Figolli recipe, make your own Maltese traditional Easter cake

Figolli are is a traditional almond cake that you can do in all kinds of shapes! Very tasty and great fun for the children, in Malta are a speciality that is traditionally prepared for Easter.

Ingredients to make your own Figolli:

For the pastry

     350 grams caster sugar
     800 grams plain flour, sifted
     400 grams butter
     Grated rind of 1 lemon
     4 egg yolks, beaten

For the almond paste

     600 g caster or icing sugar
     2-3 egg whites
     Grated rind of I lemon
     A few drops orange flower water
     600 grams almonds, ground

The icing

     Icing
     Royal icing
     Small Easter eggs

Don't worry, it's east to prepare a Figolli:

Mix sugar with flour, then rub in the butter until the mixture resembles to fine crumbs. Add the grated lemon rind and the yolks, mixed with a little water to make a dough. Leave to chill. Add the sugar, orange flower water and lemon rind to the ground almonds, and bind with the egg whites. Roll out the pastry and cut out your shapes.

Remember to make two of each figure as they will be sandwiched with almond paste.

Lay the first shape on a greased and floured baking tray, spread with almond paste, leaving a small margin. Lay the second shape over the top and press the edges together. It helps if you wet the edges with a pastry brush to stick Bake at 200'C/400'F/gas 6 for 5 minutes, then at 180'C/350'F/gas 4, for about 20 minutes, until pale golden. Cool on the tray.

When cold, coat with icing, then decorate with royal icing in a different colour. While the icing is soft, press a small, foil-wrapped Easter egg in the middle of each shape.

View our list more tasty Maltese specialities such as Kwarezimal cake and traditional fish soup!