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Italian Christmas Cookies

Italian Christmas Cookies
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Soft and tender Italian Christmas cookies flavored with almond or anise, topped with a sweet vanilla glaze and festive sprinkles.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3/4 teaspoon almond extract (or anise extract for traditional flavor)
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • For the Glaze:
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 4 tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Christmas non-pareil sprinkles, for decorating

Instructions

  1. Begin by preparing the cookies: In a stand mixer, combine the granulated sugar, softened butter, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Beat on medium speed until the mixture becomes smooth and fluffy, which should take about 2 minutes.
  2. Incorporate the eggs, one at a time, beating until they are just combined. Don’t worry if the mixture appears slightly separated at this stage.
  3. Gradually add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to the wet ingredients with the mixer on low speed. Continue mixing until all the dry ingredients are fully incorporated into a cohesive dough.
  4. Wrap the cookie dough tightly in plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour, or up to 4 hours.
  5. Once chilled, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  6. For shaping, you can either roll the dough into 1-inch balls or, for a more traditional look, roll each dough ball between your lightly floured hands into a 4-inch log and coil it into a mound. Place the shaped cookies on the prepared baking sheets, ensuring they are about 2 inches apart.
  7. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cookies are set and their bottoms are very lightly golden, while the tops remain pale. You want them to stay tender, not crispy.
  8. Transfer the baked cookies to a wire rack to cool completely, which typically takes about 30 minutes.
  9. While the cookies cool, prepare the glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  10. Dip the top of each cooled cookie into the prepared glaze, allowing any excess to drip off. Immediately adorn with festive non-pareil sprinkles before the glaze sets.
  11. Allow the glazed cookies to sit for approximately 30 minutes, or until the glaze has fully hardened. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

    Find it online: https://www.masterthecook.com/italian-christmas-cookies/