Cucciddati cookies are delicious Sicilian American cookies made up of figs and dates, then rolled in cookie dough and baked. Frosted with icing or sesame seeds, these are perfect for your Christmas cookie tray
Cucciddati Christmas Cookies are a family favourite at JoJo's house.
Every time there's a wedding or a family gathering, then these tasty little treats get made! They're also great during the holiday season, given the wonderful decorations that are added for that extra festive look and taste.
Here, JoJo has made two variations, one with an icing coating and one with a sesame coating, called GIUGIULENI” (pronounced JuJulanie).
Both equally delicious.
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Some background to the origins of these cookies taken from Wikipedia: "Buccellati, in Sicilian, literally "little bracelets" are uniquely Sicilian fig cookies of sweet dough rolled out and filled with figs as well as numerous other ingredients. The ingredients are as varied as the names the cookies are called by, apparently a function of the town or region in which they are made.
In most of Sicily (as in most Sicilian-American homes) they are called "cucciddati". They often include dates or date paste, and "cucciddati" could be interpreted as "date cookies".
Other towns call them "nucciddati" (nut cookies), "zucciddati", "ucciddati", "vucciddati" and as in Serradifalco, pucciddati.
That town's version includes ground figs and dates, nuts, and orange rinds.
The rolls are either cut into short tubes, or curved around to form a "bracelet".
The cookies are a favorite at Christmas and wedding celebrations of many Sicilian-American and Sicilian families."
These Sicilian cookies are a little similar to the UK Fig Rolls, which are absolutely delicious too!
Recipe by JoJo Lanthier
Prep Time
20 - 30minutes
Cook Time
12 - 15 Minutes
Yield
Approx 140
Ingredients
The Filling
(should be prepared in advance):
1 lb. dry figs, grind
1 lb. dry dates, grind
¼ lb. raisins, grind
¼ lb. candied cherries, grind
1 small orange (with skin), grind
1 ½ cups nuts, grind
1 small can pineapple or peaches, grind
1 teaspoon cinnamon, add
1 cup sugar
1 cup brandy (optional)
*if you are not using brandy, you can use the equivalent in either the juice from any canned fruits or fresh orange juice.
The Dough
5 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 ¼ cups margarine, cream
¾ cup sugar, cream
2 large eggs, blend
1 tsp. vanilla, blend
½ cup milk
Plus 2 egg whites (approx) and milk to coat if making sesame seed cookies.
For the sesame coating
1 lb sesame seeds (you may have some leftover depending on how many cookies you make)
For the sugar frosting
Powdered Sugar and milk.
Instructions
To Make The Filling
Do this 1-7 DAYS IN ADVANCE: -
Grind figs, dates, fruits, and nuts alternating each as you grind. (optional: add sugar and brandy or whiskey and cinnamon) Pour reserved juice from canned fruit add if needed to make fig mixture really moist.
Store in fridge in an air-tight container until needed. If there is any leftover, store in freezer for up to one year.
To Make The Dough
1. Set dry ingredients aside. Cream and blend wet ingredients; add flour one cup at a time. Dough should not be sticky but not dry.
2. Add flour to the board to roll easily then roll the dough into a rope, then flatten the dough all the way along.
3. Take the date mixture and roll into a rope thinner in diameter than the dough rope. Place this mixture in the middle of the flattened dough rope and fold the edge over and press down so the edge is sealed all the way along. Then cut ½ inch pieces.
4. For the sesame coating: (before baking) Wet each cookie in egg whitewash with a little milk and roll in the sesame seeds.
5. Bake the cookies for 12-15 minute at 350 F until browned. Cool and frost if desired.
To frost the cookies
Add powdered sugar and milk until easily spread. (optional : may add ½ tsp. of anise oil or flavoring to frosting) then cover the cookies and decorate with Christmas cake decorations. (you can buy these in the cake section ).
We'd love to hear from you and what you thought of our recipe. Did you make any changes or add some other ingredients? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading and happy cooking!
