Brustengolo: Apple Nut Polenta Cake

A whole-grain, gluten-free, vegan, deliciously satisfying not-too-sweet treat, brustengolo is a traditional autumn dessert from Umbria. Particularly popular in Perugia and Assisi, it’s made with polenta and packed with fruit and nuts with a hint of orange.

This is a centuries-old dish, typical of the cucina povera tradition, made with locally grown corn flour, fruit, and whatever nuts people could obtain under trying circumstances. In the past, it was prepared by mixing bo