Servings
Font
Back
Italian Butter Cookies
4.9 from 93 votes

Italian Butter Cookies

These Italian Butter Cookies are tender, buttery treats made with whipped butter, powdered sugar, eggs, and vanilla, combined with sifted flour to form a piping dough. The dough is piped into decorative shapes on parchment and chilled before baking. Optional decorations include candied cherries, jam, nuts, and melted chocolate, adding visual appeal and varied flavors.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Additional Time
30 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 40
Calories: 64 kcal
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 250 g butter softened at room temperature
  • 150 g powdered sugar
  • 2 egg medium
  • 1 egg yolk, medium
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or a scraped vanilla bean, pure
  • salt optional, a pinch
  • 360 g all-purpose flour sifted
TO DECORATE:
  • candied cherries
  • apricot jam
  • 80 g dark chocolate
  • 80 g white chocolate
  • pistachio crumbled
  • coconut flakes
  • almonds whole

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Whip the butter and sugar in a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, or in a bowl with an electric mixer, for at least 5 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.
  2. Add one egg at a time into the mixture, and whisk until is fully absorbed before adding the other one, then whisk in the yolk, followed by the vanilla. Whisk for 2 minutes, until your mixture is light and fluffy.
  3. Add the sifted flour and give and mix until fully incorporated. Your cookie dough should be sticky, soft but hold its shape.
  4. Transfer the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a large open star nozzle and pipe the cookies in various shapes directly on a baking tray covered with parchment paper.
  5. You can make S-shaped cookies, logs, flowers, horseshoe cookies, or rounded cookies. You can also make a little well in the center of the round cookies and add a candied cherry, a whole almond or ¼ teaspoon of apricot jam.
  6. Transfer the baking tray to the fridge and let the cookies refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  7. Preheat the oven to180° C / 360° F and arrange the baking tray onto the middle shelf. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes. The cookies are ready when the edges are slightly golden. Remove them from the oven and transfer them on a cooling rack. Allow them to cool completely before serving.
To decorate the cookies:
  1. Melt the dark chocolate and white chocolate separately using a double boiler, or microwave them in two separate bowls for 30 seconds. Allow the chocolate to cool slightly before dipping the cookies.
  2. Dip some of the cookies in dark chocolate or white chocolate, then sprinkle them with chopped pistachio or coconut flakes if you like. Arrange the chocolate-dipped cookies onto a baking tray covered with parchment paper, and allow the chocolate to set before serving.

Notes

  • Ensure cookies are completely cool before storing in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain texture and prevent sticking.
  • You can freeze raw cookie dough for up to one month; thaw in refrigerator before use and rewhisk to restore texture.
  • Baked cookies without chocolate coating freeze well up to 6 months; thaw at room temperature and optionally reheat briefly to crisp.
  • Weigh ingredients for accuracy, as volume measurements can vary; use a kitchen scale when possible.
  • Chill cookie dough after piping for at least 30 minutes to reduce spreading and help cookies hold shape while baking.
  • Use cloth or silicone piping bags for better dough control; avoid overfilling to prevent dough oozing out the top.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1cookie Calories 64kcal (3%) Carbohydrates 4g (1%) Protein 1g (2%) Fat 5g (8%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 1g (5%) Trans Fat 1g (50%) Cholesterol 27mg (9%) Sodium 48mg (2%) Potassium 5mg (0%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 175IU (4%) Calcium 3mg (0%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 40 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 64

% Daily Value*

Serving 1cookie
Calories 64kcal 3%
Carbohydrates 4g 1%
Protein 1g 2%
Fat 5g 8%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 27mg 9%
Sodium 48mg 2%
Potassium 5mg 0%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 175IU 4%
Calcium 3mg 0%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.