Recipe Card
Cucciddati cookies are delicious Sicilian American cookies made up of figs and dates, then rolled in cookie dough and baked. Frosted with icing or sesame seeds, these are perfect for your Christmas cookie tray
Ingredients
FILLING (should be prepared in advance):
- 1 lb . dry figs, grind
- 1 lb . dry dates, grind
- ¼ lb . raisins, grind
- ¼ lb . candied cherries, grind
- 1 small orange, grind, with skin
- 1 ½ cups nuts, grind
- 1 small can pineapple or peaches, grind
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon, add
- 1 cup sugar and booze, optional
DOUGH:
- 5 cups flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 ¼ cups margarine, cream
- ¾ cup sugar, cream
- 2 large eggs, blend
- 1 tsp . vanilla, blend
- ½ cup milk
- Plus 2 egg whites and milk to coat if making sesame seed cookies., approx
For the sesame coating :
- 1 lb sesame seeds, you may have some left over depending on how many cookies you make
For the frosting:
- Powdered Sugar and milk.
Instructions
To Make The Filling
Do this 1-7 DAYS IN ADVANCE: -
- Grind figs, dates, fruits, and nuts alternating each as you grind. (optional: add sugar and brandy or whiskey and cinnamon)
- Pour reserved juice from canned fruit add if needed to make fig mixture really moist.
Store in fridge in an air-tight container until needed. If there is any leftover, store in freezer for up to one year.
To Make The Dough
1. Set dry ingredients aside. Cream and blend wet ingredients; add flour one cup at a time. Dough should not be sticky but not dry.
2. Add flour to the board to roll easily then roll the dough into a rope, then flatten the dough all the way along.
3. Take the date mixture and roll into a rope thinner in diameter than the dough rope. Place this mixture in the middle of the flattened dough rope and fold the edge over and press down so the edge is sealed all the way along. Then cut ½ inch pieces.
4. For the sesame coating: (before baking) Wet each cookie in egg whitewash with a little milk and roll in the sesame seeds.
5. Bake the cookies for 12-15 minute at 350 F until browned. Cool and frost if desired.
To frost the cookies
Add powdered sugar and milk until easily spread. (optional : may add ½ tsp. of anise oil or flavoring to frosting) then cover the cookies and decorate with Christmas cake decorations. (you can buy these in the cake section ).
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 140 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 98Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 17mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 1gSugar: 8gProtein: 2g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate
Here's a collection of delicious cookie recipes you can make for Christmas
Amaretti Style Cranberry and Orange Almond Cookies. These amaretti-style biscuits use minimal flour and have a light airy finish, fit to accompany desserts and drinks light as a feather and fat-free too!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Tiffin is a delicious American twist on the classic British Tiffin chocolate snack, made up of peanut butter, jelly, crushed cookies, chocolate and raisins. An easy no bake sweet chocolate bar recipe.
Lemon Graham Cracker No Bake Cookies, AKA Graham Cracker Crust Cookies are quick and easy to make using basic pantry ingredients. Zesty and sweet, these cookies are great with a glass of cold milk!
Easy Chocolate Tiffin is a delicious no-bake British recipe, made of chocolate, crushed cookies, syrup, and raisins, often served at English afternoon tea.
Easy Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies.
These delicious cream cheese chocolate chip cookies are soft and gooey on the inside and crispy on the outside. An easy small batch cookie recipe using regular pantry ingredients.
Easy Sesame Brown Sugar French Palmier Cookies, AKA Elephant Ears. These are a very easy to make crispy puff pastry cookie, filled with sesame seeds and brown sugar. Great for the holidays!
Amazing Ginger Cookies.
These amazing ginger cookies are a classic cookie, crisp and baked to give you a perfect cookie full of flavor. Perfect for Christmas or any time of the year.
White Chocolate and Cranberry Banana Drop Cookies.
These are a light, soft, fluffy cookie, loaded with white chocolate and cranberries. Great for using up those overripe bananas!
Cranberry and Orange Thins are very thin, crisp, buttery cookies, easy to make with a crunchy, caramelized texture. Delicious with a coffee or tea.
