If you’re on the hunt for a delightful treat that captures the festive spirit with every bite, this Italian Christmas Cookies Recipe is an absolute must-try. These soft, cake-like cookies are sweetly simple yet infinitely charming, glazed with a smooth icing and topped with colorful sprinkles that scream holiday cheer. Whether you’re baking for a family gathering, gifting to neighbors, or simply indulging your own seasonal cravings, this recipe offers that perfect blend of tradition and joyful flavor, all wrapped up in a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this Italian Christmas Cookies Recipe lies in its straightforward ingredients, each chosen for how naturally they complement one another, ensuring a tender crumb and a luscious glaze that’s not too sweet. These pantry staples work in harmony to create a festive cookie that is both nostalgic and irresistible.
- Butter (1/2 cup, softened): Provides richness and a tender crumb, essential for that melt-in-your-mouth softness.
- Granulated sugar (1/2 cup): Adds sweetness and helps achieve a light, fluffy texture when creamed with butter.
- Large eggs (3): Bind everything together while adding moisture and depth of flavor.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Lends a classic warmth and sweetness that enhances all the ingredients.
- Almond extract (1/2 teaspoon): Gives the cookie that signature nutty aroma, a hallmark of many Italian desserts.
- All-purpose flour (2 1/2 cups): The foundation that creates structure for the dough without weighing it down.
- Baking powder (2 teaspoons): Ensures the cookies rise just enough to stay soft and tender.
- Salt (1/4 teaspoon): Balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors beautifully.
- Powdered sugar (1 1/2 cups): Key to crafting a smooth, sweet glaze that sets perfectly on top.
- Milk (2–3 tablespoons): Adjusts the glaze to a pourable consistency for perfect coverage.
- Vanilla or almond extract for icing (1/2 teaspoon): Brings extra flavor depth to the glaze, harmonizing with the dough.
- Holiday sprinkles: Adds festive color, sparkle, and a touch of fun to every cookie.
How to Make Italian Christmas Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Batters
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper. This ensures your cookies bake evenly and won’t stick. In a large mixing bowl, cream together your softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is crucial for achieving those soft, airy cookies everyone loves.
Step 2: Mixing in the Eggs and Extracts
Next, add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition to incorporate air and moisture evenly. Once the eggs are blended, pour in your vanilla and almond extracts. These fragrant essences elevate the flavor profile, giving these cookies a warm and inviting aroma that fills your kitchen with holiday magic.
Step 3: Combining Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Taking the time to sift and mix these dry ingredients ensures even distribution, which is key to consistent texture throughout the batch. Slowly add this dry mix to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to form a soft, slightly sticky dough.
Step 4: Shaping and Baking
Using a tablespoon scoop, portion out the dough and roll it into balls or logs, depending on your preference. Place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them slightly apart to give each cookie room to bake without merging. Bake for about 10 to 12 minutes, until the bottoms turn a light golden color and the tops look set but not browned – this keeps them tender, not crunchy.
Step 5: Cooling and Glazing
Transfer your baked cookies to wire racks to cool completely—cooling is essential before icing so the glaze doesn’t melt and run off. To make the icing, whisk powdered sugar with milk and your choice of vanilla or almond extract until smooth and pourable. Dip the top of each cookie into the glaze and return them to the rack. While the glaze is still wet, sprinkle generously with holiday sprinkles for that perfect festive finish.
How to Serve Italian Christmas Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
The colorful holiday sprinkles aren’t just for looks – they add a subtle crunch and joy to every bite, enhancing the cookie’s soft texture. For a whimsical twist, try edible glitter or crushed nuts like pistachios or almonds for extra flavor and an elegant touch.
Side Dishes
These cookies shine alongside a steaming cup of espresso or a light, creamy hot chocolate. They also pair beautifully with a glass of sweet dessert wine such as Vin Santo, creating an authentic Italian holiday experience that your guests will love.
Creative Ways to Present
Present your Italian Christmas Cookies Recipe on a festive platter lined with holly leaves or tissue paper in traditional red and green hues. Wrapping a small stack in clear cellophane tied with a holiday ribbon makes for a charming, edible gift that friends and family will adore.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once the icing has fully set, store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay soft and flavorful for up to a week, making them perfect to bake ahead of time for holiday parties or gift-giving.
Freezing
You can freeze these cookies before glazing by placing the shaped dough balls on a baking sheet and freezing until solid, then transferring to a freezer bag. When ready to bake, add a few extra minutes to the baking time and glaze after cooling. This makes holiday baking easy and stress-free.
Reheating
To enjoy your Italian Christmas Cookies Recipe fresh from the oven again, briefly warm them in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for 3 to 5 minutes. Avoid microwaving as it may soften the glaze too much and affect the cookie’s tender texture.
FAQs
Can I substitute almond extract with another flavor?
Absolutely! Lemon or orange extract work wonderfully here, adding a lovely citrus twist that complements the sweetness and keeps the cookies bright and festive.
Are Italian Christmas Cookies Recipe gluten-free friendly?
This traditional recipe calls for all-purpose flour, so it’s not gluten-free as is. However, experimenting with a gluten-free baking blend could work, though texture may vary slightly.
How long should I let the icing dry before storing?
It’s best to let the icing dry completely, about one to two hours at room temperature, to prevent sticking and smudging when stacking or storing the cookies.
Can I use salted butter if I don’t have unsalted?
You can, but reduce or omit the added salt in the dough to keep the balance right; this will ensure the sweetness and flavor remain just as intended.
What’s the best way to keep these cookies soft?
Storing them in an airtight container with a slice of bread can help maintain moisture and keep your cookies soft and tender for longer.
Final Thoughts
This Italian Christmas Cookies Recipe is a joyful nod to holiday traditions that never fail to bring smiles around the table. From the soft, buttery dough to the sweet glaze topped with festive sprinkles, these cookies are a heartfelt way to share warmth and happiness during the season. I can’t wait for you to bake them yourself and make these cookies a cherished part of your holiday celebrations.
Print
Italian Christmas Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 32 minutes (plus cooling and decorating)
- Yield: 36 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Italian Christmas Cookies are soft, cake-like treats perfect for the holiday season. These traditional glazed almond-flavored cookies are easy to make and decorated with festive sprinkles, making them an ideal gift or addition to your holiday dessert table.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Icing
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
- Holiday sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step incorporates air for a soft texture.
- Add Eggs and Extracts: Beat in the eggs one at a time to maintain the emulsion, then mix in the vanilla and almond extracts to infuse the dough with flavor.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agent and seasoning.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms—avoid overmixing for tender cookies.
- Shape Cookies: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll them into balls or logs. Place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them slightly apart to allow for expansion during baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 10–12 minutes or until the bottoms turn lightly golden and the tops are set but not browned, ensuring a soft, tender crumb.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them to wire racks to cool completely before icing.
- Prepare Icing: Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla or almond extract until smooth and pourable to create the glaze.
- Glaze and Decorate: Dip the tops of cooled cookies into the icing, return them to the wire rack, and immediately sprinkle with holiday sprinkles before the glaze sets. Allow the icing to dry completely before storing or serving.
Notes
- The cookies have a soft, cake-like texture ideal for gifting during the holidays.
- For a citrusy flavor twist, substitute lemon or orange extract in the dough or icing.
- Ensure cookies are completely cooled before dipping in icing to avoid melting the glaze.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
