Heartwarming Italian Christmas Cookies Recipe for Festive Joy

Festive baking brings pure joy during the holiday season, especially when crafting traditional italian christmas cookies that sparkle with sweet memories.

These delicate treats carry generations of culinary love and warmth.

Powdered sugar-dusted morsels melt softly on your tongue, connecting you instantly to cherished family traditions.

Every bite tells a story of celebration and comfort.

Generations have passed down these recipes with tender care and passionate dedication.

Crisp yet tender, these cookies dance between classic technique and heartwarming nostalgia.

Dive into this delightful recipe and create your own magical holiday moment.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Calories: 100 kcal

Servings: 35

Ways To Serve Italian Christmas Cookies

• Cookie Plating Paradise: Arrange these delicate Italian treats on a festive holiday platter with a mix of red and green sprinkles for a classic Christmas look.
• Holiday Gift Packaging: Stack cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with elegant ribbons, creating a homemade gift that looks professionally crafted and tastes delightful.
• Dessert Companion Magic: Pair these sweet cookies with hot espresso or creamy cappuccino for an authentic Italian experience that elevates the entire tasting moment.
• Presentation Perfection: Dust a light layer of powdered sugar over the glazed cookies for an extra touch of winter wonderland elegance that makes them irresistible.

Storage Plan For Italian Christmas Cookies

Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days, separating layers with wax paper to prevent sticking.

• Freezing Friendly: Wrap unglazed cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bags. They'll stay delicious for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before glazing.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cookie dough up to 3 days in advance. Store wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator. Let dough soften slightly before shaping and baking.
• Glaze Timing Trick: Apply sprinkles immediately after glazing for best adherence. Allow cookies to completely cool and set for crisp, clean decoration that looks professionally finished.

Everything In Italian Christmas Cookies

• Flour: Provides structure and base for the delicate cookie texture, choose unbleached all-purpose flour for the best results.
• Baking Powder: Helps cookies rise and become light, ensure it's fresh for maximum leavening power.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness, use fine table salt for even distribution.

• Butter: Creates rich, tender crumb, select high-quality unsalted butter at room temperature.
• Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps cookies brown, use granulated white sugar for classic texture.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients and provide structure, select fresh large eggs at room temperature.
• Vanilla Extract: Delivers deep aromatic flavor, choose pure vanilla for authentic taste.
• Almond Extract: Offers distinctive nutty undertone, use sparingly for balanced flavor.
• Milk: Softens dough and adds moisture, whole milk provides best richness.

• Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth, glossy glaze, sift to remove lumps.
• Sprinkles: Adds festive decoration and color, select holiday-themed varieties.

Tools You’ll Use For Italian Christmas Cookies

• Electric mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugar, and beating eggs until light and fluffy.
• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for combining wet ingredients and creating cookie dough.
• Medium mixing bowl: Ideal for whisking dry ingredients together.
• Tablespoon or cookie scoop: Helps create uniform, perfectly sized cookie balls.
• Baking sheets: Necessary for baking cookies evenly.
• Parchment paper or silicone baking mats: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
• Wire cooling racks: Allows cookies to cool completely and glaze to set without getting soggy.
• Small bowl: Used for mixing glaze and creating smooth, even coating.
• Whisk: Great for mixing dry ingredients and creating lump-free glaze.

How To Make Italian Christmas Cookies

• Oven Preparation

Warm up the kitchen hub to a cozy 350F. Grab two baking trays and line them with soft parchment paper.

• Butter and Sugar Magic

Grab a big mixing bowl and transform butter and sugar into a fluffy cloud-like mixture. Whip them together until they look light and dreamy.

• Egg and Flavor Fusion

Drop eggs one by one into the creamy butter blend. Stir in vanilla and almond essence to create a fragrant base.

• Dough Creation

Slowly introduce flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Splash in milk occasionally to help everything come together smoothly. The result should feel soft and tender.

• Cookie Shaping

Roll small orbs of dough using your palms. Arrange these little treasures on the prepared trays, keeping some breathing space between each one.

