Name: Italian Christmas cookies recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Yield: 20
Cuisine: italian
Ingredients: 1/2 cup caster sugar; 90g butter, softened; 1 1/2 tsp vanilla essence; 1/2 tsp almond essence; 2 eggs; 1 2/3 cups plain flour; 1 1/2 tsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp salt; Sprinkles, to decorate; 1 cup icing sugar, sifted; 2 tsp butter, softened; 1-2 tbsp milk

by Greer Worsley Last updated on 10/25/2021

These delicious Italian Christmas cookies have a buttery shortbread flavour and texture - they would make a lovely gift packaged in a tin. - Greer Worsley

Ingredients

1/2 cup caster sugar
90g butter, softened
1 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 tsp almond essence
2 eggs
1 2/3 cups plain flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Sprinkles, to decorate

For glaze

1 cup icing sugar, sifted
2 tsp butter, softened
1-2 tbsp milk

Method

Step 1

In the bowl of a stand mixer, or using hand-held beaters, beat sugar, butter and essences until pale and creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well between each addition. Add flour, baking powder and salt and beat until just combined.
Step 2

Preheat oven to 170C. Use a small ice-cream scoop to scoop small mounds of dough onto two baking trays lined with baking paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to chill, then bake for 12 minutes until just cooked.
Step 3

Allow to cool. Meanwhile, make glaze by combining icing sugar, butter and enough milk to form a smooth spreadable consistency. Dip each biscuit upside down into the glaze, then place back on the tray. Decorate with sprinkles and allow icing to harden.