Ingredients

For the Dough:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs

For the Pistachio Filling:

• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• ¾ cup semolina
• ¾ cup mixed candied fruit, chopped
• 1 cup icing sugar
• 1 egg
• A drop of vanilla essence
• A pinch of ground cinnamon
• 1 cup pistachios, shelled and ground
• 2 tablespoons of sugar (to sweeten the pistachios)

Method

Prepare the Dough:

1. Mix the Ingredients:
   In a bowl, create a mound with the flour. Add the butter, cut into small pieces, the eggs, and the sugar.
   Knead everything together until you have a smooth, even dough. 🧈🍚
2. Rest the Dough:
   Once your dough is smooth, cover it and let it rest in a cool place for about 30 minutes. This will help the dough firm up and make it easier to roll out later. 🕓

Prepare the Pistachio Filling:

3. Cook the Semolina:
   Boil 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Gradually add the semolina while stirring continuously. Continue stirring until the semolina has absorbed all the cooking water and is smooth. Let it cool completely. 🍳
4. Make the Pistachio Cream:
   Once the semolina has cooled, place it in a bowl and mix it with the ricotta cheese, egg, icing sugar, candied fruit, and vanilla essence.
   Add the ground pistachios, cinnamon, and sugar to the mixture. Stir until you achieve a creamy, well-combined filling. 🌰

Assemble the Sfogliatella:

5. Form the Pastries:
   Once the dough has rested, remove it from the refrigerator and roll it out on a floured surface. Use a small cup or pastry cutter to cut out equal discs from the dough. 🍞
6. Fill the Pastries:
   Place a spoonful of the pistachio filling in the center of half of the dough discs. Be careful not to overfill them. 🥄
7. Close the Pastries:
   Place the remaining dough discs on top of the filled ones and press the edges to seal them tightly. 🌟
8. Bake the Sfogliatella:
   Place the pastries on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for about 15-20 minutes, or until the pastries are golden brown and crispy. 🔥
9. Serve:
   Let the sfogliatella cool slightly before serving. For an extra touch of sweetness, dust with powdered sugar just before serving. 🍽️