Description
Traditional Italian Christmas Cookies that are soft, buttery, and lightly flavored with vanilla and almond extracts. These festive cookies are easy to make and decorated with a sweet glaze and colorful sprinkles, perfect for holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
Glaze and Decoration
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
- Sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring a good texture for the cookies.
- Add Eggs and Extracts: Beat in the eggs one at a time to the creamed mixture, then stir in the vanilla and almond extracts until everything is fully combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Shape and Bake: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Slightly flatten each ball with your hand or the bottom of a glass. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges turn golden. Let them cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Glaze and Decorate: Prepare the glaze by whisking powdered sugar with 2 to 3 tablespoons of milk until smooth. Dip the top of each cooled cookie into the glaze, then decorate with sprinkles as desired. Allow the glaze to set before serving or storing the cookies.
Notes
- Make sure the butter is softened but not melted for best creaming results.
- Do not overmix the dough to keep the cookies tender.
- Adjust the glaze consistency by adding more milk or powdered sugar if needed.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week.
- For extra flavor, you can add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dry ingredients.
