Italian Christmas Cookies
User Reviews
5
Italian Christmas Cookies
Description
This recipe for Italian Christmas Cookies uses a straightforward dough mixing butter and sugar until fluffy before adding egg and vanilla for moisture and flavor. The dry ingredients include all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and anise seeds, which are whisked together and gently incorporated into the wet mixture to maintain a tender texture. The anise seeds add a distinctive aromatic note characteristic of Italian holiday baking.
The dough is portioned into small balls and baked at 350°F until the edges develop a slight golden hue, which provides a gentle crispness while keeping the centers soft. Once cooled, the cookies are glazed with a simple icing of powdered sugar and milk, then topped with festive holiday sprinkles for visual appeal suitable for Christmas celebrations.
These cookies offer a mildly sweet, aromatic bite that pairs well with coffee or tea during the holidays. Their modest sweetness and spice make them a traditional and approachable treat that can be stored or given as gifts.
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
- 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon anise seeds
- 1 tick butter at room temperature, unsalted
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
For the glaze:
- ½ cup powdered sugar sifted
- 1 tablespoon milk
- holiday sprinkles as needed
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and anise seeds. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine butter and sugar. Mix at medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extra and mix until incorporated.
- Add the dry ingredients and process at low speed, just until a few streaks of flour remain. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and fold any visible flour in by hand with a rubber spatula. Using a 1-tablespoon sized cookie scoop, scoop the batter, then roll into round balls. Place on the prepared pan, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the cookies are slightly golden brown. Repeat with remaining cookie dough.
- Transfer cookies to a cooling rack and let cool completely. While the cookies cool, make the glaze. In a medium bowl, whisk the powdered sugar with the milk until smooth and glossy.
- Holding the cooled cookies upside down, dip the cookie tops in the glaze. Add desired sprinkles before the glaze sets. Allow cookies to sit for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the glaze hardens and sets.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 20cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 98 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 98kcal | 5% |
| Carbohydrates | 12g | 4% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 5g | 8% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 0.2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 20mg | 7% |
| Sodium | 55mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 15mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 0.2g | 1% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 155IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 0.01mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 17mg | 2% |
| Iron | 0.4mg | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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