Our house runs on a lot of things! Love, laughter and biscuits! Especially the Italian kind! Growing up, I can remember the endless amounts of golden trays that would come out if my dad had been to Italy or the local Italian deli. They were a real staple! Therefore, today, I thought I would share a recipe that is completely and utterly moorish!

Good Morning Lovelies, 

In my home, I was brought up loving all the authentic flavours of the best Italian and English foods. From classic roast dinners and Eton messes to biscotti and pasta. You couldn’t escape them in our house! 

Thinking of a recipe for today, I really started to reflect on this, as it was around this time fifteen years ago that me and my dad went back to his homeland. Sicily. Whilst there, we ate a lot. And I mean a lot. From the moment we woke up we were presented with beautiful foods. 

Fresh fruits and juices, brioche breads and the best of the best, the golden trays filled with biscuits, filled pastries and cannellonis. At the time, I couldn’t get enough. Me and my mum often talk about how good they all were. 

There so, I thought I would share a recipe with you all featuring a classic from Sicily that reflects a staple British biscuit too. Fig-filled Sicilian cuccidati bites that once you start you can’t stop eating. It’s time to bake like mamma used to…

Ingredients

250g of Plain Flour

80g of Sugar

One Teaspoon of Baking Powder 

Zest of One Lemon or Orange

One Egg

A Pinch of Salt

Five to Six Tablespoons of Milk

200g of Chopped Dried Figs

50g of Sugar

One Tablespoon of Water 

1/2 Teaspoon of Cinnamon (Optional)

Tools

A Baking Tray

Baking Paper

A Small Saucepan

Two Mixing Spoons

A Mixing Bowl

Method

1. Start by preheating your oven to 180°C/350°F before greasing and lining a baking tray with baking paper.
2. Grab a small saucepan and put the figs, sugar and water into it. Place the pot onto a hob on a low heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 until it is soft and jam like. Remove and allow to cool. 
3. Whilst the figs cool, take your mixing bowl and add in the flour, sugar, baking powder,  salt and zest before mixing together. 
4. Once combined add in the egg and milk, a little bit at a time, until a soft dough forms. 
5. Using your hands, divide the dough into equal sized small balls. 
6. Then flatten each ball into a disc shape before filling the centre of each one with one teaspoon of the fig mixture. Once filled fold and pinch the edges to seal. 
7. Place the cookies onto the lined baking tray and place into the oven for 15 minutes or until lightly golden. 
8. Once ready, remove from the oven and allow to cool before tucking in! 

In our house, we often have these in the morning with a cup of tea or coffee but they work at any time of the day! If you love a fig roll or newton that you will love these. They are truly a slice of Italian heaven! 

Joey X