These Italian Fig Cookies Are a Bite of Christmastime Nostalgia

Italian fig cookies, or cuciddati, are light and crisp pastries with irresistibly soft centers that will steal the show this Christmas. Perfect for cookie swaps, parties, and gift-giving, Nicole McLaughlin's recipe is an homage to her own childhood memories filled with an array of Italian cookies to sweeten the holiday spread. Learn how to make these nostalgic treats and celebrate one bite at a time.

Fig Deal

Dried figs, dates, and raisins create the base of the luscious cookie filling. "Other family recipes may call for other dried fruits like cranberries, currants, or golden raisins," explains Nicole. Roughly chop your fruit before using a food processor to blend the ingredients into a thick paste.

Add toasted pecans and orange juice to the mix for a bright, well-rounded flavor and spices like cinnamon and clove for a deliciously aromatic bake. Worried about letting extra ingredients go to waste? "If you have dried fruit leftover, they're delicious tossed in salads or roasted with some pork or chicken," shares McLaughlin. "Or just double the batch!"

Get the recipe: Italian Fig Cookies (Cuciddati)

Cover and chill the filling ahead of time for the richest result — Italian fig cookies are the perfect make-ahead treat. While the filling flavors marry, you'll have plenty of time to prepare the other components.

The Big Rollout

Keep the food processor handy for the cookie dough as well. Pulse together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt before incorporating fat. Pulse again until the mixture has the consistency of coarse sand, then add egg, vanilla, and almond extract to perfect cuciddati's delicate flavor.

Chill your dough for at least an hour before baking — this will ensure that it's sturdy enough to hold in all of that rich, figgy goodness during baking. "Cut your dough into four manageable-sized pieces and roll [each] into a rectangle, making sure to trim the edges," says Nicole. "Take the filling and form a log down the dough."

Using a knife or bench scraper, lift and roll the pastry over the filling. Cut the cookies on the diagonal, making small decorative slits on the side of each treat. Place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees F for 12-14 minutes.

Holiday Hues

Vibrant icing and colorful sprinkles are must-haves for authentic cuciddati. "In true Italian fashion, you'll take your glaze and color it a pale pink and green," says McLaughlin. "Looks pretty festive to me!" Let your cookies cool before dipping them in the glaze and finishing with a fun candy topping.

Once the icing has hardened, feel free to dig into these mouthwatering Christmas treats. Italian fig cookies hold up well for several days after baking, taking on a crisp biscotti-like crunch on the outside, but maintaining a perfectly chewy interior. Your whole family will love this scrumptiously old-school Christmas cookie with the unmistakable taste of tradition.

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