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Buccellati

17/11/2023

Buccellati, also known as cucciddati, are traditional Sicilian sweets, typical of the Christmas period. They are round or ring-shaped and are filled with a mixture of dried figs and other fruits.

Ingredients

For the dough:

  • 500 g of flour
  • 150 g of lard
  • 150 g of sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 packet of baking powder
  • Grated zest of one orange
  • A pinch of salt

For the filling:

  • 300 g of dried figs
  • 100 g of toasted almonds
  • 100 g of dark chocolate
  • 50 g of candied pumpkin
  • 50 g of candied orange
  • 1 tablespoon of honey
  • 1/2 shot glass of Marsala or another sweet wine
  • A pinch of cinnamon
  • Ground cloves to taste

To decorate:

  • 1 egg for brushing
  • Granulated sugar to taste
  • Candied fruits or candied citron to taste

Preparation

  1. Start by preparing the filling: finely chop the dried figs, almonds, chocolate, pumpkin, and candied orange. Put everything in a bowl and add honey, Marsala, cinnamon, and cloves. Mix well until you obtain a homogeneous mixture and let it rest.

  2. For the dough, mix the flour with the sugar, orange zest, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl. Add the lard and eggs, then work the dough until it’s smooth. If it’s too dry, you may add a little milk to achieve the desired consistency.

  3. Divide the dough into portions, roll each one out into a sheet not too thin, and place some of the prepared filling in the center of each.

  4. Close the dough onto itself forming rolls and then, ring-shaped pastries.

  5. Place the rings on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, brush them with the beaten egg, and sprinkle with granulated sugar.

  6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 20-25 minutes or until they are golden.

  7. If desired, you can decorate the Buccellati while they are still warm with pieces of candied fruit.

Curiosity

Buccellati are greatly beloved sweets because they combine the sweetness of honey and figs with the intense flavor of almonds and chocolate, with spicy additions giving a very characteristic taste, perfect for the year-end festivities. Moreover, everyone has the possibility to add their personal touch, slightly varying the ingredients according to their family tradition.

Buccellati