Description
These Best Italian Christmas Cookies are a delightful blend of tradition and holiday cheer, perfect for sharing with loved ones. With their tender texture and elegant glaze, they are sure to become a festive favorite in your home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
- 2 Large Eggs, at room temperature
- 1 cup Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese, well-drained
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 tbsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar (for Glaze)
- 2–3 tbsp Milk (for Glaze)
- Flavoring Extracts (for Glaze): Lemon extract, anise extract, or additional vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare Your Workspace: Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light, fluffy, and pale in color, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the room temperature eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract and the well-drained ricotta cheese until just combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. The dough will be soft and sticky.
- Chill the Dough (Optional but Recommended): Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
- Scoop and Bake: Using a small cookie scoop or two spoons, drop rounded scoops of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are just set.
- Cool the Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare the Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, 2-3 tablespoons of milk, and your chosen flavoring extract until smooth.
- Glaze and Decorate: Once the cookies are completely cool, dip the tops of each cookie into the glaze or drizzle the glaze over them. Decorate with festive sprinkles if desired.
- Allow Glaze to Set: Let the glazed cookies sit on the wire rack for about 30 minutes to an hour, or until the glaze has fully set.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
Keywords: Ensure your butter, eggs, and ricotta are at room temperature for a smooth batter. Drain the ricotta properly to avoid excess moisture in the dough. Use a cookie scoop for uniform size and even baking.