Cecio Ripieno class in Abruzzo: Make stuffed chickpeas

Make an Abruzzo dessert that tastes nothing like you'd expect

A 40-minute demonstration class in Abruzzo where you learn to make cecio ripieno (stuffed chickpeas blending chocolate and spices) from a live English-speaking guide. You receive the recipe to take home, taste the warm pastries with Abruzzo punch, and leave with a pack of six pieces you've helped create. Children from age 13 are welcome.

The experience

Cecio ripieno sounds like an unlikely dessert: chickpeas, chocolate, and spices layered together. But it's a Christmas staple in Abruzzo, and the combination works. The class walks you through the raw materials (Cecio di Navelli and solina flour among them), and shows you how they come together. You're not making dozens. The demonstration lasts about 40 minutes and focuses on understanding the technique and the why behind each step.

After the lesson, you taste the stuffed chickpeas warm, paired with Abruzzo punch. The guide is live and speaks English, so questions about the ingredients or the method get answered as you go. You also get a printed recipe to take with you, and a pack of six pieces to bring back to your accommodation or eat right there.

The space is wheelchair accessible, and service animals are welcome. If you're traveling with infants or small children, they can come along in a pram or stroller, though the class itself is geared toward participants from age 13 onward.

What’s included

• A 40-minute live demonstration with an English-speaking guide.
• explanation of the raw materials used (Cecio di Navelli and solina flour).
• a printed recipe card to take home.
• tasting of warm stuffed chickpeas with Abruzzo punch.
• a pack of six pieces of cecio ripieno to take with you.
• non-alcoholic beverage for minors.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 5 Sep 2027

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Under 13: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15 · max 5 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Gustabruzzo

Is this one for you?Book this class if you want to learn a specific Abruzzo technique and bring home both the recipe and the finished pastries to taste. The 40-minute format fits easily into a morning or afternoon without reshaping your day, and the live guide in English means you can ask about the ingredients and method as you go.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years). Children under 13 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly are cecio ripieno, and why do they taste so different from other desserts?

Cecio ripieno are chickpeas stuffed with a filling that combines chocolate with other spices, creating a savory-sweet flavor that's unusual but traditional in Abruzzo, especially during the Christmas season. The taste comes from the particular mix of ingredients and the quality of the Cecio di Navelli chickpeas used.

Do I actually make the desserts myself, or just watch?

This is a demonstration lesson, so the guide shows you how to make cecio ripieno and explains each step. You learn the technique and the raw materials, and you receive a printed recipe to take home so you can make them yourself later.

What do I get to take home from the class?

You receive a pack of six pieces of cecio ripieno that were made during the demonstration, plus a printed recipe card with the procedure. You also taste the warm pastries with Abruzzo punch as part of the class.

How long does the whole experience take?

The demonstration lesson itself lasts about 40 minutes. The tasting and recipe handover happen after, so plan for roughly an hour total from start to finish.