powdered sugar coating before baking and glaze them once cooled.
💛 For a thicker lemon shell, glaze the cookies once, let them set for 10 minutes, then glaze them again.

SAVE OR PRINT RECIPE HERE:

https://mangiawithnonna.com/my-nonnas-soft-lemon-cookies/

03/03/2026

✨👵🍝 FOLLOW “MANGIA WITH NONNA” ON INSTAGRAM 🍝👵✨

My Facebook family—if you love authentic Italian recipes and that cozy Nonna vibe… you’ll LOVE my Instagram 😍

🎥 Reels • 🍪 Desserts • 🍝 Pasta • 💛 Nostalgia

👉😋🔥 FOLLOW ME ON IG (LINK BELOW) 🔥😋👉

3 Followers, 2 Following, 2 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Mangia with Nonna ()

12/15/2025

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐂 𝐍𝐄𝐀𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐄𝐕𝐄 𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐔 — A Harmony of Flavors, Meaning & Tradition 🎄✨🇮🇹

Neapolitan Christmas Eve isn’t just a meal — it’s a celebration of symbolism, balance, and family warmth. Each dish carries its own meaning, coming together to create a table full of joy and generosity. ❤️

𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐄 👇

https://mangiawithnonna.com/authentic-neapolitan-christmas-eve-menu/

Insalata di Rinforzo “reinforces” the meal with bright, briny, festive flavors.
Minestra Maritata “marries” vegetables into a comforting, harmonious bowl.
Struffoli bring sweetness and symbolize prosperity and joy for the year ahead. 🍯✨

Together, these beloved recipes embody the heart of Naples during the holidays — warm, generous, abundant, and full of love.

𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐄 👇

https://mangiawithnonna.com/authentic-neapolitan-christmas-eve-menu/

12/11/2025

𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐎𝐋𝐄 (𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐌𝐀𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐃 𝐃𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇 𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐒)

Soft, airy, and irresistibly golden, Pettole are the pride of Puglia and basilicata during the winter and Christmas season.Italian cooking class

𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐏𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄:

https://mangiawithnonna.com/pettole-christmas-fried-dough-bites/

Despite small regional variations, the soul of this recipe never changes: a simple dough of flour, yeast, water, and salt—fried until puffed and crisp on the outside, pillowy on the inside.

These ancient bites were traditionally prepared in large batches to celebrate Immacolata, Christmas Eve, and the cold winter Sundays spent with family.

Their simplicity is exactly what makes them so special.

12/07/2025

𝑷𝑨𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑵𝑨: 𝑵𝑶𝑵𝑵𝑨’𝑺 𝑷𝑬𝑵𝑰𝑪𝑰𝑳𝑳𝑰𝑵, 𝑪𝑼𝑹𝑬 𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑹𝒀𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑵𝑮

When I was sick as a child, my grandmother had only one remedy: PASTINA!!!

https://mangiawithnonna.com/the-italian-penicillin-pastina-in-vegetable-broth/

11/05/2025

🍅🥔 Italian Sunday Magic in One Pan!
When Nonna says “Mangia!”, you don’t argue 😄

Sausage, onions, potatoes, and cherry tomatoes — all roasted together till golden and irresistible!

🔥 The kind of meal that fills your home with love, laughter, and the smell of pure Italian comfort.

Serve it straight from the pan with a hunk of crusty bread and a glass of wine — because dishes are optional on Sundays 😉🍷

🇮🇹 Simple. Rustic. Delicious.

👉 Full recipe:

https://mangiawithnonna.com/sausage-peppers-onions-potatoes/

11/01/2025

🍪 Excelsior Cookies: Sicily’s Sweetest Secret! 🇮🇹
When your cookie has more layers than your love life 😂

Crispy, creamy, chocolatey — Excelsior Cookies are the crown jewels of Sicilian pastry! ✨

RECIPE HERE:

https://mangiawithnonna.com/excelsior-cookies-a-traditional-sicilian-delight/

A heavenly mix of whipped shortbread, almond paste, and rich chocolate that’ll make Nonna say “Mamma mia!” 🤌

Perfect for coffee breaks, celebrations… or when you just need a little taste of Sicily at home. ☕💛

👉 Bake them, share them, and let everyone think you’ve just come back from Palermo!

10/25/2025

🍫 “Nonna’s Cream Puffs — The Ones That Made Us Steal from the Dessert Table!” 😋

Remember those Sunday lunches when you swore you were full…

…until Nonna brought out the tray of cream puffs? 🤭
These Chocolate-Filled Bigné are that memory — crispy shells, rich chocolate cream, and a glossy topping that makes you forget your manners.

One bite, and you’re 8 years old again — sneaking back into the kitchen, hoping Nonna didn’t count how many were left. 😂

💋 Authentic, homemade, and dangerously addictive!

👉 Get the full recipe here:

https://mangiawithnonna.com/chocolate-cream-filled-cream-puffs/

10/23/2025

J𝐔S𝐓 𝐒A𝐘 𝐒O𝐌E𝐓H𝐈N𝐆 𝐓O S𝐓A𝐘 𝐀C𝐓I𝐕E!!!

✨🎭 Chiacchiere – Bow Ties, Angel Wings 🎭✨

Also known as frappe, crostoli, bugie, cenci, or sfrappole, these light, crisp, golden fried sweets are a true Italian Carnival tradition! 🇮🇹✨

RECIPE HERE:

https://mangiawithnonna.com/chiacchiere-carnival-ribbon-cookies-a-classic-italian-treat/

Delicately crunchy and dusted with powdered sugar, they are simply irresistible! 😍

La Nonna loves this recipe because it carries the joy of festivity, handed down through generations and loved by young and old alike during the holidays. 💕

Who else remembers enjoying chiacchiere at Nonna’s table? 🥰