At Il Biscotto di Franco, every cookie is handcrafted by Franco using authentic Italian recipes and all-natural ingredients. You can find him sharing his delicious creations at festivals, farmers markets, and special events throughout Santa Cruz County.
Find him weekly at the Saturday morning farmers market on the Westside of Santa Cruz from 9:00 AM–1:00 PM, and on Sunday mornings at the Live Oak Farmers Market from 9:00 AM–1:00 PM, where you can experience the taste of traditional Italian baking firsthand.
When Franco began his II Biscotto baking business, he did it in an attempt to recreate the tastes and textures of the confections from his hometown in Trapani, on the west coast of Sicily. There, he grew up on a farm where his family made everything that came from the land.
These were Franco's beginnings and this was, for him, the land that never left him, even as he left Sicily to come to America.
Now, along the coast of California, Franco remains faithful to the flavors he learned to love as a child in the warmth of his mother's kitchen. Working to keep the cookies true to his memory, he uses natural ingredients, little sugar, and time-honored techniques to ensure an authenticity that evokes home to him. Small batches crafted by hand with an eye and a feel for the dough, each cookie reflects just that kind of attention. From the toasty crunch of slivered almonds in a brutti ma buoni to the aromatic blend of flavors in a pasticcini, Franco has your taste sensations covered. Cannoli, a Sicilian classic, is filled with an airy, homemade style ricotta cheese cream, and, along with the fig-filled cuccidati, customers delight in these celebrated desserts.
Franco's Old World cookies and pastries are sure to complement any occasion whether it be for a special event or simply a gathering of two for coffee and conversation…...Italian-style!
You can usually find a variety of Francos fresh baked traditional cookies at the local farmers market.
Buttery, soft, and lightly sweet
Crunchy, nutty, and subtly sweet
Powdery, delicate, melt-in-your-mouth
Chewy, toasty almond, and rich flavor
Lightly citrusy with a sweet fig filling
Crunchy, nutty, with rich chocolate
Crisp, lightly sweet, with a subtle licorice note
Soft and chewy with a bright and citrusy flavor
Soft, chewy, with a rich almond flavor
Sweet chocolate, with a hint of citrus
Nutty, buttery, and lightly sweet
Delicate, buttery, lightly sweet almond
Buttery and smooth with a light coffee flavor
Soft, buttery, and lightly sweet
Sweet and fruity and lightly spiced
Fudgy, with a rich chocolate flavor
Chewy, toasty almond, rich flavor
Nutty, buttery, with a warm hazelnut flavor