Buccellato Recipe: Authentic Sicilian Christmas Cake 2026

Buccellato is a rustic Sicilian Christmas cake with a crunchy, golden crust and a rich, moist filling of dried figs, raisins, nuts and sweet wine. It's shaped into a ring, brushed with apricot jam and decorated with candied fruit, making it a showstopper on any holiday table. Despite its impressive look, the recipe is straightforward and comes together with simple pantry ingredients.

The filling is intensely aromatic and slightly boozy, thanks to the sweet wine and candied angel hair pumpkin jam. The dough is tender and buttery from the lard, with a bright hint of orange zest. Each slice reveals a jewel-toned mosaic of fruit and nuts that tastes even better after a day of resting.

Serve buccellato once it has cooled completely, ideally with an espresso or a small glass of sweet Italian wine. It keeps well for days, so you can bake it ahead of your holiday gathering. The recipe yields about 20 servings, making it perfect for sharing.

Ingredients for Buccellato

For 20 servings

• 150 g white sugar
• 125 g lard, at room temperature
• Zest of 1 orange
• 2 large eggs
• 500 g all-purpose flour
• 8 g baking powder
• 300 g dried figs
• 100 g raisins
• 150 g walnuts
• 150 g almonds
• 100 ml sweet wine
• 300 g angel hair pumpkin jam (cabello de ángel)
• 1 large egg
• 30 g apricot jam
• Candied fruit, to taste

How to Make Buccellato Step by Step

1. Cream the lard with sugar and orange zest

Start by making the dough. In a large bowl, mix 150 g of white sugar with 125 g of room-temperature lard and the zest of 1 orange until the mixture becomes creamy and well combined.

2. Add the eggs

Add 2 large eggs to the creamed mixture and beat until fully incorporated. The dough will become smooth and slightly glossy.

3. Incorporate the dry ingredients and chill

Sift 500 g of all-purpose flour and 8 g of baking powder together, then add to the wet ingredients. Mix with a spatula until a homogeneous dough forms. Shape into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour until slightly chilled.

4. Prepare the filling

Meanwhile, make the filling. Chop 300 g of dried figs, 100 g of raisins, 150 g of walnuts and 150 g of almonds into small pieces and place them in a saucepan. Pour in 100 ml of sweet wine and cook over low heat for 10 minutes, allowing the wine to evaporate. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.

5. Finish the filling

Add 300 g of angel hair pumpkin jam and 1 large egg to the fruit mixture and mix well. Let it cool completely at room temperature until ready to fill the dough.

6. Roll out the dough

After the dough has rested for 1 hour, roll it out with a rolling pin into a rectangle about 40 x 30 cm and 5 mm thick. At this point, preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) with top and bottom heat.

7. Add the filling

Place the filling in the center of the dough, pressing it down lightly to compact it.

8. Seal the dough

Fold the dough over the filling to enclose it, pinching the edges to seal.

9. Shape into a ring and bake

Now give it its characteristic ring shape, leaving some of the filling visible. The dough may crack as you form the ring, which is completely normal. If it doesn't crack, make a few slits with a knife. Carefully transfer the buccellato to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush with half of the apricot jam. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 45 minutes, until golden. Halfway through baking, brush with the remaining apricot jam.

10. Decorate

Remove the buccellato from the oven and decorate with candied fruit to taste.

11. Cool and serve

Let the buccellato cool completely before slicing. It's even better the next day, and pairs wonderfully with an espresso or a sweet Italian wine.

Tips for the Best Buccellato

Customize the filling

The filling is flexible: you can add pistachios or diced candied orange, and a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves for extra warmth. Just keep the total amount of add-ins similar so the dough still seals properly.

Let it rest for maximum flavor

Buccellato tastes best after it has fully cooled, and even more so if allowed to rest overnight. The flavors meld and the texture becomes even more moist and aromatic.

Serving suggestions

Serve slices with a strong espresso or a small glass of sweet Italian wine, such as Vin Santo or Marsala. It's a perfect ending to a holiday meal.

30 Go-To Recipes I Keep Coming Back to in My Own Kitchen

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a rotation that covers cozy classics, dishes from around the world, and sweets that make everyone happy.

Some nights I want something luxuriously rich, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a truly indulgent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I'm after something fruity and soothing, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For mornings that call for something easy and for lighter plates, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever I need a gluten-free staple for the pantry, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

When tapas and Mediterranean cooking are calling, I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion feels a bit more special.

Hearty midday meals and comforting suppers? These are the ones I'm always recommending: this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually lead me to this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crackly Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a quick appetizer or snack.

And when I'm hosting and putting together drinks alongside a full menu, I'll often serve dinner with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this potent Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring the whole table together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for Your Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes boil down to three things: straightforward methods, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more celebratory for friends and family.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll usually make the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For cozier, more filling meals, I frequently point people to the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes with roots in other countries, such as the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado

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