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Cucidati: Sicilian Christmas Cookies
​
By Isaiah Pinzino, December 2022

Mmm, cucidati! Cucidati (pronounced koo-chi-dah-tee) are traditional Sicilian fig cookies traditionally served around the holidays. Imagine a fig newton but about a million and a half times better. My family makes these every year, and I want to share this recipe with you. While other traditional cucidati recipes use milk and eggs (and sometimes rum), this one is 100% vegan, and perfect for any holiday occasion.
FILLING

2 14-oz packages of dried figs
4 cups water
2 cups chopped walnuts 
3/4 tsp cloves
3 Tbsp grape jelly (I used organic, but the original recipe
 probably uses Smuckers.  Most of the traditional recipes I looked at used raisins and honey, but the jelly works well and is vegan)
1 tsp fresh orange zest


DOUGH - to use all the filling, you can double this.

4 c flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 t salt
1 c vegan butter
One flax egg (3 T water and 1 T golden flax meal, mixed and set aside for 10 min.
2/3 c water  
1 t vanilla


GLAZE

1/8 c water (or less)
1 c powdered sugar
1 pkg of sugar sprinkles or other festive decoration
1. Boil water while removing stems from figs.  Immerse figs in boiling water and remove from heat.  Let sit for about 10 min. 
​2. Place figs in a food processor with walnuts, cloves, jelly, and orange zest.  Add just enough of the fig water to keep the food processor from seizing up, maybe ¼ cup. Puree until smooth and thick.  Set filling mixture aside

3. Combine dry ingredients, including sugar.
4. Add shortening into dry ingredients and cut until you get little pellets.  There are tools meant for this, but two knives work just fine. Add flax egg to flour, along with vanilla and salt.  Mix until dough forms a mass, but no more.  Refrigerate if you’re not going to use it right away.

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
6. Roll out 1/4 of the dough on a floured surface into a long 3-inch wide strip. Lay a stripe of filling along the center of the strip, about 3/4 in. thick.  Take one edge of the dough and fold it just over the filling.  Slice off the other edge of the dough.  You should have a long sushi roll of cookie that you should slice into 3-inch sections.  7. Make 2 slits on the round edge of each cookie and bend the edges to expose the filling.
8. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 30-40 minutes, until bottoms are a little brown and dough is slightly , and with a pastry brush, glaze each cookie and decorate with sprinkles.
9. Enjoy!

Isaiah Pinzino
​

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  • Home
    • Women's History Month >
      • Books Written by Women
      • women are amazing
      • A Celebration Of Women's Achievements
      • Anonymous Stories: Women’s History Month
    • Hispanic Heritage Month >
      • Hispanic Heritage Month
      • Top 5 Books for Hispanic Heratige Month
      • El Día de los Muertos - FAQ
      • Mexican Independence Day
      • Hispanic Artists
      • Hispanic Authors
    • PODCAST >
      • Love & Dating
      • All Things Black History
    • Teacher's Corner >
      • Teacher's Corner: Gordon
      • Teacher's Corner: Ejzak
      • Teacher's Corner: David
      • Teacher's Corner: Wilde
    • Sports/Clubs
    • Student Businesses
    • Resources >
      • LGBTQ+ Resources
    • Black History Month Collection >
      • Angelica Dass: The Nature of Color
      • How Coraline Could Be So Much Creepier
      • Chicago's Historian, My Father
      • Top 3 Black Artists
      • Pain For Profit
      • Black Historical Figures
      • HALLOWEEN ARTICLES >
        • Where's All The Halloween Spirit?
        • Op-Eds >
          • The white Christmas Ideology
          • FUN & QUIRKY CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS AROUND THE WORLD
          • The Hanukkah Games
          • Next Generation of A-List Hollywood Stars
          • Juice WRLD: A Celebration of Life
          • High School's Personal Hell: Finals
          • Why Eggnog?
        • Why Hocus Pocus Is The Best Halloween Movie
        • An Overanalysis Of The Nightmare Before Christmas
        • The History of Halloween
        • BROOKS TOP 5: Movies and Horror Games
        • HOW TO WRITE THE PERFECT HORROR
        • The Quarry: Game Review
        • Game Review: Outlast 2
        • Who's the Ghoulest of Them All?
        • Game Review: Silent Hill
      • Hiding Behind the Strength
    • This Month >
      • Media Reviews >
        • Why Princess Bubblegum Isn't A Bad Person
        • Crazy Rich Asians: Movie vs Book Review
        • Why Craig of The Creek is the Best Children's Show
        • GOD OF WAR Review
        • Watch Interview with the Vampire
        • Top 5 Classic Christmas Movies IMO/BROOKS OPINION
        • Tokyo Godfathers is a Weird, Wonderful Christmas Gem
        • Top 10 Videogame Soundtracks
      • Location Reviews >
        • Daisy's Po-Boy & Tavern
      • Sports Panel >
        • Brooks Men's Varsity Basketball: Analysis
      • CREATIVE WRITING >
        • You Make Me Anxious
        • Valdrá La Pena Para Ti
        • Cooking Corner >
          • Brioche >
            • Featured articles >
              • What Makes Wednesday's Dance so Iconic
              • An Overanalysis On Wednesday Characters
          • Pizzelles
          • Sicilian Christmas Cookies
          • No-Bake Cheesecake
          • Tiramisu
          • pozole
  • Meet Us
    • Socials >
      • Google Forms