This cookie platter is the result of four Italian gals chatting on Facebook about some of the cookies we were baking, Adri, Linda, Domenica and myself.
Over the years we have formed friendships through the world of blogging, and have expressed several times how fun it would be if we could cook and bake together.
Almost immediately Linda suggested we do a cookie exchange through the mail, we all loved the idea and within minutes Linda took charge and sent us all an email with instructions for the first, Inaugural Italian Gals Christmas Cookie Exchange!
Each person was to bake and mail two dozen cookies to three people. The cookies should be the type that ships well, something like pizzelle would be too fragile. Then place them into a tin of some sort and send them either Fedex or U.S. Mail, she even listed the rates for us.
We baked them just a couple of days before we sent them out for optimum freshness and not too long after boxes started arriving at my front door!
Beautiful boxes wrapped in ribbons with cards.
This tin was from Adri, the cookies are called, Three Nut Fingers, a recipe she adapted from Rose Levy Beranbaum’s book called, Rose’s Christmas Cookies, they are filled with almonds, hazelnuts and pecans and she even added in a little Frangelico, they were heavenly! Here’s Adri’s version.
The next day I received this tin of crunchy Cranberry-Hazelnut Biscotti, a recipe Domenica adapted from her new and forthcoming book called Ciao Biscotti, which will be released this March, ( you can pre-order now) how lucky were we to be able to taste a recipe from her new book. Wonderful with morning coffee or tea!
And last but not least Linda’s, Italian Christmas “Brownies” glazed with Lemon Icing. A cookie filled with chocolate and pungent spices, a perfect after dinner treat, it even includes a surprise ingredient that makes the flavor even more intense and delicious.
My contribution to the cookie exchange was Cucidati, a traditional Italian cookie originating from Sicily that I make every year with family, it’s filled with figs, nuts, dates, orange, raisins and spices along with a little rum or whiskey to top it off.
They’re a labor of love and can be time consuming to make, so when we do it we do it big, at least 400 or more so that everyone will have a good amount to take home and share. It’s become an annual event at my house where we spend the whole day baking Cucidati from early morning until late afternoon. We start out drinking coffee but end up sipping Dumante ( a pistachio liqueur) before the day is over. It’s a fun day and we look forward to it every year!
My tables and counters quickly get filled up with these figgy little gems!
I actually whipped up a fresh batch of cucidati for my Italian Gals cookie exchange two days before I mailed them. I layered them in a box with lots of waxed paper in between and they all arrived safely!
So you see, you don’t have to live near each other to have a cookie exchange, you can do it through the mail like we did, though you might want to limit the amount of people involved due to shipping costs.
This was so much fun, and it was the next best thing to us all being in one of our kitchens and baking together!
I’m Marie, a wife, mother, mother-in-law, and gramma of two beautiful girls. My passion is food, clear and simple but especially Italian food, hence the name of my blog, Proud Italian Cook. I want you to feel right at home here so grab a cup of coffee, I’ll get the pastries, take a look around and enjoy your visit! {
Hi, I’ve just found your wonderful website and am so thrilled. I’m retired now, but when I was working we used to have a cookie exchange at school. Sometimes 15 to 20 of us participated and we each got 2 dozen cookies of everything. I can’t tell you how much we enjoyed it and what a different taste of cookies we had since we were all different nationalities. Thank you for bringing back this memory.
It really is fun Angela, welcome!
Hi Marie,I don’t know what happened,but I no longer receive you e-mails.I even bought your sauce e-book,but I’m at a loss now without your newsletter ,please advise
Thanks,Cindy
Great idea to share with family to keep the traditions alive
This is too fun! I do xmas cookies every year, as you know. About a week ago, I thought it would be great to have an Italian cookie theme for my xmas cookie tins next year. Then, I see your post! Very cool!!! And, I am changing up my traditional xmas eve/day cucidati making this year. I will make fig newtons, which likely won’t be as festive as the cucidati but along similar lines. I don’t doubt that cucidati are the origins of our fig newtons. Did I tell you that I actually met Nick Malgieri? I took a bread making class with him, and it was a wonderful experience. He really helped me not be afraid of yeast dough. Next step for me is to make your pasta…Always something to keep me inspired, Marie…You are an amazing cook, baker and blogger! Cheers and Happy Holidays!
Ellen, You’re the sweetest. Cheers to your holiday my friend! How lucky for you to meet Nick Malgieri, maybe in the future you can help me not be afraid of yeast dough too. I bet your fig newtons will be fantastic!
What a fun idea, Marie! Would love to join the group in the future! Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!
This really was so much fun, and Marie – what a terrific write-up. If this does not convince others to get a group together, then I do not know what will. I love ho wall of the cookies look together, and Marie, your “Cucidati – the Making Of” shots are terrific. I think we four have our own holiday tradition firmly in place now, one i look forward to continuing for many years to come. Buon Natale a tutte!
What a marvelous idea!! I am now trying to recapture the spirit of Natale that my mamma embodied with her wonderful baking and cooking. I have so many recipes spinning around in my head that I’ll just have to wait until next year. You ladies are wonderful — I’m looking forward to salivating over the photos of the dolci.
That is so awesome! I mean really! Such a fun idea!
How fun is this!! Glad you gals had a great time and got to taste a bit of everything.
Brilliant fun idea
What a fun idea! All the cookies look delicious! Do you happen to have a recipe for the almond crescents they sell at Caputo’s? I’m not sure what they’re called but they are a family favorite!
Thanks!
Tara, Those are a basic Italian butter cookie like my “Puff” cookies which you can check out in my recipe index. Just replace the pecans with almonds and shape them into cresents. Hope this helps
Hi Marie, I have always wanted to make cucidati , my favorite xmas cookie, like my mother made. So this year was the year! Your recipe was so easy, dought was easy to work and everyone told me they came out great! I realize the sprinkles make them look festive but I left them off , like mother. Thanks for the recipe
That’s great Jim, so glad you liked them!
Lucky ladies to share all your delicious cookies this way. Enjoy them all! My baking marathon begins this week.
All of those figgy cookies are amazing. I cook in such small batches I don’t know what I would do with that many cookies, but I have to say I love watching.
Madonna
Yes, Had it not been for Stacey mentioning that she had tried your cuccidati, I would not have thought of the idea. So thanks Stacey. And thanks Marie, Adri and Domenica. These were the best cookies I could have dreamed of and it was a wonderful way to share the holiday and traditions across the miles. Let’s do it again next year.
This was such a lovely way to kick off the Christmas cookie-making season. Yes, next year for sure! Buon Natale amiche xo
What a fabulous idea…I will be doing this with my friends in California.
I think I should get some credit for starting the trouble! (but I was rewarded handsomely)
xo
Ah! So you are the culprit, Stacey 🙂 I couldn’t remember how the idea bubbled up. Cheers and thanks!