Italian Christmas Cookies
Soft and cakey Italian Christmas Cookies flavored with vanilla and anise, dipped in a sweet glaze, and topped with colorful nonpareils—an essential holiday classic!
Servings: 36 cookies
Ingredients
COOKIES:
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, at room temperature
- ½ cup granulated white sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon anise extract
ICING:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon anise extract
- nonpareils (rainbow or holiday colors)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
MAKE THE COOKIES:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder.
- In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the butter and sugar until smooth and creamy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Then beat in the extracts. Stir in the dry ingredients until well-blended.
- Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on the baking sheet, 2-inches apart. Flatten each ball just slightly with the palm of your hand. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until golden around the edges. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on a rack.
ADD THE ICING:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk and anise extract. Dip the tops of the cooled cookies in the icing, and set back on the wire rack. Sprinkle with nonpareils. Let them cool completely. Store in a sealed container, with pieces of waxed paper between layers.
Nutrition
Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 63mg | Potassium: 20mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 107IU | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg