Each holiday season I like to add a few new cookies to my tried and true regulars, this year I wanted to try out these cookie stamps that I saw in my Williams-Sonoma catalog.
Each stamp is embossed with a beautiful design, a wreath, a snowflake and a gift tag.

The dough is a basic sugar cookie dough that has been chilled then rolled into balls, flattened and then stamped.

I was impressed how well the embossed design showed up, but the decorating part was another story! I bought those edible markers and they didn't work out very well on the bare cookies, next time, (if there is a next time) I'll use a piping bag with a small tip.

One cookie I can always count on our my Fig and Pistachio Biscotti  I make them every year and they are truly a favorite!

Along with Cucidati of course!

Traditional Italian fig cookies, it just wouldn't be Christmas without them!

Wishing all my readers a very healthy and happy holiday season filled with family, food and fun!
Thank you for all your support through out the year, I appreciate each and every email and comment!

Ok just one more cookie! At the last minute I caved in and made some Cucidati, I wasn't going to make them at all this year but I was slightly coerced by my brother-in-law and husband who were giving me a guilt trip.


Cucidati are traditional Italian fig cookies very popular at Christmas time consisting of a tender dough that wraps around a thick and flavorful filling of figs, raisins, almonds, orange peel and a few other things that are laced with brandy and warm spices.


On a cold winter day my house quickly warmed up with the scent of cucidati baking in the oven. I don't know what I was thinking, it just wouldn't be the same without a few of these gracing our table!

In the end I made two people very very happy that day, and isn't that the
real reason why we cook anyway?

Here's my favorite recipe.

I want to take this time to wish each and everyone of you a most delicious holiday filled with lots of love and happiness!

From my kitchen to yours,

Marie

Whether you call them Cucidati, Sicilian X Cookies, or just plain Italian Fig Cookies, the end result is the same. Tender sweet dough, that's wrapped around a very flavorful spiced fig filling.

This is a favorite in many Italian households, and hands down, this is my hubby and his brothers

favorite cookie! I think it's mostly nostalgic, because it reminds them so much of their mom, in fact they call them "Moms cookies". Weeks before, my BIL will call me and plead " Are you gonna make mom's cookies this year? Let's make mom's cookies! What do you need? What should I buy? We'll help you! Normally their idea of helping is spending 5 minutes in the kitchen then popping a DVD in, and every so often I would hear one of them say, "How's it going up there? "Got any done yet?" Well this year I decided to call their bluff and said I would make them if they help. I think they now have total appreciation for all the work that goes into it!

To make these, you need to set aside the whole day, it's very time consuming especially if you triple the recipe, which we did. You can however, make the dough and the filling a day ahead of time which I will do next year.

I decided to use Nick Malgieri's recipe ( link below) which is so similar to my MIL's. The only thing I omitted was the chocolate in the filling, my MIL never put chocolate in hers. The dough is tender, and easy to work with, and a breeze to make in the food processor!

For the filling, some of the ingredient's are, golden raisin's, candied orange peel, toasted and chopped almonds.

Apricot preserves, dark rum or brandy, instant espresso, cinnamon and cloves.

I made my BIL chop up the figs. Nice job UJ!

All the ingredients get whirled together in the food processor and the end result is a thick and flavorful fig paste!

The dough and fig paste gets divided up equally.

One at a time on a floured surface, you flatten each piece of dough and roll it out into a rectangle 3" x 12" long. Next, roll your fig paste into a log, lay the log on top of the dough, seal the edges and roll it out into a cylinder. Cut them as big as you want.

Heres our finished project. just waiting for the frosting to dry. You don't have to frost them, but we like them that way. Needless to say, the 2 brothers were very happy!!

HERE'S THE LINK TO THE RECIPE.

Of course I have to send a bunch of these over to Susan from Food Blogga! She's got her famous cookie baking event going on again.

Check out the roundup she has already! They all look delicious! Hurry, you still have a little time to submit something.

Happy Baking!!!