Italian Christmas Cookies

These delectable Italian Christmas Cookies will add festive Italian flavors to your holiday celebrations. These cookies, loaded with classic ingredients and a dash of magical festive flavor, are guaranteed to become a family favorite.

Tasting Notes

These Italian Christmas Cookies are a delightful combination of sweet, nutty, and fruity flavors. The tender texture and festive decorations make them a perfect treat for the holiday season. Enjoy them with a cup of coffee or share them with loved ones for a truly authentic Italian experience.

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the Glaze:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• Colored sprinkles, for decoration

Optional Toppings:

• Chopped nuts (such as almonds or pistachios)
• Candied cherries or colored nonpareils

Kitchen Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Hand or stand mixer
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper
• Cookie cutters (holiday shapes)
• Wire cooling rack

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
6. Roll and Cut: On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use holiday-shaped cookie cutters to cut out cookies and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
7. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. Prepare the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract until smooth.
9. Decorate: Once the cookies are completely cooled, drizzle or spread the glaze over the cookies. Immediately decorate with colored sprinkles, chopped nuts, or candied cherries.
10. Allow Glaze to Set: Let the glaze set before storing the cookies in an airtight container.

Pro Tips

• For a richer flavor, you can replace vanilla extract with anise extract in the cookie dough.
• Experiment with different shapes and sizes for a diverse cookie platter.

Variations

• Add citrus zest to the glaze for a refreshing twist.
• Dip half of each cookie in melted chocolate for a decadent finish.

FAQs

Yield: 36 cookies

Italian Christmas Cookies

Print

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 12 minutes

Total Time 32 minutes

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For the Glaze:

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• Colored sprinkles, for decoration

Optional Toppings:

• Chopped nuts (such as almonds or pistachios)
• Candied cherries or colored nonpareils

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms.
6. Roll and Cut: On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use holiday-shaped cookie cutters to cut out cookies and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
7. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. Prepare the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract until smooth.
9. Decorate: Once the cookies are completely cooled, drizzle or spread the glaze over the cookies. Immediately decorate with colored sprinkles, chopped nuts, or candied cherries.
10. Allow Glaze to Set: Let the glaze set before storing the cookies in an airtight container.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

36 cookies
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 90Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 0.5gSugar: 3gProtein: 1g