History

In the 13th century Modena's commune offered bensone to the guild of smiths and goldsmiths on their patron's feast day. The name may come from the French pain de son, bran bread, because unsifted flour was once used. The recipe of flour, milk, eggs, butter and honey has barely changed, except that sugar replaced the honey. It can be filled with jam or savor, and the same dough makes the ring-shaped ciambella.

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Common allergens: Gluten, Egg, Dairy

Make it at home

Yield Makes 1 loaf, serves 8Hands-on 20 minTotal 1 hr 10 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 400g 00 flour
  • 150g sugar, plus 2 tablespoons for the top
  • 100g butter, soft
  • 2 eggs, plus 1 yolk for brushing
  • 100ml whole milk
  • 16g baking powder
  • Grated zest of 1 lemon
  • A pinch of salt

Method

  1. Heat the oven to 180C and line a tray with baking paper.
  2. Rub the butter into the flour, sugar, baking powder, zest and salt, then add the eggs and milk and bring together into a soft dough without overworking it.
  3. Shape it into an oval loaf about 30cm long on the tray and flatten it slightly.
  4. Brush with the beaten yolk and sprinkle with the extra sugar.
  5. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until deep golden and a skewer comes out clean; cool on a rack.

Tip from the editors. Bensone is meant to be a little dry: slice it thick and dip it in a glass of sweet Lambrusco rather than adding more butter.

Where to eat bensone

Bensone in Modena

Antica Pasticceria San Biagio ★ 4.3

€€ BakeryTorta Barozzi, bensone, balsamic vinegar giftsCentro StoricoWalk-in only

Antica Pasticceria San Biagio has sold torta Barozzi and bensone on Modena's Via Emilia Centro since 1900, kept in its original pink-marble shop.

Worth the queueTorta Barozzi

TipThursday and Sunday afternoons it shuts early, so plan a morning visit for the balsamic vinegar and marrons glaces.

Directions

Forno Cristini ★ 4.0

€ BakeryBensone, bread, Parmigiano Reggiano retailBuon PastoreWalk-in only

Forno Cristini on Modena's Via Vignolese is a family bakery known for bensone, the city's oldest sweet, filled with grape-must fruit preserve.

Worth the queueBensone

TipIt also sells Parmigiano Reggiano and preserves at the counter, so a bread run doubles as a pantry stop.

Directions

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