• Baking Performance

Slide trays into the heated oven. Watch cookies transform for about 10-12 minutes until bottoms turn a gentle golden hue. They should remain pale and delicate.

• Glaze Transformation

Whisk powdered sugar with milk and a hint of extract. Create a silky smooth coating that will dress your cookies in sweet elegance.

• Final Touches

Dunk cookie tops into the glossy glaze. Sprinkle with colorful confetti before the glaze sets. Let them rest and absorb their beautiful new look.

Tips For Sweet Italian Christmas Cookies

• Baker's Bliss Tricks: Perfect Italian Christmas Cookies
• Butter Temperature Magic: Ensure butter is softened but not melted for the fluffiest, most tender cookies. Leave it out at room temperature for about 30 minutes before starting.
• Flour Finesse: Gently spoon flour into measuring cups and level with a knife to avoid dense, tough cookies. Avoid packing or shaking the measuring cup.
• Glaze Consistency Hack: For a silky-smooth glaze, add milk or powdered sugar in tiny increments until you reach a glossy, drippable texture that coats the back of a spoon.
• Sprinkle Strategy: Apply decorative sprinkles immediately after glazing while the surface is still wet to ensure they stick perfectly and create a festive look.
• Dietary Twist Options: Swap all-purpose flour with gluten-free blend for celiac-friendly version. Use dairy-free milk and margarine for vegan cookies. Add lemon zest for a bright, citrusy variation that brings Mediterranean sunshine to your holiday spread.

Festive Italian Christmas Cookies Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 35 1x

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Description

Classic Italian Christmas cookies shine as a delightful festive treat from generations of family tradition. Delicate almond-flavored rounds dusted with powdered sugar will transport you to a warm Italian kitchen during holiday celebrations.

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Ingredients

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• 3 large eggs
• ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
• ¼ cup (60 ml) milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tsps baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 ½ cups (180 g) powdered sugar
• 2–3 tbsps milk (adjust for desired consistency)
• 1 tsp vanilla or almond extract
• Holiday sprinkles

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Instructions

1. Preheating: Set oven to 350F (175C) and prepare baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats for optimal cookie performance.
2. Dry Ingredient Harmonization: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, creating a foundational dry mixture that will provide structure and texture to the cookies.
3. Creaming Technique: Beat butter and sugar until the mixture transforms into a light, voluminous cloud, developing a smooth and airy base that will ensure tender cookies.
4. Liquid Integration: Fold eggs into the creamed mixture one at a time, then introduce vanilla and almond extracts to enhance the aromatic profile of the dough.
5. Dough Formation: Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, alternating with milk to create a cohesive, soft dough that promises delicate cookie texture.
6. Shaping and Positioning: Utilize a tablespoon or cookie scoop to form small dough spheres, carefully placing them on prepared baking sheets with adequate spacing to allow for expansion during baking.
7. Baking Transformation: Slide the cookie-laden sheets into the preheated oven, allowing 10-12 minutes of heat to gently transform the dough, developing a subtle golden base while maintaining a soft interior.
8. Glaze Crafting: Construct a luminous coating by whisking powdered sugar with milk and extract, adjusting the consistency to achieve a smooth, glossy finish that will elegantly dress the cooled cookies.
9. Finishing Flourish: Dip each cooled cookie into the prepared glaze, letting excess drip away, then immediately embellish with a festive sprinkle shower, allowing the glaze to set into a pristine, celebratory presentation.

Notes

• Precision in Mixing: Cream butter and sugar thoroughly until light and fluffy, which creates the signature tender texture of these classic Italian Christmas cookies.
• Temperature Control: Ensure ingredients are at room temperature before mixing to guarantee smooth incorporation and consistent dough quality.
• Spacing Technique: Place cookie dough balls with ample room between them on baking sheets to prevent spreading and maintain their delicate round shape.
• Glaze Mastery: Adjust milk quantity in the glaze carefully to achieve the perfect drizzling consistency – too thick will clump, too thin will run off completely.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 35
• Calories: 100
• Sugar: 9 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 4 g
• Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 14 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 1.5 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg