Figolli are Malta’s iconic Easter sweet - beautiful pastries made from two layers of shortcrust filled with rich almond paste, baked until golden, then decorated with colourful royal icing and crowned with a chocolate egg. They’re traditionally shaped like lambs, fish, hearts, or Easter baskets, each shape carrying symbolic meaning for the Easter celebration.

Ingredients

For the Pastry:

• 500g plain flour
• 250g cold butter, cubed
• 200g caster sugar
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 whole egg
• 2-3 tbsp cold water (if needed)

For the Almond Filling:

• 400g ground almonds
• 300g icing sugar
• 2 egg whites
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tsp almond essence (optional)

For Decoration:

• 2 egg whites
• 300g icing sugar (for royal icing)
• Food colouring (various colours)
• Small chocolate eggs (one per figolla)

Instructions

1. Make the pastry: Rub the cold cubed butter into the flour using your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the caster sugar and lemon zest. Add the egg yolks and whole egg and bring together into a smooth dough - only add a tablespoon or two of cold water if absolutely necessary. The dough should be firm but pliable. Wrap in cling film and chill for 30-60 minutes.

2. Make almond filling: In a bowl, mix together the ground almonds and icing sugar. Add the egg whites, lemon zest, and almond essence if using. Mix well until it forms a soft but firm paste that holds together. Divide the mixture into 6-8 portions (depending on the size of your figolli) and shape each portion into a flattened oval or shape that matches your chosen template, making it slightly smaller than the pastry shapes to allow for a border.

3. Shape the figolli: Roll the chilled pastry on a lightly floured surface to about 4-5mm thickness. Cut out shapes using metal cutters or a paper template - traditional shapes include lambs, fish, hearts, or baskets. You need two identical shapes per figolla. Place one pastry shape on a lined baking tray. Place the shaped almond filling onto the center, leaving a border of about 1-2cm around the edges. Brush the edges lightly with water. Carefully place the second pastry shape on top and press the edges firmly together to seal. You can crimp the edges decoratively with a fork if desired.

4. Bake: Preheat oven to 180°C (fan 170°C). Bake the figolli for 20-25 minutes until lightly golden - be careful not to overbake as they should remain pale rather than deeply browned. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.

5. Decorate: Whisk the egg whites until frothy, then gradually add the icing sugar, whisking continuously, to form a thick royal icing. The consistency should be spreadable but not runny. Divide into bowls and add food colouring as desired - traditional colours include pastel pink, yellow, green, and blue. Spread the white or coloured icing over the cooled figolli, leaving the edges visible if you prefer. While the icing is still soft, place a small chocolate egg in the centre. You can pipe decorative patterns with different colours if desired. Allow the icing to set fully before serving - this takes 2-3 hours at room temperature.

Serving Suggestions

• Best eaten within a few days of making
• Store in an airtight container at room temperature
• Often gifted to children at Easter
• Beautiful as an Easter table centerpiece
• Can be individually wrapped in cellophane as gifts
• Traditionally served on Easter Sunday after Lent

Traditional Notes & Tips

• The lamb shape represents Christ, the Lamb of God
• Fish represents Christian faith and baptism
• Hearts symbolize love and devotion
• Baskets represent Easter offerings
• Older traditional recipes sometimes coat figolli in melted chocolate instead of royal icing
• Bakeries often make very large decorative versions as window displays
• The almond filling should be moist but not wet - it shouldn’t ooze out during baking
• Make sure edges are well sealed or the filling will leak
• Don’t roll the pastry too thin or it will break
• The pastry should be pale golden, not brown - overbaking makes it hard
• Some families add a drop of rose water to the almond filling
• Royal icing sets hard, creating a sweet shell over the pastry
• Figolli are traditionally made during Holy Week
• Children often help with decorating, making it a family Easter activity
• Templates for shapes can be found online or made from cardboard
• The chocolate egg must be placed while icing is wet or it won’t stick
• Can be made ahead - they keep well for 4-5 days
• Some bakers brush the pastry with egg wash before baking for extra colour
• The combination of sweet pastry and almond filling is very rich