Soft Italian Christmas Cookies
Authentic, soft, cake-like Italian cookies topped with a sweet almond glaze and festive nonpareils. A holiday tradition for every dessert platter.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 25 cookies
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
All-purpose flour – 2 cups
Baking powder – 1 tablespoon
Kosher salt – 1/4 teaspoon
Unsalted butter (room temperature) – 6 tablespoons
Granulated sugar – 1/2 cup
Large eggs (room temperature) – 2
Almond extract – 2 teaspoons
Powdered sugar (for glaze) – 1 1/2 cups
Almond extract (for glaze) – 1 teaspoon
Milk – 2-3 tablespoons
Christmas sprinkles – as needed
Instructions
Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
Beat room temperature butter and granulated sugar in an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
Add eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
Mix in the almond extract until fragrant.
Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least one hour for a rounded cookie shape.
Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on the sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes until the bottoms are barely golden; do not overbake.
Cool cookies completely on a wire rack.
Whisk powdered sugar, almond extract, and milk together to create a thick glaze.
Dip cookie tops into the glaze, garnish with sprinkles, and let set on parchment.
Notes
• Use room temperature ingredients to ensure a smooth, emulsified dough.
• Chilling the dough is essential if you want a tall, domed cookie rather than a flat one.
• Be generous with the sprinkles immediately after glazing, as the icing sets quickly.
Find it online: https://sweetcraftrecipes.com/soft-italian-christmas-cookies/