Holiday Traditions with California Figs
Filled with Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Figs and almonds, and scented with an array of aromatic spices, Cuccidati are traditional Italian Christmas cookies. Made in Sicily, these cookies are especially favored by Italian-Americans around the holidays. It is not too farfetched to speculate that Arab influence in Southern Italy could be responsible for their assortment of dried and fresh fruits and alluring spices. The filling is wrapped in buttery dough, which is much like pasta frolla, a soft and sweet Italian pastry dough. Sometimes the cookies are shaped into fat little logs, but they can also take the shape of an X, or a crescent with filling peeking out of small slits cut into the ends of the cookie before it is baked. You can choose one or make all three!
This Sicilian fig cookie recipe takes a bit of work, but you will find it easier if you break it down into steps: 1) make and chill the dough, 2) make the filling, 3) roll and chill the dough, 4) shape the filling, 5) wrap the dough around the filling, 6) chill the filled logs, 7) shape the cookies and brush with egg wash, 8) bake the cookies, 9) make the icing and glaze the cookies. Don’t forget to breathe and enjoy!
Cuccidati Italian Christmas Cookies
Makes 7 to 8 dozen small cookies, or 5 dozen large cookies
Dough:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) cold, unsalted butter, cut into thick slices
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
1. In a food processor, pulse the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt a few times to mix them. Add the butter pieces and pulse until the dough resembles small crumbs. Add the eggs, and pulse until the dough more or less forms a ball. It is a very forgiving dough, so don’t fuss too much.
2. Tip the dough onto a work surface and knead it two or three times just to bring it together. Line an 8- or 9-inch square pan with a long piece of plastic wrap. Press and flatten the dough into the pan. Cover with the overhanging plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours, or until firm. The dough can be refrigerated for up to five days if you want to shape and bake the cookies later.
Filling:
- 1 1/2 cups whole, unblanched almonds
- 8 ounces Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Dried Mission Figs
- 1 cup golden raisins
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Finely grated zest of 1 orange
- 2 tablespoons orange marmalade
- 3 tablespoons Meyer’s dark rum or Grand Marnier
Egg Wash:
1 large egg 1 tablespoon water Colored Sprinkles Icing (recipe below)
1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. On a baking sheet, spread the almonds. Bake them for 8 to 10 minutes, or until they smell toasty. Cool briefly.
2. With scissors, snip the stems off the figs, and snip each fig into 3 or 4 pieces.
3. In a food processor, combine the figs, raisins, cinnamon, salt, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla and orange zest. Pulse until they are finely chopped. Add the almonds, marmalade and rum. Pulse until the mixture holds together but is not ground to a paste—it should have a little texture.
4. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate until you are ready to assemble the cookies. The filling will keep for at least one week.
To assemble the dough and filling:
1. Have on hand 2 parchment lined baking sheets. Divide the dough in half.
2. Place a piece of parchment on the work surface and sprinkle it generously with flour. Working with half the dough at a time, roll it into a 12- by 14-inch rectangle. Slide it onto the baking sheet and refrigerate it for 20 to 30 minutes, or until cold. Repeat with the second half of the dough.
3. While the dough is chilling, shape the filling. Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap. Divide the filling into 8 pieces (about 1/3 cup each) and roll each one into a 14-inch log. (This is easiest to accomplish by rolling about half of each portion at a time and piece the small logs together to form a long log.) The logs should be about 1/2-inch thick. Place on the baking sheet.
4. Remove one sheet of chilled pastry from the refrigerator. With the dough still on the baking sheet, position it so that the 12-inch edge of the rectangle is parallel to the countertop. With a pastry wheel or pizza cutter, cut the dough into 4 long strips that are 3 inches wide.
5. Center 1 log of filling on each dough strip. Fold one side of dough over it and roll it so the seam is on the bottom. Return the baking sheet to the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes before cutting and shaping.
