cucidates (italian firecrackers)
My Great Grandma Huppenbauer made this recipe. Her maiden name was Gallo. She was very proud of her Italian heritage. I remember her bringing these to the farm in Iowa from Chicago when she would visit for Christmas. One time when Grannie Annie was visiting AZ from Iowa, she made these with Brad, Crystal, and Tim on the patio. She loved having fresh OJ to add to the recipe. These cookies are very time-consuming but very yummy.
Blue Ribbon Recipe
Part of the fun when making these Cucidati cookies is making them with family. They are an Italian Christmas cookie from Sicily similar to a fig cookie. These old-fashioned cookies have a chewy and spiced dried fruit and nut filling. The chewy center is contrasted by a crunchy cookie exterior coated in a sweet sugar glaze. While these take a while to assemble, they're meant to be a fun family project to bake and eat together.
Ingredients
- DOUGH
- 6 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup lard
- 1/2 cup margarine
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup milk
- FILLING
- 2 pounds raisins
- 1 - string of figs (about 1 lb)
- 2 cups walnuts, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 3/4 cup honey
- ICING
- 1 pound powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup warm milk
How To Make cucidates (italian firecrackers)
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Step 1DOUGH: Sift dry ingredients together. -
Step 2Cut in shortening and margarine as you would for pastry crust.
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Step 3Beat eggs and add to the milk with a fork.
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Step 4Add egg mixture to the dry ingredients.
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Step 5This dough is very easy to handle. Combine until the dough comes together.
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Step 6Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill.
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Step 7FILLING: Prechop the figs. Run raisins and figs through a meat grinder.
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Step 8Add remaining filling ingredients. Mix with your hands. This is VERY sticky.
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Step 9ASSEMBLY: Cut chilled dough into 6 pieces.
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Step 10Roll out the dough very thin.
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Step 11Cut into squares.
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Step 12Place about a teaspoon of filling in the center of the dough.
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Step 13Roll like a crescent with the seam on the bottom. Seal seams and edges with water.
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Step 14Form into a crescent shape. Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
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Step 15Bake at 350 - 375 degrees for 10 minutes on the bottom shelf.
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Step 16Then move to the top shelf for an additional 10 minutes.
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Step 17Remove from pan and cool.
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Step 18ICING: Combine the icing ingredients to make a thin icing.
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Step 19Dip cooled cookies into the icing.
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Step 20Add sprinkles.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