Famous New Orleans Pecan Pralines. A great Southern, New Orleans institution! Delicious buttery brown sugar candy type cookie in one, made of pecans, butter, sugar, and milk. Great for Christmas time too!
Lemon and poppyseed thins are a very thin, crisp, buttery cookie, easy to make with a crunchy, caramelized texture. Delicious with a coffee or tea.
Easy oatmeal cookies taste amazing! Soft and Chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside, this basic oatmeal cookie recipe is great on it’s own or you can add chocolate, nuts or dried fruit. A simple classic cookie recipe
Alfajores De Maicena, delicious melt-in-the-mouth buttery shortbread cookies from Argentina, made with cornstarch and filled with Dulce de Leche then rolled in coconut.
Mini Meringue Cookies! These are a wonderful sweet treat made up of just 2 ingredients. Incredibly easy to make and are perfect for adding to desserts or eating just as they are.
Soft and Creamy Peanut Butter Cookies, decadent cookies with a peanut butter cookie dough and then filled with creamy peanut butter, a perfect cookie for PB fans!
Fluffy Amaretti Style Lemon Almond Cookies. These amaretti-style cookies are as light as a feather and fat-free too!
Double Chocolate and Orange Biscotti are lovely little Italian cookies perfect for having with a cup of coffee. Easy to make, and make perfect gifts too!
Soft, White Italian Cookies, dipped in a sugar glaze. A great family recipe, passed down the generations. Perfect for Christmas and the holidays!
Joy Cookies. This is an easy recipe packed full of delicious chocolate, coconut and vanilla. These go fast so be sure to bake plenty!
Chinese Almond Cookies are simple little cookies, traditionally made for Chinese New Year. These cookies are soft, fluffy, and crumbly. The shape symbolizes coins and will give you good fortune in the coming new year! Easy recipe and are so addictive, be sure to make plenty!
Christmas Cookies with Sugar Icing. These little cookies are such fun to make! Get ready for the holidays and make up a batch. Great for gifts and there's a recipe for a super easy sugar icing too.
Florentine Cookies are a wonderful cookie type treat, with delicious nuts & fruit and coated on one side with white or dark or milk chocolate. Easy recipe!
Gingerman or even Gingerlady Cookies! Very cute and fun to make, have fun decorating these!
German Star Cookies, also known as Zimtsterne Cinnamon Cookies are a wonderful cookie for Christmas. They're crisp, chewy and spiced with all things nice!
Rum, Orange and Raisin Cookies - A delicious flavor combo, crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside!
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. Soft and chewy oatmeal raisin cookies, a simple cookie recipe using pantry ingredients to give you the best ever cookies!
Quick Mix Spritz Cookies. These little cookies have a wonderful vanilla flavor and melt in your mouth. Easy to make! Get creative and make different shapes ready for Christmas!
Vanilla Butter Ring Cookies. These little cookies have a wonderful vanilla flavor and melt in your mouth. Easy to make!
French Palmier Cookies or Elephant Ears are a delicious little cookie filled with almonds and perfect for the holidays! Quick and easy to make too!
These Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies are packed full of flavor and incredibly easy to make. Loaded with goodies such as butterscotch and cinnamon, they're always popular and great with a nice cold glass of milk.
Lemon Melting Moments Cookies - A wonderful gentle lemon flavor with a melting sensation!
Pecan and Raisin Oatmeal Cookies. Soft and Chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside, these are the BEST EVER oatmeal cookies, loaded with pecan nuts and raisins. A simple classic cookie recipe
Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies. A lovely easy recipe and great for gift packages at Christmas!
Chewy White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies. Soft and Chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside, these are the BEST EVER oatmeal cookies, loaded with white chocolate. A simple classic cookie recipe
Macadamia and White Chocolate Cookies. Perfect with a cup of tea or glass of milk! A very easy cookie recipe.
Grandma's Crunchy Chocolate Chip and Walnut Cookies recipe is easy to make, and great for gifts. Loaded with chocolate and nuts, and perfect for the holidays