Mostaccini (Spiced Cocoa Biscuits)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Cookies bars Easy

Small, firm cocoa biscuits perfumed with a blend of warm spices: nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, mace, coriander, star anise and pepper. This is our own formula inspired by the spice list of the Crema original. Makes 30 biscuits in about 1 hr 10 min.

Prep 25 min

Cook 15 min

Cooling 30 min

Total 1 hr 10 min

Yield 30 biscuits

Ingredients

Adjust yield

biscuits

2 cups (250 g)all-purpose flour
4 tbsp (20 g)unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp (4 g)baking powder
1 pinch (1 g)fine salt
1 ¼ tsp (3 g)ground cinnamon
½ tsp (1 g)ground nutmeg
½ tsp (1 g)ground cloves
½ tsp (1 g)ground mace
¼ oz (1 g)ground coriander
½ tsp (1 g)ground star anise
½ tsp (1 g)ground black pepper
⅓ cup (70 g)unsalted butter, softened
½ cup (100 g)granulated sugar
2 tbsp (40 g)honey
1 (50 g)eggs
2 tbsp (30 ml)whole milk

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Instructions

Whisk the flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt and all the spices together.
Beat the butter, sugar and honey until creamy. Beat in the egg.
Add the dry mixture and the milk and mix until a firm dough forms.
Shape into a disc, wrap and chill 30 minutes.
Heat the oven to 350 F (175 C). Roll the dough 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick and cut into 1 1/2 inch (4 cm) rounds or small diamonds.
Place on parchment-lined trays, spaced 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart.
Bake 14 to 16 minutes, until dry and firm.
Cool on racks; they crisp as they cool. Leave a few days to deepen in flavor if you can.

Tips

Grind whole spices fresh for the best aroma.
Reduce the pepper if you prefer a milder biscuit.
Crush leftovers into fillings for stuffed pasta or sprinkle over desserts.
Good with sweet wine or coffee.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make mostaccini (spiced cocoa biscuits)?

Plan on 25 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, plus 30 minutes to chill. The recipe makes 30 biscuits.

How should I store mostaccini (spiced cocoa biscuits)?

Keep airtight at room temperature up to 3 weeks.

Can I make mostaccini (spiced cocoa biscuits) ahead?

It is at its best the day it is made; prepare it a few hours before serving.

A spiced biscuit from Crema in Lombardy, used mainly in the filling for the local stuffed pasta, tortelli cremaschi. Serve it with sweet wine or coffee.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 30 servings this recipe makes.

69 Calories / serving

2.3g Fat

11.3g Carbs

1.2g Protein

4.5g Sugar

Whole recipe (30 servings): ~2070 cal · 69g fat · 339g carbs · 36g protein · 135g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.