Serves 6

Make 12 pizzelles according to machine instructions.

They can be made in advance. Store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Ingredients

• 1 large egg
• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled to lukewarm
• 1 teaspoon good quality vanilla extract (pure, not artificial)
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder

Procedure

1. In a medium bowl whisk together the egg and the sugar. Add the vanilla extract and the melted butter.
2. Sift together and then stir in the flour and baking powder.

Roasted Figs

Ingredients

• ¼ cup good quality honey
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup Marsala (an Italian fortified wine)
• 18 Black Mission Figs

Procedure

1. In a small glass bowl, warm the honey slightly in the microwave.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the honey with the sugar and Marsala.
3. Cut the stems off the figs and cut the figs in half.
4. Place them in the bowl with the Marsala mixture and gently stir the figs so they are evenly coated with the Marsala mixture.
5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
6. Let the figs marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to one hour.
7. Place the figs in a single layer in an ovenproof dish. Bake the figs for 10 minutes, turn them over and bake for about 10 minutes more until they are plump and soft. Reserve the liquid.
8. Remove them from the oven and cool to room temperature.

Mascarpone Cream

Ingredients

• 8 ounces mascarpone
• 1½ cups heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon good quality vanilla extract (pure)

Procedure

1. Combine all the ingredients together in a medium bowl. Whisk until soft peaks form. Refrigerate the cream until you are ready to assemble the dessert.

Assembly:

Ingredients

• Powdered sugar for dusting

Procedure

1. Place a pizzelle on each of six plates. Place three figs on top of each pizzelle. Spoon a little of the fig roasting juices (marinade) over and around the figs. Dollop some mascarpone cream over the figs. Top the dessert with a second pizzelle. Dust the top with powdered sugar.
2. Serve immediately.

©2001 Emily Luchetti