Italian Christmas Cookies
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoons milk
Sprinkles for decoration
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla and almond extracts.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Flatten each ball slightly with the bottom of a glass.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Dip the top of each cookie into the glaze and decorate with sprinkles. Allow the glaze to set before serving.
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 12 minutes | Total Time: 27 minutes
Kcal: 120 kcal | Servings: 24 cookies #holidaybaking #holidaycookies #recipes #Recipe
Who says these amazing Italian cookies are just for Christmas? I recently tried adapting this recipe for an upcoming Easter gathering, and let me tell you, they were an absolute hit! The base cookie is so wonderfully light and buttery, it's truly a blank canvas for any holiday celebration. If you're looking for a fun, easy DIY project in the kitchen that results in delicious treats, these are definitely it. Transforming these from their traditional look to a festive Easter delight is super simple. The original recipe calls for a smooth white glaze, which is perfect because it's so easy to tint! Instead of the usual red and green icing lines and red spherical sprinkles often seen during Christmas, I used a few drops of food coloring to create beautiful pastel glazes – think soft pinks, light blues, sunny yellows, and delicate lavenders. Dipping the top of each cookie into these colored glazes instantly gives them that fresh, spring vibe. You can even create a marbling effect by swirling two colors together with a toothpick. For the sprinkles, swap out the traditional Christmas mixes for Easter-themed ones. There are so many adorable options out there: little bunny shapes, tiny eggs, or just pastel nonpareils and jimmies. They add such a playful touch and make the cookies look incredibly inviting. The OCR mentioned some cookies were shaped like flowers, which is also a fantastic idea for Easter! While the recipe suggests rolling into balls and flattening, you could gently press a small flower-shaped cookie cutter onto the flattened dough before baking, or simply pipe delicate flower designs onto the glazed cookies once they've set a bit. A simple dot in the center of a few petals can really make them pop. Making these cookies is also a fantastic DIY activity to do with kids. They absolutely love getting involved in the decorating process! Set up a little station with bowls of different colored glazes and a variety of sprinkles. Let them dip the cookies and go wild with the decorations. It's not about perfection, it's about the joy of creating something together. Plus, the powdered sugar glaze sets fairly quickly, so they're ready to enjoy or package up as gifts in no time. To add even more of an Easter touch, sometimes I'll grate a little lemon zest into the cookie dough or add a splash of orange blossom water to the glaze for a lovely, refreshing spring flavor. These small tweaks truly make these Italian cookies feel tailor-made for Easter. Honestly, these homemade cookies always get rave reviews, and seeing everyone's faces light up when they bite into one makes all the effort (which isn't much!) completely worth it. They're not just cookies; they're a little piece of homemade holiday magic!
these are gorgeous looking cookies