Some Italian traditions never seem to grow old – especially when it comes to enjoying a simple, satiating, afternoon snack made by the loving hands of our nonnas. One of these beloved eats is just a slice of bread topped with butter and sugar. So simple, but so satisfying – some of us even enjoy it as a nostalgic breakfast today. 

A slice of bread topped with butter and sugar was a go-to childhood merenda, the 4:00 pm afternoon snack, for many of us – often alongside a glass of milk.  Our grandmothers would prepare it after school. While it’s undoubtedly easy, there are some tips to keep in mind. 

Naturally, unsalted bread (or, to Italians, Tuscan bread) is most suitable for a sweet topping. Though you can have it on top of rusks (a plan hard dry biscuit, or twice-baked bread). The thing to keep in mind is that, since they’re not soft, the butter doesn’t sink in to absorb the sugar. In this case, it would be best to incredibly soft, though not melted, butter. Otherwise, plain white sandwich bread is also a nice option.  

At first glance, it might not seem “typically Italian,” but it is to many of us. Whether you’re looking to wax nostalgic or seeking something new, the recipe is below followed by a vegan alternative. 

Nonna’s Afternoon Snack

Ingredients
2 slices of unsalted bread
butter to taste
granulated sugar to taste

Instructions
First, let the butter soften to room temperature so it’s easier to spread. Take a loaf of unsalted bread and cut it in half vertically in order to have the widest part available, then slice it into pieces. Spread the butter on the bread slices using a knife or other suitable kitchen tool until completely covered. Then use a teaspoon to sprinkle sugar over the butter, and the same knife to spread it gently over the whole slice. At this point, you can overlap the two slices to make a sandwich, or keep them separate and eat them one at a time.

Vegan alternative

Let’s start with the bread, which by default should be vegan since the ingredients are flour (of any kind), water, yeast, and, usually, salt. In Italy, other ingredients such as lard are often added to bread, so it’s best to first make sure the bread is indeed made from exclusively vegan ingredients. Replace the butter with vegetable margarine, which is softer and spreads more easily and evenly. Finally, when it comes to sugar, take care here too. Try using beet sugar instead of cane sugar – the first is definitely vegan, the second might not be, since products of animal origin are sometimes used in the refining process.