Description
Festive Italian Christmas Cookies bring sweet memories of holiday cheer, dancing with rich almond and vanilla notes. Family traditions sparkle through each delicate, powdered sugar-dusted bite, inviting you to savor classic Mediterranean warmth.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
Leavening and Flavoring:
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Frosting and Decoration:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk
- Nonpareil sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
- Sift flour and baking powder together in a medium mixing bowl, ensuring a uniform texture for consistent cookie structure.
- Using an electric mixer, cream butter, vanilla extract, and sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Incorporate eggs individually into the butter mixture, blending thoroughly after each addition to maintain smooth consistency.
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, gently kneading until dough forms a cohesive, slightly firm texture without excessive stickiness.
- Tightly encase dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 60 minutes to enhance flavor development and improve cookie texture.
- Preheat oven to 375°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cookie removal and minimal cleanup.
- Carefully shape dough into uniform 1-inch spheres or elegant swirl designs, positioning each cookie approximately 2 inches apart on prepared sheets.
- Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes, watching for delicate golden-brown edges as indication of perfect doneness.
- Whisk powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk together until achieving a silky, glossy glaze with consistent spreadability.
- Once cookies have completely cooled, artfully dip or drizzle with prepared glaze and immediately garnish with festive sprinkles for decorative finish.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain the cookie’s shape during baking.
- Use room temperature ingredients for smoother mixing and better texture in the final cookie.
- For gluten-free variation, swap wheat flour with almond or coconut flour to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Try flavor variations by adding citrus zest, almond extract, or spices like cinnamon to personalize the recipe.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg