Figgy Pudding Cookies Recipe

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This figgy pudding Christmas cookie has all of the flavors of a traditional figgy pudding in a bite-sized, adorable Christmas cookie.  It's the perfect addition to your Christmas cookie tray.

Christmas cookies that look like miniature figgy puddings, complete with rum icing and royal icing holly leaves.

I have always absolutely adored traditional steamed Christmas puddings.  We didn't have them every year when I was growing up (we were more of a pie family, as a tradition), but oh, how I loved the puddings when we did make them!  

What is Figgy Pudding?

Figgy pudding refers to a steamed cake full of dried fruits and brandy, traditionally topped with a sprig of holly and set ablaze with more brandy.  

The term "figgy pudding" is often used synonymously with "plum pudding" and "Christmas pudding," 

Christmas pudding quote from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol.

Even if your modern Christmas pudding recipe doesn't include any actual figs, the name "figgy pudding" is firmly stuck with us, thanks to the Christmas carol "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."  For my figgy pudding cookie recipe, I decided to use actual dried figs.

Three Figgy Pudding Cookies on a small silver stand, surrounded by fresh holly and evergreen branches.

I also love making lots of Christmas cookies, and I love anything miniature.  It was only a matter of time before I thought to make miniature Christmas figgy pudding cookies!

Ingredients for Figgy Pudding Cookies

Figgy Pudding Cookie Recipe:

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 4 ounce bag of dried figs, diced in small pieces
  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • royal icing holly

Dough for Figgy Pudding Cookies being scooped out on parchment paper lined cookie sheet.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cream butter, sugar, and bits of dried fig together in a mixer.  I used my Kitchenaid stand mixer, and let it really beat these ingredients for several minutes, because I wanted the figs to be pulverized into nice, small pieces, since these are such small cookies.  Add the salt, vanilla, and flour, and mix until the flour is entirely incorporated, and a dough is formed.

Scoop out small portions of dough (a cookie scoop makes this incredibly easy), and roll the dough into smooth circles.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the cookie gets lightly browned on the bottom.

Ingredients for brandy glaze for figgy pudding cookie recipe.

Let the cookies cool completely.  In the meantime, make a simple glaze out of brandy and powdered sugar.  

Baked Figgy Pudding Cookies being decorated with rum glaze and sprigs of royal icing holly.

Drizzle the glaze on top of each mini figgy pudding cookie (I found it was easiest to get the right look by piping it on the cookie from a disposable pastry bag), and top with a sprig of royal icing holly.

Three Figgy Pudding Cookies on a small silver tray, held in a woman's hands.

Aren't they so wee and adorable?  I just love these little guys so much!

Three figgy pudding Christmas cookies that look like miniature Christmas puddings on a silver stand.

And they're delicious, too!  All those perfect Christmas flavors, in one tiny, bite-sized package.  I've created a new Christmas favorite!

Printable, One Page Version of the Figgy Pudding Cookie Recipe:

Other Christmas Cookie Recipes You Might Like:

Nicole Wills, creator of Tikkido

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