Chocolate Fig Cookies

It amazes me how a smell or taste can trigger a wonderful memory. When I was a child, I remember my Aunt Lucy made these amazing chocolate fig cookies. I searched all over and asked my aunts if they had the recipe. Everyone had a different recipe for "cucidati" (Italian Fig Cookies) but they were not what I remembered. I started to think that I may be losing it or my memory may have been altered by my childhood innocense. Ok, stop laughing, I was innocent once!

I decided to venture out and try to make Aunt Lucy's cookies. After a day of trial and error, I have to say, these cookies are what I remember. A soft center of chocolate, fig and orange zest, in a buttery crust. I'm sure it's not the same recipe but I have to say, it's very close!

Cuccidati, also known as buccellati, Italian Fig Cookies or Sicilian Fig Cookies are fig-stuffed cookies, traditionally served at Christmas Time. These cookies include ground figs and dates, nuts, and orange rinds. The cookie represents the heart and soul of Sicilian life. Grounded in the earth, fig trees (virtually a weed found everywhere) and at the same time exotic, with orange rinds and other delectables. In the united states variations include the addition of chocolate and Cointreau.

So here's the recipe this Sicilian Girl came up with, you'll need:

1 package of Betty Crocker Butter Cookie Mix (yup, I cheat on the crust) Bake 350 degrees 17 mins.

1/2 cup chopped fresh figs

1/4 cup chopped blanched almonds

1/4 mini chocolate chips

2 tbsp orange zest

1 tbsp fresh orange juice

3 tbsp condensed milk

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp all spice

1/4 ground cloves

Mini cupcakes tins needs

Prepare the cookie mix according to the package. I figured why re-invent the wheel when Betty Crocker makes a great mix and you only have to add three ingredients. Make small balls with the cookie dough and push into the greased cupcake tins.

Mix the remainning ingredients and slowly add the condensed milk. The mixture will be thick and sticky, that's PERFECT! Bake the cookie dough for 5 minutes before you add the fig mixture. After 5 minutes take them out and carefully (it's hot), spoon the fig mixture into the cookie cups. Return to the oven and bake an additional 12 minutes.

Allow to cool completely before you dust them with powdered sugar. The center of this cookies will be gooey (yes, that's a culinary word), sweet and reminds me of a spice cake. The warm spices will wake up your taste buds and goes perfect with an espresso.

So Aunt Lucy, I hope you're smiling on me from Heaven, knowing that I made your fig cookies, or what I remember to be your fig cookies.

Buono Natale & Felice Anno Nuovo!