Description
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with these delightful Italian cookies featuring a soft, buttery texture and a festive green glaze. Perfect for gatherings, these traditional cookies are infused with vanilla and almond extracts, glazed with a sweet almond icing tinted green, and topped with colorful sprinkles for a cheerful touch.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/4 tsp Salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, softened
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 tsp Almond Extract
- 1/2 cup Whole Milk
Glaze Ingredients
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1-2 tbsp Milk (adjust for consistency)
- 1/2 tsp Almond Extract
- Green Food Coloring (for St. Patrick’s Day theme)
- Green Sprinkles (for decoration)
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly grease them to prevent the cookies from sticking.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined. Set this mixture aside.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the Eggs and Extracts: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then mix in the vanilla and almond extracts for aromatic flavor.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the butter mixture alternately with the whole milk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix gently until just combined to maintain a tender dough.
- Shape the Cookies: Using a spoon or cookie scoop, drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Flatten Dough Balls: Slightly flatten each ball of dough with the back of a spoon or your fingers to help the cookies bake evenly.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before glazing.
- Make the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk (start with 1 tbsp and add more if needed for desired consistency), almond extract, and green food coloring until smooth and glossy.
- Glaze the Cookies: Spoon or brush the green glaze onto the cooled cookies, covering the tops evenly.
- Decorate: Immediately sprinkle green sprinkles over the glazed cookies for festive decoration while the glaze is still wet.
- Serve: Allow the glaze to set before serving these festive Italian cookies at your St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
Notes
- Ensure the butter is softened to room temperature for easier creaming and a smoother dough.
- You can adjust the consistency of the glaze by adding more powdered sugar if it’s too thin, or more milk if it’s too thick.
- These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- For a nut-free alternative, omit the almond extract and use vanilla extract only.
- If you prefer a less sweet glaze, reduce the amount of powdered sugar slightly.
