Lady Finger (cookie)

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Savoiardi in transparent plastic packages.

Ladyfingers (called Savoiardi in Italian, meaning "from Savoy") are light and sweet sponge cakes roughly shaped like a large, fat finger. They should not be confused with the Lady's Finger, another name for the vegetable okra.

Today, their most common usage is in trifles, charlottes, and tiramisu. They are typically soaked in a sugar syrup or liqeuer, such as coffee for the tiramisu dessert.

[edit] Preparation

Ladyfingers contain no chemical leavening agent, and rely on air incorporated into the eggs for their "sponge" texture. The egg whites and egg yolks--mixed with sugar--are typically beaten separately and folded together with flour. They contain more flour than the average sponge cake. The mixture is piped through a pastry bag in short lines onto sheets, giving the cookies their notable shape.

Before baking, powdered sugar is usually sifted over the top to give a soft crust. The final ladyfingers are usually layered into a final dessert.

[edit] History

Ladyfingers originated in the late 15th century at the court of the Duchy of Savoy, and were created to mark the occasion of a visit of the King of France.

Later they were given the name Savoiardi and recognised as an "official" court biscuit. They were particularly appreciated by the young members of the court and offered to visitors as a symbol of the local cuisine.

Later, due to their leavening-free nature, the Lady Finger treats became a popular Passover staple for Orthodox Jews who do not use any leavening agent (yeast, baking soda, or baking powder) except for whipped egg whites during Passover.

Today the name 'Lady Fingers' has been dropped by some Kosher bakeries from the Kosher for Passover Orthodox-Jewish version of the leavening-free treat. The treats have been renamed to either 'Baby Fingers', 'L Fingers' or just plain 'Fingers', depending on the manufacturer. Some say the reason for this name change is due to the association between the treat and the female gender which, according to Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is immodest.