Baking Traditional Cuddura Cu L’ova

Southampton High School students in Dianna D'Amico's Food Industry classes recently learned how to bake festive Italian bread known as cuddura cu l’ova.

During the hands-on experience, students not only learned the techniques of crafting and baking this traditional bread, but also gained a deeper appreciation for the intense labor, knowledge and skill needed to be a successful bread baker.

Cuddura cu l’ova boasts a soft, slightly sweet texture made from a harmonious blend of simple yet fragrant ingredients. Flour, sugar and eggs form the base, enriched with hints of orange and lemon juice and a touch of vanilla, cinnamon and anise, while a sprinkle of decorative sugar adds a delightful crunch.

Students also learned that the bread is a treasured staple of Sicilian culture. Brooklyn Italian bakeries along 13th Avenue in Dyker Heights and 18th Avenue in Bensonhurst would bake the bread all season leading up to Easter.