Description
Italian Fig Cookies, also known as Cucidati, are traditional Sicilian Christmas treats featuring a tender buttery dough filled with a sweet and spiced fig, raisin, and nut mixture. These delightful cookies are baked to a golden perfection, then drizzled with a simple powdered sugar glaze and optionally adorned with colorful sprinkles, making them an irresistible holiday favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
For the dough:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the filling:
- 1 ½ cups dried figs, stems removed
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ cup walnuts
- ½ cup almonds
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
For the glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
- Colored sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry, mixing until a soft dough forms. Divide the dough into two disks, wrap them in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Make the filling: In a food processor, combine figs, raisins, walnuts, and almonds. Pulse until finely chopped. Add honey, orange juice, orange zest, cinnamon, and ground cloves. Pulse until the mixture becomes a thick, sticky paste. Set aside.
- Preheat and prepare baking sheets: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
- Roll and shape the cookies: On a floured surface, roll out one dough disk to about ⅛-inch thickness. Cut the dough into strips approximately 3 inches wide. Spoon a line of filling down the center of each strip, then fold the dough over the filling and pinch the edges to seal securely. Place the sealed dough seam side down and cut into pieces about 1½ inches long. Arrange the cookies on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake: Bake cookies for 15 to 18 minutes or until they are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack.
- Prepare and apply the glaze: Whisk powdered sugar with 2 to 3 tablespoons of milk until smooth to create a glaze. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cookies and optionally sprinkle with colored sprinkles. Allow the glaze to set before serving.
Notes
- These cookies are a traditional Christmas treat and are perfect for holiday celebrations.
- Both dough and filling can be prepared ahead of time and frozen for convenience.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container for up to one week to maintain freshness.
