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Italian Christmas Cookies
 
recipe image
Prep Time: 0 Minutes
Cook Time: 0 Minutes
Ready In: 0 Minutes
Servings: 1
These traditional Italian Christmas Cookies are filled with figs and topped with a sweet white icing.   You'll often see these popular cookies covered in festive holiday sprinkles or colored sugars, so add sprinkles if you like.   We used red, green and white sprinkles which are certainly Christmas colors and also the colors of the Italian flag.
Ingredients:
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/4 cups shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs, well beaten
3 (8-ounce) packages dried figs
cookie frosting
Directions:
1. Combine flour and baking powder in a large mixing bowl; stir well. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Make a well in center of mixture, and set aside.
2. Combine sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, and gradually stir in eggs. Pour into reserved flour mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened.
3. Knead 3 to 4 times on a lightly floured surface. Roll to 1/4-inch thickness; cut into 1 1/2-inch squares. Place a fig in the center of each square; press dough around fig.
4. Place cookies, seam side down, on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350° for 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets, and cool completely on wire racks. Spread frosting over tops of cookies.
By RecipeOfHealth.com