1. Recipes

How to Make Italian Fig Cookies (Cuccidati) - A Step-by-Step Guide

Italian Fig Cookies, also known as Cuccidati, are a traditional Sicilian treat that has been enjoyed for generations. These delicious cookies are typically made during the holiday season and are filled with a sweet and tangy fig filling that is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

The process of making Italian Fig Cookies is a labor of love, but the end result is well worth the effort. The dough is tender and flaky, and the fig filling is rich and flavorful. These cookies are often shape...

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups dried figs, stems removed, cut in quarters
  • 1 cup dried dates, halved and pitted
  • 1 medium orange
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1 cup toasted pecans
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons brandy
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon water, or more as needed
  • 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup cold unsalted butter
  • ¼ cup shortening
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup milk
  • red and green food coloring as needed
  • candy coated sprinkles as needed

Information

  • Prep Time: 1 hr
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Additional Time: 8 hrs 20 mins
  • Total Time: 9 hrs 45 mins
  • Servings: 32
  • Yield: 32 cookies

  • Gather the ingredients.
  • Prepare the filling: Working in two batches with ½ of the figs and ½ of the dates at a time, pulse dried fruit in a food processor until finely chopped; transfer to a bowl.
  • Use a vegetable peeler to peel orange zest into the empty food processor. Juice the orange until you have 3 tablespoons juice; add it to the food processor. Add raisins, pecans, honey, brandy, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg and process until finely mixed.
  • Add fig mixture and process until well combined, adding water 1 tablespoon at a time as needed to reach a thick consistency. Refrigerate filling for 8 hours to overnight.
  • Prepare the dough: Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a food processor and process for 5 seconds to combine. Add butter and shortening and pulse until crumbly. Add milk, egg, vanilla, and almond extract and process until a dough forms.
  • Turn dough onto a well-floured surface and knead until smooth. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
  • When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Turn dough onto a floured surface and cut into 4 pieces. Roll one piece into a 4x12-inch rectangle, about 1/8-inch thick. Trim off any excess to form straight edges and save to make more cookies.
  • Place about ¼ of the filling in a 1-inch log shape down the rectangle, just to the right of the center line. Dampen the edges of the dough with water and fold the right edge over the filling. Continue rolling the dough toward the left edge, then rock back and forth gently to stretch and seal the edges. Cut the log into 2 ½- to 3-inch pieces. Make 2 or 3 slits in the top of each cookie to allow steam to escape. Transfer to prepared baking sheet; repeat with remaining dough and filling.
  • Bake in batches in the preheated oven until golden on the bottom and cooked through, 12 to 14 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
  • Meanwhile, prepare the icing: Whisk powdered sugar and milk together in a bowl until smooth. Divide icing into thirds in 3 small bowls. Color one bowl with red food coloring to make pink icing, color another bowl with green food coloring to make green icing, and leave the remaining icing white.
  • Dip each cooled cookie into a different color icing and allow excess to drip off. Place iced cookies on parchment paper and decorate lightly with sprinkles. Allow to dry for at least 20 minutes before serving.

    • Nutrition

    159 cal.

    • Total Fat: 5g
    • Saturated Fat: 2g
    • Cholesterol: 9mg
    • Sodium: 66mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 27g
    • Dietary Fiber: 2g
    • Protein: 2g
    • Potassium: 138mg

    Categories

    Baking recipes
    Dessert recipes
    Italian recipes
    Cookie recipes
    Fig recipes