Cuccidati (Sicilian Fig Cookies)

This is a fig cookie which is made at Christmas. From: www.OreganoFromItaly.com

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 40

Ingredients

• Ingredients

• 4  cups flour
• 2⁄3 cup sugar
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 16  tablespoons butter
• 4  eggs
• 12  ounces dried figs, finely diced
• 1⁄2 cup raisins
• 1⁄2 cup  candied orange, diced
• 1⁄2 cup  almonds, finely chopped
• 3  ounces  semisweet chocolate, cut into small dice
• 1⁄3 cup  apricot preserves
• 3  tablespoons dark rum
• 1  teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon clove, ground
•  egg wash
• 2  eggs
• 1  pinch salt
•  multi-colored  candy sprinkles (optional)

Directions

1. Directions:.
2. Place the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Run the blade a few times to mix.
3. Add the butter to the bowl and pulse to combine. Add the eggs, and run the blade until forming a consistent dough.
4. Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and wrap in a plastic foil. Place in the refrigerator.
5. In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine the figs, raisins, candied orange, almonds, chocolate, apricot preserve, rum, cinnamon, and cloves. Pulse the blade until a smooth compound is obtained.
6. Transfer the fig paste to a bowl.
7. Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C).
8. Prepare the egg wash by beating the eggs with a pinch of salt.
9. Remove the dough from the refrigerator, and unwrap it on a floured work surface. Add a small quantity of flour. Knead the dough to make it soft and smooth.
10. Cut the dough into 10 - 12 pieces. With the help of a rolling pin, flatten each piece into a rectangle approximately 3 x 15 inch (7 x 35 cm).
11. Brush the egg wash on the dough.
12. Place approximately 1/3 cup of filling in the center of the rectangle lengthwise.
13. Take one edge of the dough and bring it over the filling to form a roll.
14. With the palm of your hands roll the cylinder to make it even.
15. Cut the roll into 4-5 pieces approximately 3 - 4 inch (8 - 10 cm) long. Set them aside. Continue forming the rolls until all the dough and the filling are used.
16. Using a sharp knife, cut 4 - 5 diagonal incisions on the surface of the rolls. You can also cut straight incisions on the surface of the rolls, and curve the cookies in a "U" shape.
17. Transfer the rolls to 3 cookie pans lined with parchment paper.
18. Brush the surface with the remaining egg wash.
19. Optionally sprinkle with multicolored nonpareil.
20. Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden. Transfer onto racks to cool.