The fig cookies are made with a rich dark spicy fruit filling, topped with a snowy icing glaze, then sprinkled with colorful tiny candies.
Cucidati has many other names you may know them by such as Buccellati, Italian fig cookies, Sicilian fig cookies, or just fig-stuffed cookies with sprinkles.
The dough is wrapped around this dark nutty fruit filling and is such a treat during those special holidays like St. Joseph's Day and other Italian events like baptisms and confirmations.
Since it's an Italian specialty and very time-consuming to make (but well worth it), these were only made on special occasions.
Luckily through the years, the food processor was invented to help this labor of love cookie filling making this a bit easier instead of chopping the fruit by hand like mama did back in the 1960s.
Every Italian American has a different version and Mom is still my favorite I have had several, from other family and friends that are bakers in the family.
Some adapted suggestions are included for you below that make a different version from another filling of these same cookies (every Region in Italy adapts to their style).
Add whatever you like to the filling and create your own version this dough is very easy to make and very easy to roll into whatever you add to it!
Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the printable recipe card.
Sicilian Fig Filled Cookies
The one thing I will warn you about making this recipe, it's time-consuming but well worth it.
These cookies are always made for Wedding trays and at Christmas time because they really are special.
Mom used this recipe that's over 100 years old every year, and as a child, I was never a fan until later on as an adult and now they are a favorite of mine I make in her memory.
I watched her intently as she made these back then not getting in her way as again, time-consuming and tedious work was ahead with the rolling, filling, and cutting the cookies.
If you're a fan of Sicilian fig cookies you will love mom's recipe Bari style as I refer them to, as they are just a little different from the rest of the recipes out there.
Step By Step for Cucidati Italian Fig Cookies
- mix the dough ingredients
- cut the dough into 4 pieces then refrigerate for 45 minutes wrapped in wax paper or plastic wrap
- place the raisins, figs, and dates in the food processor until coarse
- mix all the filling ingredients in a bowl with the fruit mixture
- roll out the dough into a rectangular shape
- place the filling down the center of the dough
- fold over pinching seams together
- slice the cookies
- bake in a preheated oven
- cool completed
- frost and add sprinkles on top
- NOTE: below are fig newtons frosted and sprinkles on top for a semi-homemade version for those who do not like to bake!
Ingredients You Will Need
- shortening
- flour
- egg
- dates, raisins, figs
- powdered sugar
- milk
Other Italian Delicious Cookie Recipes You May Enjoy!
Biscotti
Almond Paste
Rainbow Cookies
S Shaped Cookies
Tips and Additions
- chopped chocolate or mini chocolate chips
- add chopped cherries or another dried fruit for color
- add coconut
- add more cinnamon and other earthy spices like cardamom and nutmeg
- apricot jam
- orange zest and juice
- other types of nuts
- add cinnamon to the dough for another spice flavor
- Marsala, brandy, or flavored liqueurs for soaking the fruits
- use your favorite kind of dried figs
- always refrigerate the dough
- roll out the dough in uniform sizes
- parchment paper is the best while baking so they don't stick if filling seeps
- soak the fruit in apple juice instead of liqueurs for non-alcohol to plump up the fruit then drain
- use premade fig cookies cut in half dip them and sprinkle candies on top for the semi-homemade version I have a photo enclosed in this post (show above)
Pin for later Fig Cookies
Italian Cookies
Mom was usually called-on to make these cookies for weddings and holidays and special family events.
The cookies are certainly delicious and the filling is unique to none other.
They look beautiful in an assortment on any cookie tray and perfect addition to a wedding tray.
As I mentioned, you will often find these cookies at Italian Weddings, Communions, Baptisms, and Confirmations, they were a must make or you may like my other 24 cookie roundup to stroll through there is something for everyone there also.
These fig cookies make great gifts to someone who loves figs and filled-style cookies!
Yield: 30
Cucidati Italian Fig Cookies
Cucidati (SicilianFig Cookies), are festive Wedding or Christmas tray cookies with dark spicy fruit filling, white icing glaze, and colorful sprinkles
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 10 MinInactive time: 45 HourTotal time: 45 H & 25 M
Ingredients
- Dough:
- 4 cups AP flour
- 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup vegetable shortening
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup milk
- Filling:
- 1 cup each of dried fig with stems removed and dried pitted dates
- 3/4 cup raisins
- Optional: 1 cup of hot water, hot apple juice, or hot bourbon or rum to soak the raisins, dates, and figs for 30 minutes in a bowl and set this aside then drain and blot them dry (this is to plump them up)
- 1 tablespoon orange marmalade
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup chopped pistachios, walnuts (or another kind of nut you prefer)
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- Glaze:
- 2 cups of powdered sugar
- water to make a thin icing (or use lemon juice)
- colorful candy round nonpareil sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees (after the dough is refrigerated for 45 minutes).
- Line cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside until ready to bake.
- Dough:
- Sift the flour baking soda and salt in the large bowl.
- Add the sugar and stir.
- Add the shortening using a pastry blender or fork and mix until it looks like cornmeal.
- In a clean mixing bowl, add egg, vanilla, and milk and beat together with an electric mixer
- Add the flour mixture and beat this all together until a soft dough forms.
- Remove the dough cut it into 4 pieces and wrap it in wax paper or plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate for 45 minutes.
- Filling:
- Remove stems from the figs and cut them into small pieces.
- Place the figs, raisins, and dates(drained if soaked) in a food processor and pulse until coarse consistency.
- Place the mixture from the food processor in the bowl with the rest of the filling ingredients blending together. Set this aside.
- Assembling the Cookies:
- On a piece of parchment paper or floured wax paper, place one portion (of the 4 pieces of cut dough) 0f dough on a floured board.
- Roll out each piece of dough separately into a rectangular shape around 1/8 of an inch in thickness and 8 inches long by 3 inches in width.
- Spread fig filling in the center of the strip of dough in a long line from the top to bottom of the dough.
- Fold over and press together by pinching the edges and seam together.
- Flip to seam side down and slightly flatten.
- Slice them into pieces and place seam-side down on the prepared cookie sheets.
- Continue the same for the other 3 pieces of dough.
- Bake in the preheated oven of 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until lightly browned on top (up to 12 minutes).
- Cool completely.
- Drizzle the top with free-flowing icing glaze and add colorful sprinkles to the top.
- After they are completely dried cookies must be stored in an air-tight container.
- Cookies can also be frozen for up to 6 months unfrosted.
Notes
Tips and Additions
- chopped chocolate or mini chocolate chips
- add chopped cherries or another dried fruit for color
- add coconut
- add more cinnamon and other earthy spices like cardamom and nutmeg
- apricot jam
- orange zest and juice
- other types of nuts
- add cinnamon to the dough for another spice flavor
- Marsala, brandy, or flavored liqueurs for soaking the fruits
- use your favorite kind of dried figs
- always refrigerate the dough
- roll out the dough in uniform sizes
- parchment paper is the best while baking so they don't stick if filling seeps
- soak the fruit in apple juice instead of liqueurs for non-alcohol to plump up the fruit then drain
- always bake seam side down
Pin for later Fig Cookies
Here are more of our favorite cookie recipes:
24 One-Stop Cookie Shop
Fried Bow Tie Cookies
25 Holiday Cookies
