Description
These Italian Christmas Cookies are a festive holiday treat featuring a soft and tender texture with a subtle anise flavor. Decorated with colorful sprinkles, they make a perfect addition to your Christmas cookie platter or a delightful gift to share with loved ones during the holiday season.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons anise extract
Decoration
- 1/2 cup colorful sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes about 3-4 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Anise: Add the eggs one at a time to the butter-sugar mixture, beating well after each addition to ensure they are fully incorporated. Then mix in the anise extract for that classic flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
- Form Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix to keep the cookies tender.
- Shape Cookies: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut festive shapes or divide the dough into small balls and roll them into sticks for variety.
- Arrange and Sprinkle: Place the shaped cookies onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart to allow for slight spreading. Sprinkle the tops with colorful sprinkles to add a cheerful holiday touch.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until they are lightly golden around the edges.
- Cool: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool on it for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents breaking and helps the cookies set perfectly.
Notes
- For a stronger anise flavor, you can add up to 1 tablespoon of anise extract.
- Ensure the butter is softened but not melted to achieve the best cookie texture.
- You can substitute the anise extract with an equal amount of almond extract for a different flavor profile.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- These cookies freeze well; wrap them tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (approx. 28g)
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
Keywords: Italian Christmas Cookies, holiday cookies, anise cookies, festive cookies, Christmas baking, Italian dessert
