Fine Tastes of Modena

The Bensone is a very simple and antique sweet of Modena. Its recipe has remained unchanged over the centuries and is still prepared as it was in 1300, when on December 1, it was offered as a gift to the guild of blacksmiths and goldsmiths for the celebration of their patron saint. The Bensone's ingredients are nothing more than a mixture of flour, eggs, butter, milk and honey which subsequently was replaced by sugar, baked at 200 ° C (392 ° F) for about 30 minutes. The best way to eat a Bensone is to dunk it in a glass of Lambrusco and wait for it to become soft and purple.

Another typical sweet which goes as far back as the Renaissance era is the "Tortelli Fritti or al Forno": fried or baked ravioli which is distinguished by the combination of its sweet and tangy filling made with marmalade or fruit mustard. There are some people who also use pine nuts. These are sweets usually made during the Christmas holiday.