What is this Italian Cookie called? I'm looking for a recipe for an Italian cookie that I remember having as a child. The cookie is shaped like a gnocchi or cavatelli but is much bigger, about 1.5 inches long and slightly larger than a quarter in diameter.  It is distinctly 'C' shaped, though.  The cookie was fried, probably deep fried, and then soaked in honey.  The color is a very deep, dark brown.

The cookie is very dense but flaky.  There was not a very strong flavor other than the honey that I recall (i.e. not anise-flavored or something strong like that).  The texture is what I'm really after, I think.

It is not a Zeppole (it doesn't puff up) or a Bow Tie (not as brittle in texture, certainly not as thin) or the little pea-shaped cookies (Struffoli?).

Based on our family tree these are probably going to be a Southern Italian cookie, from Calabria.  But that's just a guess/hint.
Gnocchi shaped?  I am pretty sure they are  Turdilli! .  

It's a traditional Calabrian recipe:  



They are deep-fried: 





And hot-soaked in honey too:

  

Same biscotti, slightly different shapes: 





Bear in mind that fried cookies soaked in honey are a traditional treat for carnival and Christmas seasons all over Italy, so you may find many, many similar recipes. From  http://www.marinacepedafuentes.com/2010_02_01_archive.html :  


Evviva i Dolci di Carnevale rigorosamente fritti, che ricevono nomi diversi secondo i luoghi.
In Toscana chiacchiere o trecce, e poi frappe laziali, castagnole romane, frittelle di riso molisane, fritole triestine, nigelan altoatesini, sfincitelle siciliane, tortelli romagnoli, bomboloni fiorentini, cicerchiata umbra e chi più ne ha più ne metta!
  

At left with figs syrup, at right with honey:  



A full blown italian fritti feast:   



Turdilli recipes in Italian

Turdilli recipes in English

Video: Making Turdilli

A shop near my house sells turdilli (hold your envy)