To shape and bake the cookies:
1. Beat 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water to make an egg wash. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. If you have turned off the oven, preheat it now to 350ºF.
2. For small cookies, cut the logs into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with colored sprinkles and bake, or glaze (see recipe below) with icing and top with sprinkles after baking.
3. For X cookies, cut into 2 1/2- to 3-inch pieces. With a paring knife, make a slit on both ends of each piece and open them out slightly to form an X. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with colored sprinkles and bake, or glaze with icing and top with sprinkles after baking.
4. For curved cookies, cut into 2 1/2- to 3-inch pieces. With a paring knife, make 3 or 4 1/4-inch cuts on 1 side of each cookie, being careful not to cut all the way through. Curve them into a crescent shape. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with colored sprinkles and bake, or glaze with icing and top with sprinkles after baking.
5. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until light golden brown.
6. For the icing: Whisk together 2 egg whites and 2 1/2 cups of confectioner’s sugar. Pour into a shallow dish. Carefully dip the tops of the cookies in the icing and set them on a rack. Sprinkle with colored sprinkles and leave until set.
7. Store between sheets of wax paper in a tin with a tight-fitting lid for up to 1 week.
Recipe and photo by Sally Pasley Vargas
Nutrition Information per serving:
- Calories 90
- Fat 3.5 g
- Cholesterol 15 mg
- Protein 1 g
- Carbohydrates 12 g
- Fiber 1 g
- Iron 0 mg
- Sodium 50 mg
- Potassium 54 mg
‘Tis the Season for Cookie Baking with California Figs
Bring on the holiday cookie baking with Orchard Choice and Sun-Maid California Figs. We’ve got your cookie tin covered with everything from Chocolate Chip to Chocolate Crinkle, Chewy Ginger to Sicilian Cuccidati (see above).
Baking with California Dried Figs has never been more delicious. Whether you’re whipping up our Hanukkah Sandwich Cookies or Alice Medrich’s California Fig Rugelach for the Festival of Lights, or have cued up the Christmas music to sing along with while you bake, you’ll find all the cookie inspiration you need in our Desserts with Dried Figs recipe collection.
Good Health. Good Food. Happy Holidays.
Enjoy a healthy holiday season this year and avoid gaining those bothersome extra pounds. Here are 10 healthy tips from the staff at Valley Fig Growers. Happy Holidays!
1. Don’t Skip Meals. Skipping meals may lead you to eat even more. Have a light breakfast full of fiber—whole grain cereal or yogurt with a few chopped Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid Figs on top.
2. Move. At parties move around and chat with people. Avoid hovering near the buffet table. After dinner, suggest family take a walk before dessert.
3. Offer to host the party and choose a healthy menu. Serve healthy, eye appealing, tasty dishes. Send home leftovers with guests. Find healthy recipe suggestions at valleyfig.com.
4. Offer to bring something. Contribute a healthy dish full of fiber-rich, nutrient-rich figs; this way you know there will be at least one nutritious choice available.
5. Be choosy. Check out the buffet offerings ahead of time. Treat yourself to one item you really like and don’t often get. Take a smaller portion and savor each bite. Then go for the fruits, veggies and lower calorie items to round out your meal.
6. Fill up your refrigerator with healthy, colorful foods. You are not partying every day. Keep your refrigerator and cupboards stocked with lots of fresh and dried fruits (especially California Dried Figs) and vegetables, whole grains, beans, lean meats and low fat dairy choices.
7. Make some simple, healthy ingredient subs. Use low fat Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. Boost the veggies in a recipe and reduce the meat. Sauté instead of fry. Make your own salad dressing.
8. Tune in. Be aware and in the moment. Enjoy each bite.
9. Eat slowly. It takes 20 minutes for your brain to signal you’re full.
10. Start with the veggies. Filling up on healthy, nutrient-packed, lower-calorie veggies will leave less room for the higher calorie dishes.
