Powdered Sugar Wands (Galani) from Veneto

Sunday, October 23, 2011

We have made these fried cookies for years, mom, grandmom, Aunts, friends. Regions in Italy make many foods differently. These adopted many names over the years such as ribbons, wands, bow ties, I just knew them as the fried cookies with powdered sugar in them as a child.

I couldn't eat enough of these growing up. Our Aunt Mary (RIP) used to lived in Schenectady NY, where her sisterinlaw had a corner Italian bakery, she was most popular for her powdered sugared wands. Hand made, and amazingly delicious.

Powdered Sugar Wands (Galani) from Veneto

Powdered Sugar Wands (Galani) from Veneto
2 eggs
juice of 2 oranges squeezed and seeded
3 cups flour more for rolling
1/2 cup melted butter
pinch of kosher salt
powdered sugar to sprinkle them with
oil for frying I used canola, however the recipe called for olive oil

Directions:
Heat oil to a low to medium heat, adjust if they get too brown, try one strip first.
Mix all ingredients together into a smooth dough, roll very thin and cut into strips. I roll this on parchment paper and cut with a fluted edged pastry cutter, (see photo) then deep fry in hot oil, till golden brown.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar when cool.

For the Calabria family version click here we called them ribbons or bows and use wine in our recipe. We actually twisted ours into a bow. Very similar. You will love how easy they are to make. The orange was a wonderful change, this ones a keeper!

34 comments

Art By ASMOctober 23, 2011 at 12:19 AM
Ciao Claudia! These bring back so many memories! Thanks for the happy thoughts! These are so great! One of my favorite Italian treats! I love making them into knots and also the "angel wing" way. You're making me want some. I use to always get them from my Aunt because she had a bakery. Now she closed it after decades due to my uncle and my father passing a year apart from eachother. Have an awesome weekend!

Tanti Baci,
Annamaria
AnonymousOctober 23, 2011 at 12:42 AM
Wandi cookies! Sometimes spelled Guandi for some reason. Yes, we tied them in a bow, too. Tasty!

Teri
DzoliOctober 23, 2011 at 2:10 AM
Those look fantastic.I have seen them before but there was no recipe with it:)
FedericaOctober 23, 2011 at 2:19 AM
What good are Galani, they make me think of the Carnival. Your version with orange juice is very special, I had never heard before. Bye, have a great Sunday
LeniaOctober 23, 2011 at 7:34 AM
They must be yummy!xxx
CurtOctober 23, 2011 at 8:14 AM
These look so nice and crispy and sweet.

I've enjoyed learning about the different regions and associated dishes from Italy from yours and a couple other blogs.
GregOctober 23, 2011 at 8:29 AM
So simple, but I bet they are awesome.
SwathiOctober 23, 2011 at 10:58 AM
we have similar version called Shankarpali. we make sweet and salt version. and we won't add any orange juice. Looks delicious crispy and additictive
Pilar.Cook and SpoonOctober 23, 2011 at 1:10 PM
So easy and delicious at the same time. I shall try your recipe. Besos.
kathyOctober 23, 2011 at 1:35 PM
Hey hey hey thanks for the mention Claudia. Love the cookies. My grandma did the wine in them too. Orange sounds refreshing!

how did the white wheat flour work out for you? I like it. Been using 50-50 method in most of my baking.
Angie's RecipesOctober 23, 2011 at 2:21 PM
So crunchy and delicious! Can't wait to try it!
Jersey Girl CooksOctober 23, 2011 at 3:49 PM
Love these! My father's aunts used to make them when I was little. So good.
TinaOctober 23, 2011 at 4:39 PM
The cookies do look delicious and it is neat that you can make them with different flavor variations. They also make for a nice presentation for entertaining. thanks for sharing.
MaryOctober 23, 2011 at 6:09 PM
Congratulations on your wins. The cookies sound wonderful and I'm going to try to find some time to make them. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary
ClaudiaOctober 23, 2011 at 6:11 PM
You are so sweet Claudia - to be cooking from the book already. And speaking of sweet - I will need to try these. I make mine simply with vanilla and the orange does intrigue. Don't you love how all regions have variations on the same theme?
Vicki BensingerOctober 23, 2011 at 6:48 PM
Congrats on your 2 winnings. What a crispy little cookie. I like the orange flavor in these Cookies, I bet it really stands out.
DrickOctober 23, 2011 at 6:53 PM
now how great would that be to have a family bakery... like these too, with the orange I mean, bet it makes 'em incredible irresistible
JoanneOctober 23, 2011 at 7:08 PM
The sugar wands look so good. A perfect tea time treat.
Don't you just love winning cook books? We all have so many but that is never enough so when we win one, we get excited without the guilt of buying (yet another) cook book. Lucky you. It looks like a good one.
ReeniOctober 23, 2011 at 9:45 PM
Yay for winning the book and flour! I love these scrumptious fried treats!
CatherineOctober 23, 2011 at 11:24 PM
Dear Claudia, My mom used to make the fried bow-ties. Oh, I just loved them. Sometimes she would dip them in honey and sprinkles or just the powdered sugar. Either way I just loved these cookies. Yours look wonderful. You are such a good cook!!! Blessings, Catherine xo
Wendy @ AMFTOctober 24, 2011 at 12:46 AM
These sounds great! My kids would love, love, love these! Thanks for sharing.

Around My Family Table
Winelady CooksOctober 24, 2011 at 5:28 PM
Hi Claudia, Oh these bring back such beautiful memories for me. My grandmother and mother always made these at the holidays and we always enjoyed them with our cousins for snacks when the adults were having their 'black' coffee.

Thanks for sharing, your recipes always evoke wonderful memories from my childhood.

Joanne
ElisabethOctober 24, 2011 at 9:50 PM
Congrats on the great winnings!
Such a traditional holiday treat, from my childhood, as well! Brings back years of fond memories. Fantastico, veramente:DDD
healthyfoodietravelsOctober 25, 2011 at 7:55 AM
These look delicious! I had them back when I was in Venice, and mmmm. To die for! Thanks for sharing the recipe! :)
Parsley SageOctober 25, 2011 at 8:30 AM
I grew up on these! My Auntie Anna was a pro at fried cookies :) I miss them! Buzzed
LizzyOctober 25, 2011 at 9:37 AM
These look fabulous, Claudia! My girlfriend's mom used to make these each Christmas...in bows...so yummy! I'd love to try them :)
GrubarazziOctober 25, 2011 at 12:41 PM
LOVE!
FOODESSAOctober 25, 2011 at 1:15 PM
During the holidays...I'm addicted to the ones my MIL makes. I also like this orange version...sounds delicious ;o)

Ciao for now,
Claudia
AmaliaOctober 25, 2011 at 9:29 PM
These look so simple but so delicious! I love it :)
nazarinaNovember 2, 2011 at 1:48 AM
Thanks for sharing this recipe! This is perfect for the upcoming Holidays! This cookie will put "Santa" in a very good mood!
JayNovember 3, 2011 at 10:45 AM
congrats on your great winnings..
recipe sounds scrumptiously tasty..
first time here..amazing space you have..
awesome posts with very interesting presentation..
happy following you..:)
do stop by mine sometime.
Tasty Appetite
AnonymousDecember 18, 2011 at 9:08 PM
I am from Schenectady NY and my grandmother used to make these.n I wonder if we know the same people. My email is lawgi2@yahoo.com. Ciao. Jonathan Desrochers
Baker StreetMarch 27, 2012 at 2:03 AM
These look so crunchy. Absolutely divine. :)
AsmitaMarch 30, 2012 at 8:19 AM
Wow, these look amazing! Really want them with my tea now.