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Cucidati (Sicilian Fig Cookies)

Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

For the Dough

  • 4 cups AP flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3/4 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup crisco
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Filling

  • 3/4 cup sugar for simple syrup
  • 6 ounces dried mission figs
  • 3/4 cup pecans
  • 3/4 teaspoon cloves
  • 3/4 teaspoon allspice
  • 3 teaspoons orange extract

For the Icing

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ~2 tablespoons whole milk or cream

Instructions

Make the dough.

  1. Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

  2. Cube the crisco and mix it into the dry ingredients by hand until crumbly.

  3. Add in the eggs, milk, and vanilla until the dough comes together.

  4. Let the dough rest in a cool place for 30 minutes.

Make the filling.

  1. Make a simple syrup. Combine the sugar with one cup of water and boil until sugar is dissolved.

  2. De-stem and quarter the figs.

  3. Combine the figs and pecans in a food processor and blend until it forms a loose paste or crumble.

  4. Pour into a bowl and add in the spices and orange extract. 

  5. Add in simple syrup, a bit at a time. You will likely only use 1/4 cup. Do NOT use too much. Add a tablespoon or two at a time until the mixture is a bit thicker than a cheese spread in its consistency.

Construct the cookies.

  1. Lay down a large sheet of parchment paper and place on top of it: a small bowl of water, a pizza cutter, and a pocket knife, straight blade, or paring knife.

  2. Flour the surface of the parchment paper.

  3. Roll out half of the dough and trim the edges to form a large square.

  4. Cut the square into 2" strips using the pizza cutter.

  5. Taking one strip at a time, flatten it out to widen it and place a thin line of filling down the center.

  6. Fold one side of the dough over the filling and lightly wet it to create a seal.

  7. Flip the dough so that it is sealed side down on the counter and use the knife to cut it into 2-3" pieces.

  8. Cut three small slits on the top and curve the dough into a crescent shape and place it on a baking sheet.

Bake.

  1. Preheat the oven to 375F and bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes on the bottom rack, and 5-7 minutes on the top rack.

  2. Mix the powdered sugar with roughly two tablespoons of milk to create the icing.

  3. When the cookies are done baking, let them cool completely.

  4. Ice the cookies and enjoy.