Zuccherino Montanaro is a characteristic dessert of the mountains of Bologna. It was prepared especially at weddings because of their round shape very similar to wedding rings.
Zuccherini Montanari are in fact sugar-glazed shortbread cakes with anise. The area of production is represented by the following municipalities in the Bolognese Apennines: Monteveglio, Monte S. Pietro, Sasso Marconi, Pianoro, Monterenzio, Loiano, Monzuno, Marzabotto, Savigno, Castel d'Aiano, Vergato, Grizzana Morandi, San Benedetto Val di Sambro, Monghidoro, Castiglione dei Pepoli, Camugnano, Castel di Casio, Gaggio Montano, Granaglione, Porretta Terme, Lizzano in Belvedere.
The zuccherino montanaro bolognese is a cookie made from flour and eggs, characterized by the presence of anise seeds or natural anise flavor in the dough and covered with a glaze composed essentially of sugar and anise liqueur. It has a circular shape with a diameter of between 4 and 8 centimeters and thickness, after baking, varying between 2 and 3 centimeters. The icing is uniform over the entire surface of the cookie, giving it a snow-white color and the characteristic anise aroma. The dough is firm, so that the icing is deposited on the surface without being absorbed excessively.