Ricette di Sicilia
Cibo, cultura e tradizioni siciliane
Saint Peter’s Key: A Historic Palermo Sweet Brought Back to Life
Discover the traditional Sicilian ‘Saint Peter’s Key’, a historic almond-and-chocolate confection from Palermo with centuries of symbolism and charm.
🛒 Ingredients
- ✓ 300 g dark chocolate
- ✓ 250 g ground almonds
- ✓ 250 g icing sugar
- ✓ 250 g citron preserve
- ✓ 75 ml water
- ✓ ½ sachet vanilla powder or ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ✓ Juice of ½ lemon
- ✓ Ground cinnamon
- ✓ Natural food colouring
📊 Nutritional Information
Few Sicilian sweets are as steeped in symbolism as the Saint Peter’s Key, a traditional confection from Palermo once prepared for the feast of Saint Peter on 29 June. Shaped like the keys to Heaven, it was often gifted as an affectionate gesture - a small token carrying wishes of protection, love and prosperity.
At its heart, this is a richly scented almond paste filled with citrus preserve and finished with a glossy chocolate glaze. Over the years, Palermo’s pastry makers have embellished it with colours, decorations and tiny flourishes that make each key a little work of edible art.
Whether you prepare it for a celebration or simply because you’re in the mood for something nostalgic and handmade, this sweet is a beautiful tribute to Sicilian tradition - aromatic, tender and wonderfully old-fashioned.
👨🍳 Preparation
- 1
Place the icing sugar and water in a small saucepan and warm gently until it begins to thread slightly.
- 2
Remove from the heat and stir in the cinnamon, vanilla and ground almonds, mixing until a firm paste forms.
- 3
Turn the almond paste out onto a lightly dampened board and knead until smooth.
- 4
Divide the mixture into two portions and shape each into a traditional key form.
- 5
Spread the citron preserve over one key, then place the second on top, pressing gently to seal the edges.
- 6
Tint any remaining paste with natural colourings and decorate the surface of the keys. Leave to dry for about 2 hours.
- 7
Make the glaze by melting the dark chocolate with the lemon juice over a bain-marie until glossy.
- 8
Brush the glaze generously over the key and bake at 150°C for 10 minutes to set.
- 9
Allow to cool slightly at room temperature before serving.
💡 Tips and Variations
For a simpler approach, you can use sweet shortcrust pastry instead of almond paste.
Decorating options are endless: try coloured sugar sprinkles, chopped pistachios or candied fruits for a festive finish.
📦 Storage
- • Keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- • You may freeze the unglazed key for up to 1 month.
- • Warm gently in the oven at 160°C for 5 minutes before serving.
🍷 Pairing
Enjoy this historic Palermo sweet with a glass of Contea di Sclafani Bianco Dolce, a velvety dessert wine whose rich aroma enhances the citrus and almond notes beautifully.
Thank you for exploring this timeless Palermo recipe with me. The Saint Peter’s Key is more than a dessert - it’s a piece of Sicilian heritage, full of warmth, symbolism and unforgettable flavour. I hope it brings a touch of tradition to your table.
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