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Italian Christmas Cookies

Italian Christmas Cookies
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Italian Christmas Cookies are a festive and delicious holiday treat combining tradition, simple ingredients, and versatile flavors. From soft and chewy to crisp and buttery, these cookies bring authentic Italian holiday flavors to your kitchen. Perfect for sharing, gift-giving, and creating joyful memories, these cookies highlight almond and citrus notes and can be customized with various fillings and toppings.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 2 3/4 cups All-Purpose Flour (or gluten-free flour blend for variation)
  • 3/4 cup Sugar
  • 1 cup Butter, softened
  • 2 Eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tsp Almond Extract
  • 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 tbsp Lemon Zest (or orange zest for variation)

Optional Ingredients

  • Powdered Sugar for dusting or glaze
  • Chopped Nuts (optional)
  • Melted Dark or White Chocolate for drizzle
  • Jam, Nutella, or Ricotta for filling (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Start by bringing your butter and eggs to room temperature for easier mixing. Measure out all your dry ingredients carefully and preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to get it ready for baking.
  2. Mix the Dough: Cream together the softened butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs, almond extract, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Slowly add the flour until the dough forms, being careful not to over-mix to keep the cookies tender.
  3. Shape Your Cookies: Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface about 1/4 inch thick. Use festive cookie cutters to create shapes or roll small dough balls for drop cookies. Place them evenly spaced on parchment-lined baking sheets.
  4. Bake Until Golden: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, just until the edges turn lightly golden. Avoid overbaking to maintain the perfect soft or crisp texture, depending on your preference.
  5. Cool and Decorate: Allow the cookies to cool on wire racks before dusting with powdered sugar, drizzling with chocolate, or adding sprinkles for that extra holiday sparkle.

Notes

  • Use room temperature ingredients for smooth dough mixing and consistent texture.
  • Don’t overwork the dough to keep cookies tender.
  • Chill dough if sticky to help with easier handling and better shape retention.
  • Use parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup effortless.
  • Test bake one cookie first to adjust baking time based on your oven.

Nutrition

Keywords: Italian Christmas Cookies, holiday cookies, almond cookies, festive treats, Christmas baking, chewy cookies, crisp cookies, Italian dessert

Find it online: https://marygourmet.com/italian-christmas-cookies/