Description
These Italian Christmas Cookies are a delightful holiday treat featuring a soft, buttery dough flavored with vanilla and almond extracts, baked to a light golden perfection and topped with a sweet powdered sugar glaze and festive sprinkles. Perfect for sharing and celebrating the season with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Holiday sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes a few minutes.
- Add eggs and extracts: Beat in the eggs one at a time to the creamed butter mixture, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then mix in the vanilla extract and almond extract for flavor.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms that holds together but is not sticky.
- Shape cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them evenly spaced, about 2 inches apart, on the prepared baking sheets to allow for spreading.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. The bottoms should turn lightly golden while the tops remain pale and soft.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely on the baking sheets or a wire rack before glazing.
- Prepare glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and slightly runny, suitable for dipping.
- Glaze and decorate: Dip the tops of the cooled cookies into the glaze and apply holiday sprinkles if desired. Let the glaze set at room temperature before serving or storing.
Notes
- These cookies should remain light in color; avoid overbaking to maintain their traditional appearance and texture.
- You can substitute almond extract with lemon extract for a classic variation that offers a bright, citrus flavor.
- Store cookies in an airtight container for several days to keep them fresh and maintain their soft texture.
