Name: Italian Orange-Fig Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 3 servings
Cuisine: Europe, Italian
Ingredients: 2 packages (8 ounces each) almond paste; 1 cup sugar, divided; 1 cup confectioners' sugar, divided; 2 tablespoons apricot preserves; 3 large egg whites, room temperature; 1/2 cup dried figs, finely chopped; 1 tablespoon grated orange peel

Italian Orange-Fig Cookies are almond-flavored treats with a sweet orange and fig filling, perfect for serving during dessert occasions or tea time.

Ingredients

2 packages (8 ounces each) almond paste

1 cup sugar, divided

1 cup confectioners' sugar, divided

2 tablespoons apricot preserves

3 large egg whites, room temperature

1/2 cup dried figs, finely chopped

1 tablespoon grated orange peel

Instructions

1 Preheat oven to 325°. Place almond paste, 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar in a food processor; pulse until fine crumbs form. Add preserves and 1 egg white at a time, pulsing after each addition to combine. Transfer almond mixture to a large bowl; fold in figs and orange peel (dough will be sticky).

2 Place remaining sugars in separate shallow bowls. Drop tablespoonfuls of dough into sugar. Gently coat and shape into 1-1/4-in. balls. Repeat in confectioners' sugar. Place 1 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake 24-28 minutes or until tops are cracked and bottoms are golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool.