Who doesn’t love Italian cookies? These easy Italian cookies can be whipped up in no time. Bite into the delectable indulgence of Italian cookies – a soft, cakey treat topped with luscious glaze and finished off with vibrant sprinkles.
Italian cookies are the perfect way to add a little sweet indulgence to any occasion. Whether you’re lookin’ for a delicious, home-baked treat in a hurry or just want to taste the goodness of Italian cookies without spending hours in the kitchen, these easy Italian cookies have got you covered. With almond, vanilla, or anise extract flavors to choose from and topped with luscious glaze and vibrant sprinkles, your mouth will be in Italian cookie heaven! So why not whip up a batch of Italian cookies today? They are charmingly delicious and sure to be gobbled up ‘fore ya know it!
Step One – Prepare the Batter
Because I spent so much money on my KitchenAid, I use my stand mixer with the whisk attachment. However, you can easily do this by hand. In your bowl, add the following:
- 4 Eggs
- 12 tablespoons of oil
- 1 teaspoon of almond, vanilla, or anise extract
Whisk the wet ingredients for the Italian Christmas Cookies until fluffy and pale yellow.
Step 2 – Stir in the Dry Ingredients
Next, stir in the dry ingredients for the Italian Christmas Cookies. I usually do this by hand, but you can switch to your paddle attachment of the stand mixer.
- 4 cups of flour
- 4 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 pinch of salt
Stir until well combined.
Step Three – Roll the Dough
Take your dough and roll it into tablespoon-sized balls before chilling them on cookie sheets lined with parchment. Let these little holiday creations solidify for an hour or a quick 15-20 minute freeze – the choice is yours.
Step Four – Bake and Cool
Smell the heavenly aroma of your Italian Christmas Cookies wafting through your kitchen as they bake to perfection! You’ll know when it’s time for them to come out—the tops will be set, and the bottoms lightly browned. When done, transfer them onto cooling racks so their deliciously light texture can remain intact. Cool completely before moving to the next step.
Step Five – Prepare the Italian Christmas Cookie Glaze
Give your Italian Christmas cookies a lavish finish by whisking together an irresistible glaze made with powdered sugar, almond, vanilla, or anise extract, and just the right amount of warm cream. This glaze will truly tantalize your taste buds!
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla, almond, or anise extract
- 3 tablespoons warmed milk or heavy cream
Step Six – Dip to Glaze
Gently dunk the tops of your cooled Italian Christmas cookies in a sweet glaze, then give them an extra splash of cheer with festive sprinkles. Sprinkles are optional!
Step Seven – Store and Enjoy
Keep your Italian Christmas Cookies looking and tasting their best! Store them in air-sealed containers at room temperature. For a truly delightful experience, enjoy the cookies within two days after glazing, or sprinkle colors may start seeping into cookie oblivion. Make sure they are well taken care of by creating layers with waxed paper separating each batch for maximum freshness and festive sparkle!
Easy Peasy Italian Cookies
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 12 tbsp oil
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tsp almond, vanilla, or anise extract
- 4 cups flour
- 4 tsp baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
Glaze
- 2 cups powder sugar
- 2 tsp almond, vanilla, or anise extract
- 6 tbsp cream or milk
Instructions
- Whisk together eggs, oil, sugar, and extract in a mixing bowl. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Roll dough by tablespoonfuls into balls. Chill balls of dough for at least an hour, or freeze for 15-20 minutes. Place cold dough balls on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.
- Bake at 350 for about 9 minutes, or till tops are set. Bottoms will be lightly browned, but tops should still be white. Remove cookies to cooling racks and cool completely.
Glaze Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk till smooth, adding enough warm cream to get a thin but creamy consistency.
- Dip tops of the cookies in the glaze, then top with sprinkles.
