These Italian chocolate fig cookies, also called buccelllati or cucidati, are made with a buttery pastry dough, candy fig and almond filling with hints of heat cinnamon and wealthy chocolate chips!
These Italian chocolate fig cookies are one other model of Italian fig cookies, additionally known as cucciddati or cucidati or buccellati. They’re common Sicilian Christmas fig cookies and each family has its personal model!
For this variation of the Sicilian traditional I used a buttery shortcrust pastry dough then stuffed it with a date filling with notes of heat cinnamon, almonds and wealthy chocolate chips.
After baking, the Italian fig cookie bundle is then dusted with powdered sugar for a candy deal with that’s excellent for cookie trays or gifting to associates and neighbors!
Why I Love This Recipe
- Conventional Buccellati recipe: An Italian Christmas cookie platter shouldn’t be full with out some variation of this Italian fig cookie. All through time, households have gathered to make this dessert!
- Versatile: Form the cookie into a big buccellato ring cake, make particular person cookies, form them in an “X” or “arch” and even half-moons or small logs. Add orange or lemon to the filling or strive a distinct nut!
Ingredient Notes
- Cookie dough: For the shortcut pastry you will want flour, baking soda, powdered sugar, salted butter, egg yolks and vanilla.
- Figs: I used about 8-9 figs.
- Mini chocolate chips: I used semi-sweet chocolate chips however you should use chopped darkish chocolate if most well-liked.
- Chopped almonds: This can be a conventional ingredient however you should use hazelnuts or one other nut if most well-liked. Roast the nuts for extra taste.
- Egg wash: An egg wash with one egg white and water helps seal the pastry dough across the filling.
The right way to Make Italian Chocolate Fig Cookies
To start out, make the dough by combining the flour, baking soda, powdered sugar and salt in a mixing bowl, then add the egg yolks, butter and vanilla. Combine with the flat beaters to kind a compact dough. Transfer the dough to a flat floor and kind right into a dough ball. Wrap it in plastic and refrigerate.
In a small pot over the range make the submitting. Mix the figs, brown sugar, cinnamon and water then cook dinner on low warmth, stirring sometimes till figs are tender then both squish with a fork to make a paste or switch to a meals processor and mix till easy.
Take away the pastry dough from the fridge then roll out the dough on a frivolously floured flat floor or between two sheets of parchment paper, make the minimize outs with a medium spherical cookie cutter. Place among the fig combination in the course of half the rounds, high with some chocolate chips, cookie crumbs and a few chopped almonds.
Brush the sting of the cookie spherical with the egg wash combination and high with one other minimize out cookie. Seal the sides with fingers then with a fork dipped into flour.
Place the cookie bundles on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, brush with milk and bake till golden. Cool the chocolate fig cookies on the baking sheet then transfer to a wire rack to chill fully. Mud with powdered sugar earlier than serving!
Variations
Buccellati Sicilian varies from one family to a different, listed here are some enjoyable variations to the filling chances are you’ll wish to strive!
- Nuts: Swap the almonds for hazelnuts, pine nuts, pistachios or one other nut of selection.
- Zest: The addition of orange zest or lemon zest is common on this candy deal with.
- Spices: Along with cinnamon, add some allspice and floor cloves.
- Add-ins: Raisins, candied citrus, peach jam, marmalade or apricot jam.
- Alcohol: A splash of marsala or rum would add distinctive taste.
recipe suggestions
- Add some holes or minimize a form into the highest piece of dough. This can be a enjoyable strategy to show the filling inside chocolate fig cookies!
- Make the dough as much as 3 days forward and the filling as much as every week forward of time. Retailer each lined individually within the fridge.
- As an alternative of dusting with powdered sugar, add a glaze and your favourite sprinkles!
- Some recipes skip reconstituting the fig filling and simply mix the substances in a meals processor. I discover the feel much less easy, however chances are you’ll like the feel.
