Figgy Filled Cookies
By: Four Seasons Ho...
Published: Sunday, December 6, 2009 - 9:24am

Ingredients




1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
6 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, preferably freshly grated
1/2 cup fig preserves
 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 large egg yolk
3 tablespoons heavy cream
3 tablespoons turbinado sugar(raw sugar)
2 ounces finely chopped good quality white chocolate

Preparation

1 Beat butter, cream cheese and vanilla in a large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.  Add the granulated sugar and brown sugar, beat until very smooth. 2 Beat in flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg on low speed until blended.  Divide dough into thirds then flatten into disk; wrap each disk in plastic wrap then freeze until firm about 40 minutes. 3 Roll each disk on a floured surface with a floured rolling pin to 12-inch round 1/8 thick diameters then spread each with equal amounts of fig preserves and walnuts.  Cut each round into 16 wedges with a sharp knife.  Starting at the wide end roll up each wedge around fillings; bend each roll slightly to from a crescent.  Place cookies 1 inch apart on large greased baking sheets. 4 In a small bowl whisk together the egg yolk and 1 tablespoon cream,  brush mixture on cookie tops then sprinkle with turbinado sugar lightly press sugar onto cookies to adhere.  Bake cookies at 350F.  about 20-22 minutes or until golden switching sheets positions halfway through baking.  Let cookie cool on sheets for 5 minutes then  transfer to large wire rack. 5 In a small saucepan bring remaining cream to a slight boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and whisk in white chocolate until melted.  Drizzle melted chocolate with fork on top of cookies.

About


Note: This recipe was submitted by Margee Berry to the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle's Ultimate Holiday Cookie Contest.
These fig and walnut filled cookies with a crunchy top I created will be sure to please family and friends during the holidays plus they are a great looking cookie to add to any baker's cookie platter.  The smell of them baking reminds me of going to my German grandmother's house during the holidays with all the wonderful aromas coming from her kitchen.  This cookie is similar to one she use to make but I updated with the use of gourmet fig preserves and good quality white chocolate.  
Note: Fig preserves can be found at major grocery stores or gourmet cooking shops.