Italian Fig Cookies (Cuccidati)

Cuccidati are fig-stuffed cookies — think fancy, gourmet, adult-version of a fig Newton! They are traditionally served at Christmas time in Italy and I finally nailed an old family recipe. A flavorful fig and date filling is wrapped in a soft, sweet dough, then baked and dipped in festive frosting and decorated with sprinkles. Need to send cookies through the mail? These are perfect for gifting! My favorite way to enjoy these cookies is for breakfast with a hot cup of coffee.

• Preparation Time: 60 mins
• Cooking Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins
• Calories: 159 Calories

Ingredients

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

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2

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.

Step 3

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.

Step 4

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.

Step 5

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.

Step 6

Turn dough onto a well-floured surface and knead until smooth. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.

Step 7

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.

Step 8

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-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.

Step 9

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.

Step 10

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.

Step 11

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.