Italian Christmas Cookies
A festive and colorful treat, these soft, flavorful cookies are beautifully decorated with icing and sprinkles, making them a joyful addition to any holiday gathering.
Ingredients:
For the Cookies:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 tablespoon baking powder
teaspoon salt
teaspoon grated lemon zest optional
For the Icing:
2 cups powdered sugar
23 tablespoons milk or water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Food coloring red, green, or your choice
Festive sprinkles
Directions:
Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350F 175C and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Add Wet Ingredients: Mix in the eggs, vanilla extract, almond extract, and lemon zest if using until well combined.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms.
Shape the Cookies: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Bake: Bake for 1012 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Prepare the Icing: In a medium bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. The icing should be thick but spreadable. Divide the icing into separate bowls and add food coloring to each to create festive colors.
Decorate: Once the cookies are completely cool, dip the tops in the colored icing and immediately sprinkle with festive sprinkles. Allow the icing to set before serving.
Nutritional Information:
Prep Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 12 minutes Total Time: 32 minutes
Kcal: Approximately 150 kcal per cookie
Servings: Makes about 36 cookies
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