5.0 from 72 votes
Italian Cookies
These Italian cookies are so tender and soft with a simple vanilla glaze. They are incredibly simple to make (no chilling!) and can be formed into fun shapes too!
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
28 mins
Servings: 55 cookies
Calories: 62 kcal
Course:
Dessert , Baked Goods
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- 10 Tablespoons salted butter softened
- ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs room temperature preferred
- 2 Tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Pinch of salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour + more if making shapes, see note
- 3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
Glaze
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 ½ - 2 Tablespoons milk
- Nonpareils or sprinkles optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and sugar and use an electric mixer to beat until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs and beat into the batter until well-combined.
- Add milk, vanilla extract, and salt, and stir until completely combined.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together 3 cups of flour and baking powder. Gradually add flour to wet mixture. At this point, the dough should be firm enough that you will be able to form it into balls. If you would like to make other shapes (loops, knots, pretzels, etc.) continue to add up to an additional 1 cup (125g) of flour until dough is manageable.
- Break off a ball of dough about 1 Tablespoon in size and roll into a ball (or form into shapes). Place cookie dough on prepared baking sheet, spacing at least 2” apart.
- Transfer to center rack of 350F (175C) oven and bake for 8 minutes.
- Allow to cool on baking sheet for at least 5 minutes before carefully transferring to cooling rack to cool completely before glazing.
Cup of Yum
Prepare the glaze
- In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar and milk. Glaze should be very thin. Use a pastry brush to brush over completely cooled cookies. Immediately sprinkle with nonpareils or sprinkles, if desired.
- Allow glaze to set before enjoying.
Notes
- 3 cups of flour should give you a dough that's sturdy enough to be rolled and dropped. However, if you'd like to make fun shapes with the dough (pretzels, twists, etc.) you may find the dough is not thick enough. Feel free to add up to another cup (125g) of flour until the dough reaches a consistency that is shapeable. Note that the more flour you add, the more dry and less sweet the cookies will be.
- 3 cups of flour should give you a dough that's sturdy enough to be rolled and dropped. However, if you'd like to make fun shapes with the dough (pretzels, twists, etc.) you may find the dough is not thick enough. Feel free to add up to another cup (125g) of flour until the dough reaches a consistency that is shapeable. Note that the more flour you add, the more dry and less sweet the cookies will be.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Cookies also freeze well – tightly wrap and freeze for up to several months.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1cookie
Calories
62kcal
(3%)
Carbohydrates
9g
(3%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
2g
(3%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.2g
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
Trans Fat
0.1g
Cholesterol
15mg
(5%)
Sodium
40mg
(2%)
Potassium
13mg
(0%)
Fiber
0.2g
(1%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
78IU
(2%)
Calcium
23mg
(2%)
Iron
0.4mg
(2%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 55cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 62
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1cookie | |
| Calories | 62kcal | 3% |
| Carbohydrates | 9g | 3% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 2g | 3% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Trans Fat | 0.1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 15mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 40mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 13mg | 0% |
| Fiber | 0.2g | 1% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 78IU | 2% |
| Calcium | 23mg | 2% |
| Iron | 0.4mg | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.