Mauritian Desserts: Napolitaine

What is it?

Napolitaine is a Mauritian sweet dessert made of two shortbread biscuits, a sweet strawberry jam in the middle and topped with a delicious pink icing! If this sounds like something you'd like, look at the recipe below and have a go at making it yourself!

Lots of Napolitaine biscuits with bright pink icing on a table

Ingredients

How to

    For the biscuit
  1. In a large bowl, sift the flour and add in the butter cubes. Mix everything with your hands until it is combined and a dough is formed. Be careful to not overmix as the butter will melt and your dough will become tough!
  2. Wrap your dough in cling film and refrigerate for a minimum of atleast 30 mins.
  3. Whilst your dough is the fridge, preheat your oven to 180°c/356°F (and maybe have a well deserved break with a cup of tea ☕️!)
  4. After 30 mins has passed, take out the dough and roll it out using a rolling pin to approx 5mm thickness.
  5. Using a round cookie cutter (3.5cm is the one I use), gently cut out circle shapes from your dough then transfer to a baking tray.
  6. Re-shape left over dough and repeat above steps.
  7. Bake in oven for 18-20mins or until lightly golden.
  8. Now set the biscuits aside on a cooling rack to cool down whilst you make the icing.

    For the icing
  1. In another bowl, sift the icing sugar and add 1 tbsp of water at a time whilst continously stirring.
  2. The icing sugar should gradually melt until it looks thick and glossy
  3. Add rosewater and a few drops of pink food colouring et voilà, you have your icing!

    Assembly time!
  1. Spread some jam on the flatter side of a biscuit and place another biscuit on top.
  2. Carefully pour the icing mixture over the biscuits to coat the top and sides
  3. Let your napolitaine sit at room temperature so the icing can harden. Enjoy with a nice cup of tea or coffee ☕️!

Need some visual help? Watch this video from another creator (@thefoodiesavenue).

Coded by Sheena A