The Cuccuidati is a classic Sicilian Christmas cookie that my mom makes every year. I made this video to share and capture the family recipe that has been handed down through the family. Here’s to another sweet holiday season and hopes of passing the recipe on for generations to come.
For the video, there wasn’t much setup or planning. Trying to coordinate something like this with my mom doesn’t go over too smooth, so I just had to capture the moment as it flies by and remind her to slow down once in a while for the camera. We managed to capture some cuteness throughout the chaos and the basic steps one would need to bake the cookies. Here are the ingredients for the recipe in more detail:
Mom’s Cuccidati:
(The ingredient list for filling, dough and glaze.)
Filling Ingredients:
California Dried Figs: (4 7oz packages)
Fig Jam (1 Jar)
Citron Fruit Mix (½ lb)
Orange Marmalade (1 Jar)
Golden Raisins (¾ box soaked overnight in Grand Marnier, Honey & Hot Water)
Almonds (1 lb roasted and chopped rough)
Honey (12 oz)
Orange Zest
Ground Cinnamon (to taste)
Grand Marnier (1 shot to taste)
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (I bag)
Dough Ingredients:
5 cups unbleached flour
5 teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ stick of butter
¾ cup of sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Milk (add slowly until dough isn’t sticky and forms together)
Glaze Ingredients:
Powdered Sugar (1 bag)
Melted butter (1 tablespoon)
Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon)
Grand Marnier (1 teaspoon)
Milk (add until desired consistency)
Recipe:
Step 1 - Make the Filling:
Grind the figs. Then it’s really quite simple: get a giant bowl and dump the rest of the filling ingredients (see above) until it’s combined and tastes delicious.
Step 2 - Make the Dough:
In a mixer, whip the butter and sugar
In a separate bowl, whisk 3 eggs, then add cinnamon and vanilla
In another separate bowl, combine the flour and baking powder
Add the eggs and flavor to the mixer
Add the flour and baking powder to the mixer
Then add small amounts of milk until the dough forms a ball
Knead the dough until it’s shiny
Shape into a log and place in the fridge for 15 minutes to chill
Step 3 - Make the Cookie:
Slice the log into quarter-inch sections and roll them thin
Scoop the fig filling into the center of the piece of rolled dough, then pinch together to form a fig-filled roll
Slice the roll into cookie shapes and place on a baking tray
Repeat this until the dough and filling has been used up
Bake the cookies in the oven at 375° for about 13 minutes until the bottoms are golden brown
Let the cookies cool overnight
Step 4 & 5 - Make the Glaze and Frost The Cookies
In a mixer add 1 bag of Powdered Sugar, 1 tablespoon of Melted butter, 1 teaspoon of Vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon of Grand Marnier. Then add Milk until desired consistency.
Lastly, frost the cookies and sprinkle on the sprinkles!
Enjoy the holiday season!