Baking cookies at this time of the year seems to be a worldwide event. These Italian Fig Cookies know as Cuccidati are appropriately festive with a snowy white glaze and colored sprinkles. Take a bite and you know it’s Christmas time. Italian Fig Cookies are full of dried fruits, toasted nuts, spices and a touch of liqueur.
These Italian Fig cookies are very similar to the Calabrian Fig Cookies know as Petrali. Both are traditionally baked at Christmas time in great quantities to be shared with family and friends. This recipe comes from the cookbook by Greg Patent, A Baker’s Odyssey. While there seems to be many steps to this recipe, the filling and the dough can be made up to 3 days ahead. So break up the recipe. Prepare the filling one day, the dough the next and by the third day it’s simple to put the cookies together.
Maybe it’s not traditional but I loved the look of the cookies that were slit and fanned open to reveal the dark filling. And of course, it’s always a party when colored sprinkles are involved!
Do you have a Christmas baking tradition? Does your gift giving include home baked goodies? Are you super busy leading up to Christmas?
I hope you can enjoy the beautiful time of Advent as we prepare for this special holiday.
Blessings to you,
Marcellina xx
- 14 oz / 375 grams dried figs
- 1 cup dark raisins
- 1/2 cup hazlenuts. toasted and skinned
- 1 cup blanched or unblanched almonds toasted
- 1 cup walnuts coarsely chopped
- finely grated zest of 1 orange
- finely grated zest of 1 lemon
- 1/3 cup marmalade
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoon Marsala
- 2 tablespoons Amaretto
- 2 tablespoons brandy
- 2 teaspoon pure lemon extract
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 10 oz/ 2 1/2 sticks / 285 grams butter
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoon pure lemon extract
- 2 large egg white
- 3 cups icing cugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon pure lemon extract
Figs need to be soft. If they seem dry, cover with boiling water. Check after 5 minutes. If ready, remove and pat dry with paper towel. Snip off the hard stems and cut in half.
- Process hazelnuts and almonds in food process by pulsing a few times until just starting to chop. Add figs and raisins and process until finely chopped. Add in walnuts and and pulse a few times.
- Transfer to a bowl together with zests, marmalade, honey, Marsala, Amaretto, brandy, lemon extract, cinnamon and cloves. Mix with a spoon or hands until well combined.
- Refrigerate overnight or up to 3 days.
Beat butter with electric mixer until soft. Gradually add sugar, beating well.
Add in eggs one at a time beating well after each addition. Mix in extracts.
Sift in flour, salt and baking powder. Mix until just combine. Divide into four disks, wrap each in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 3 days.
Preheat oven to 350F/180°C. Line two baking trays with non stick paper
Working with 1 disc at a time, roll out dough to a 12in/30cm x 7in/17cm rectangle. Trim edges and cut in half lengthwise.
Divide filling into 8 portions. Using moistened hands, take one portion and roll into a log 12in/30cm long. Place on strip of dough. Repeat with another poriton of filling.
Fold over pastry over to cover mixture, then roll up to form a log. Repeat with remaining pastry and fruit mixture.
Using a floured knife, cut each fruit-filled log into 6 pieces. Cookies can be left as is or cut two slits three quarters of the way through cookies. Shape cookies gently to fan out slits.
Place on prepared trays. . Bake for 25-30 minutes or until light golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Whisk egg white and icing sugar in a bowl until combined. Add lemon juice and extract. Immediately drizzle biscuits with icing and scatter with colored sprinkles, to decorate.
These look SO good, and you are right, the basic idea is quite similar to the recipe I posted this week.
I too sometimes use dried figs in the filling. Love your alcohol and spices additions to it. I’m sure the aroma while baking is incredible. Will give it a try next time! 🙂
I think you will like them, Ronit!