Italian Mostaccioli Cookies Recipe

If Christmas had a smell, it would be these Neapolitan cookies. Cocoa, orange zest, and warm spices…

Ingredients
* 250 g all-purpose flour (2 cups)
* 130 g sugar (⅔ cup)
* 20 g cacao powder (¼ cup)
* 80 g almond flour (¾ cup)
* 1 tbsp honey
* 60 ml orange juice (¼ cup)
* 40 ml water (3 tbsp)
* Zest of 1 orange
* 1 tsp spice mix or cinnamon(I used ½ tsp cinnamon + ¼ tsp nutmeg + ⅛ tsp cloves + ⅛ tsp star anise + a pinch of black pepper)
* ½ tsp baking powder
* 200 g dark chocolate (about 1 ¼ cups when chopped or as chips)

Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C / 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix flour, almond flour, cacao powder, sugar, spice mix (or cinnamon), baking powder, and orange zest.
3. Add honey, orange juice, and water. Mix and then knead until a soft dough forms.
4. Roll the dough to 8 mm (⅓ inch) thickness on a lightly floured surface or between two parchment paper sheets.
5. Cut into diamond shapes and arrange them on the baking sheet.
6. Bake for about 15 minutes and let them cool completely.
7. Melt the dark chocolate and dip each cookie in it.
8. Place on parchment paper or a rack to set, then try not to eat five in a row.