- Retailer the Italian chocolate fig cookies in an hermetic container at room temperature as much as one week or within the freezer for as much as 3 months. Add a layer of parchment paper between every cookie to stop sticking.
Origins of this Christmas Deal with
Fig cookies akin to buccellatti or cucidati originate from the area of Sicily the place the cookies have been comprised of two native merchandise, Sicilian figs and almonds. Each family has their very own variation of the recipe presumably handed down from one era to the subsequent!
These Christmas fig cookies are additionally rooted in historical past as evidenced by the Arab affect of the spices, almonds and figs used within the cookies mixed with the love of dried fruits that have been utilized in many historic Roman pastries. As soon as a conventional Christmas present, now you can discover these pastries 12 months spherical in most areas!
Extra Sicilian Recipes To Strive
Nothing higher then a scrumptious Italian cookie and these chocolate fig cookies are simply that! Get pleasure from.
FOR THE COOKIE DOUGH
- 1½ cups all objective flour
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup + 2 ½ tablespoons powdered/icing sugar (78 grams whole, for those who double the recipe then double this quantity)
- 1 pinch salt (for those who use unsalted butter then use ¼ teaspoon of salt)
- 2 giant egg yolks (room temperature)
- ½ cup + 1 ½ tablespoons butter (room temperature) (133 grams whole, for those who double the recipe then double this quantity)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
FILLING
- 1 cup chopped dried figs (8-9 figs) 170g
- 1½ tablespoons brown sugar
- ¼-½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 3-4 tablespoons water
- 2-3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips semi candy
- 1-2 tablespoons cookie crumbs
- 1-2 tablespoons finely chopped almonds
EXTRAS
- 1 giant egg white
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1-2 tablespoons powdered sugar
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In a mixing bowl or meals processor whisk collectively the flour, baking soda, sugar and salt, then add the yolks, butter and vanilla. Pulse or combine with the flat beaters to kind a compact dough. Transfer the dough to a flat floor and kind right into a dough ball. Wrap it in plastic and refrigerate for roughly 30-60 minutes.
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In a small pot add the figs, sugar, cinnamon and water. Prepare dinner on low warmth for roughly 5-10 minutes stirring usually till the figs are tender. Squish with a fork to kind a barely lumpy paste. You too can mix till easy if desired.
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In a small bowl beat collectively the egg white and water.
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Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C). Line a big cookie sheet with parchment paper.
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Take away the dough from the fridge. Roll the dough on a frivolously floured flat floor or between two sheets of parchment paper to a ⅛” thickness (or somewhat thicker for those who desire), make 26 minimize outs with a medium spherical cookie cutter (about 3 inches/7cm).
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Place among the fig combination in the course of 13 rounds, high with some chocolate chips, cookie crumbs and a few chopped almonds. Brush the sting of the cookie spherical with the egg white combination and high with a plain spherical minimize out cookie. Seal the sides with fingers then with the tongs of a fork (dip it in flour so it does not stick with the dough). Place the cookies on the ready baking sheet. Brush the cookies with milk and bake for 12-Quarter-hour or till frivolously golden. Let cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes then transfer to a wire rack to chill fully. Mud with powdered sugar if desired earlier than serving. Get pleasure from!
How lengthy does cookie dough final within the fridge?
Cookie dough will last as long as 3 days wrapped properly in plastic wrap within the fridge. Some will insist that Additionally it is a good suggestion to refrigerate the cookie dough for a minimum of 12-24 hours earlier than baking, this creates a extra flavourful cookie.
The right way to retailer them
The cookies must be saved in an hermetic container, they are often stored at room temperature for a day, or refrigerate for as much as 4 days. They will also be frozen in a freezer secure container, with parchment paper between the layers. They are going to preserve for as much as 6 months.
Energy: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 3g | Fats: 10g | Saturated Fats: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 3g | Trans Fats: 0.3g | Ldl cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 93mg | Potassium: 122mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 263IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg | Phosphorus: 45mg
