When author Tembi Locke’s mother-in-law concerned L.A. to see her cancer-stricken kid over the vacations, she got here with a travel suitcase filled with braided garlic, specialized cheeses, tomatoes, olive oil, almonds, and great deals of dried figs. Intent on calming hearts, Locke’s mother-in-law required to making cuccidati (” little bracelet”), the conventional Sicilian Christmas cookies. In this post, Locke states what these little, buttery cookies taught her about her own sorrow, her mother-in-law, and the power of forgiveness. Both the dough and the fruity, nutty filling for these timeless Italian vacation cookies come together rapidly in a food mill. Nonpareils (small round sprays) are the standard accessory, however lemon enthusiasm or sliced pistachios are excellent too. The orange enthusiasm in the filling, though optional, actually makes the tastes sing. All items included on Bon Appétit are separately picked by our editors. When you purchase something through the retail links listed below, we make an affiliate commission. IngredientsMakes 16–20 DOUGH 1/3 cup (67 g) granulated sugar 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1/4 tsp. Morton kosher salt 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour, plus more for surface area 1/2 cup (1 stick) cooled saltless butter, cut into pieces FILLING AND ASSEMBLY1 1/3 cups sliced dried figs 2 Tbsp. sliced dried apricots 2 Tbsp. raisins 2 Tbsp. sliced raw almonds 2 Tbsp. sliced raw pistachios 2 Tbsp. orange marmalade 2 tsp. honey 1 tsp. carefully grated orange passion (optional) 1/2 tsp. instantaneous espresso powder (optional) 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon All-purpose flour (for surface area) 1 cup (110 g) powdered sugar 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice Multicolored nonpareils, sliced pistachios, and/or carefully grated lemon passion (for embellishing; optional) PreparationDOUGHStep 1Pulse granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and 2 cups (250 g) flour in a food mill to integrate. Include butter and procedure till mix is the consistency of damp sand, 10–15 seconds. Include eggs and pulse till a ball of dough types. Step 2Turn dough out onto a gently floured surface area and kind into a fat cylinder. Wrap in plastic and chill a minimum of 1 hour. Do Ahead: Dough can be made 2 days ahead. Keep cooled. FILLING AND ASSEMBLYStep 3Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350 °. Pulse figs, apricots, raisins, almonds, pistachios, marmalade, honey, orange enthusiasm (if utilizing), espresso powder (if utilizing), and cinnamon in tidy food mill up until carefully sliced however not puréed. Action 4Unwrap dough and present on a gently floured surface area to a rectangular shape somewhat bigger than 10 x8″. (If dough fractures around the edges, simply press it together; it’s rather flexible.) Turn dough so a long side is closest to you, cleaning with more flour if required. Cut dough to determine 10 x8″, then cut in half lengthwise to make 2 10 x4″ rectangular shapes. Action 5Using damp hands, roll half of filling into a 10″ cylinder and set up down length of 1 rectangular shape of dough. Fold long side of dough closest to you over filling and roll up to enclose filling; carefully press joint to seal. Roll log joint side down and rock backward and forward to protect. Cut ends. Slice log in half crosswise, then slice each half into 1″- thick rounds (you ought to have 4 or 5 rounds each). Location rounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing about 1/2″ apart (the cookies will not spread out much). Repeat procedure with 2nd rectangular shape of dough and staying filling; set up on baking sheet. Action 6Bake cookies till pale golden below and company, 17–22 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet 5 minutes, then move to a cake rack and let cool totally. Step 7Whisk powdered sugar and lemon juice in a little bowl till smooth. Icing must be thick however pourable (somewhat thicker than whipping cream); thin with water if required. Action 8Set cake rack with cookies inside baking sheet. Spoon icing over cookies and right away spray with nonpareils, pistachios, and/or lemon enthusiasm as preferred. Let cookies sit up until icing is set, 10–15 minutes. Do Ahead: Cookies can be made 2 weeks ahead. Shop airtight at space temperature level.
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