Ingredients
- 1 cup packed soft dried Mission figs (8 oz), hard tips discarded
- 3/4 cup raisins (3 3/4 oz)
- 3/4 cup mild honey
- 1/4 cup brandy
- 1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated fresh orange zest
- 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 3/4 cup whole almonds (4 oz), toasted and coarsely chopped
- 3/4 cup walnuts (3 oz), toasted and coarsely chopped
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 sticks (1 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 teaspoon finely grated fresh orange or lemon zest
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- Garnish: multicolored nonpareils*
Directions
- Pulse figs and raisins in a food processor until finely chopped, then stir together with remaining filling ingredients in a bowl. Chill, covered, at least 8 hours.
- Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Add butter and blend with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) just until most of mixture resembles coarse meal with some small (roughly pea-size) butter lumps. Add eggs, milk, vanilla, and zest and stir with a fork until a soft dough forms. Halve dough and gather each half into a ball, then flatten each half into a rough 6- by 4-inch rectangle between sheets of plastic wrap. Chill until firm, at least 8 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Roll out 1 rectangle of dough (keep remaining dough chilled) into a 15- by 14-inch rectangle on a well-floured surface with a floured rolling pin. Trim to a 13- by 10-inch rectangle (chill trimmings), then cut into 4 (10- by 3 1/4-inch) strips. Arrange 1/3 cup filling in a 1-inch-wide log lengthwise down center of each strip, then fold sides of each strip up over filling to enclose it, pinching edges together to seal. Turn rolls seam-sides down and press gently to flatten seams. Cut logs crosswise with a floured knife into 1 1/2-inch-wide slices and arrange 1/2 inch apart on buttered large baking sheets. Make more cookies in same manner with remaining chilled dough, trimmings (reroll once), and filling.
- Bake cookies in batches in middle of oven until golden around edges, 16 to 20 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks and cool until warm, about 10 minutes.
- Whisk together confectioners sugar, vanilla, and enough orange juice to make a pourable icing.
- Brush icing on warm cookies and decorate with nonpareils (if using), then cool completely.
- Available at some specialty bakeware shops and Sweet Celebrations (800-328-6722).
