The Legend of Befanini Cookies
January 12, 2026
A winter cookie shaped by folklore and the sea.
The origin of Befanini is wrapped in legend. In the 19th century, a cargo ship carrying anise is said to have sunk in the Tyrrhenian Sea, just off the coast of Viareggio. Its cargo disappeared beneath the water, then slowly returned to shore. What was recovered found its way into local kitchens, where anise became part of everyday baking, and eventually inseparable from Befanini.
The cookies take their name from La Befana, a familiar figure in Italian folklore tied to Epiphany and the tradition of sharing sweets in winter. Over time, Befanini became less about a single day and more about a season, baked through the colder months, shaped to feel festive, and meant to bring a sense of lightness and joy.
Our Befanini are a little different from most of what fills our pastry case, and that’s exactly why we love them. In a refined emporium known for its elegance and tradition, they are easily our most playful pastry. Shaped as stars and finished with colorful nonpareils, they’re the cookies that stop children in their tracks at the glass, and the ones that make adults smile, remembering the simple joy of choosing something just for fun.
They’re also a welcome way to brighten the winter months. Long after the holidays have passed, Befanini bring color, warmth, and a sense of lightness to a time of year that can feel quiet and grey. Best enjoyed slowly, often with something warm to drink, they remind us that a little sweetness goes a long way.
A Rulli Classic.
Available in a 22 oz jar, and for this month only, also offered in a 1 lb tray. Made with: flour, butter, sugar, eggs, baking powder, Galliano liqueur, lemon, salt, anise seed, and nonpareil sugar. Nut free.
