Description
Soft, tender, and perfectly glazed, these Italian Christmas Cookies are a festive holiday favorite. Made with almond extract, sweet icing, and colorful sprinkles, they’re simple to bake, fun to decorate, and guaranteed to bring holiday cheer to every cookie tray!
Ingredients
For the Cookies
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1/2 cup salted butter, melted and cooled
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2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
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2 tsp baking powder
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1/2 cup granulated sugar
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3 large eggs, room temperature
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1 1/2 tsp almond extract
For the Icing
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2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
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2–3 tbsp milk
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1 tsp almond extract
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Holiday nonpareil sprinkles
Instructions
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Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Set aside.
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Cream Butter & Wet Ingredients: Beat melted butter until light. Add eggs, sugar, and almond extract. Mix until combined (mixture may look slightly chunky).
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Combine & Chill: Add the dry ingredients gradually and mix until just combined. Chill dough for at least 1 hour.
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Shape & Bake: Scoop and roll dough into balls. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes or until set but not browned. Cool completely.
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Make the Icing: Mix powdered sugar with milk until a thick glaze forms. Stir in almond extract.
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Glaze & Decorate: Dip cooled cookies into glaze, allow excess to drip off, and top with sprinkles before the icing sets.
Notes
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The dough will be sticky—chilling is essential for easy rolling.
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Keep cookies pale for the softest texture; avoid overbaking.
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Add more milk if glaze is too thick or more sugar if it’s too thin.
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Cookies stay soft for several days when stored in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes + 1 hour chilling
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 105 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 52 mg
- Fat: 3.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15.9 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 1.8 g
- Cholesterol: 24 mg