| | |

Italian Christmas Cookies

Sharing is caring!

Italian Christmas Cookies are a delicious cake-like cookie with a hint of anise and sweet sugar glaze. This easy cookie recipe is great to serve any time of the year. 
This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive a small commission if you click and purchase something. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

The Christmas season is here and these traditional Italian Christmas Cookies are always first on my Christmas baking list. I can’t really explain why I love these Italian Christmas Cookies so much, I just do. There is something about the cake-like texture with a hint of anise and the sweet glaze that makes me want to eat the whole batch.

The struggle is real, my friends. While these cookies are popular in many Italian households, they were not part of mine. My mom never made them.

I remember taking that first delicious bite of one of these Italian Christmas Cookies when I was visiting my aunt many, many years ago. My aunt’s dear friend brought us over a whole dish of these soft cookie beauties.

That’s when I fell in love. These have become a baking tradition and it is not the holiday season without them on my cookie tray. They are the perfect holiday treat. And if you are looking for another classic Italian cookie, check out my Italian Almond Cookies recipe.

I make these classic Italian cookies year-round too. They make a lot so are great for a cookie exchange. But you can easily swap out the festive sprinkles for any season or event you are baking them for.

Free Christmas eBook: How To Host A Holiday Cookie Exchange

The Christmas season is here! Let's have some holiday baking fun. Follow these tips on How To Host A Holiday Cookie Exchange and share some baking love with your friends. Download this free Christmas printable Cookie Exchange guide. It includes tips and ideas on how to plan the ultimate Christmas Cookie Exchange as well as invitations and recipe cards.
Download your FREE copy here!
Italian Christmas Cookies are a delicious cake-like cookie with a hint of anise and sweet sugar glaze.

What Ingredients Do I Need To Make Italian Cookies?

No fancy ingredients are needed to make this Italian Christmas Cookies recipe. Ingredients are pretty straightforward.

Butter

Confectioners’ sugar

Sugar

Eggs

Baking powder

All-Purpose flour

Salt

Pure Vanilla Extract

Anise extract

Extra powder sugar

How Do I Make Italian Christmas Cookies?

Tip 1:

I have seen these cookies in many different shapes – knots, S shapes, twists and balls. You can make them in any shape you desire. They are very easy to make. I like to roll mine into 1-inch balls.

Italian Christmas Cookies

Tip 2:

I have tried to make knot shapes but I have determined that I am not a good knot shape maker. So, I take easy road by rolling them into balls and pressing them down slightly with the bottom of a glass.

Pro Tip: Dip the bottom of the glass into powdered sugar so the cookie dough does not stick to the glass.

Italian Christmas Cookies are a delicious cake-like cookie with a hint of anise and sweet sugar glaze.

Tip 3:

Once the cookies are baked and cooled, dip them in a sweet sugar glaze. Don’t forget to add the colorful sprinkles. They are just as important as the glaze. They are such a vibrant color to these gems too.

How To Store Italian Christmas Cookies

I like to store these cookies at room temperature in an airtight container. They can be frozen, but sometimes the color on the sprinkles runs when thawed. You can always freeze unglazed. Prior to serving, just dip in glaze and then garnish with sprinkles.

How Long Will Italian Christmas Cookies Keep?

They will keep up to three months in the freezer and about seven days in a food storage container on your counter.

Kitchen Baking Essentials: Tools To Bake Cookies:

Stand Mixer

Cookie Sheet

Parchment or Silpat

Cookie Scoop

Wire Rack

Mixing Bowls

I love the sweet cake-like cookie texture of these cookies. They have the slightest hint of anise flavor which is not too overpowering. If you are not a fan of anise flavoring, then try using almond flavoring instead. They are equally delicious!

I can’t believe Christmas is almost here. How are you coming with all of your holiday preparations? Enjoy the season….and these Italian Christmas Cookies too!

Try These Easy Christmas Recipes

Pecan Pie Cups

Cherry Cream Cheese Pinwheels

Mexican Wedding Cakes

Lofthouse Cookies

Chocolate Crinkles

Snowman Cookies

Italian Christmas Cookies are a delicious cake-like cookie with a hint of anise and sweet sugar glaze. This easy cookie recipe is great to serve any time of the year.  #christmascookie #cookierecipe #italianchristmascookies #holidaybaking
Fudge brownies and mint pair up to create these delicious Mint Fudge Brownie Truffles. This recipes is perfect for the holidays. #Ad #BakeInTheFun @Walmart

Mint Fudge Brownie Truffles

Dipped Sugar Cookie Sticks are an easy holiday baking recipe.

Dipped Sugar Cookie Sticks

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies have the right amount of chocolate and the perfect amount of crisp peppermint. Perfect to enjoy at Christmas or all winter-long.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies

Pecan Pie Cups

italian christmas cookies easter cookies
Yield: 36 Cookies

Italian Christmas Cookies

Prep Time: 50 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Italian Christmas Cookies are a delicious cake-like cookie with a hint of anise and sweet sugar glaze.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 3 cups flour
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon anise extract
  • Extra powder sugar

  • Glaze
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Nonpareil Sprinkles

Instructions

  1. n a medium bowl, whisk together flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
  2. In a mixing bowl, beat butter and sugars until creamy.
  3. Add eggs, one at a time. Then add the vanilla and anise flavoring.
  4. Slowly mix in the flour mixture. Do not overbeat.
  5. Refrigerate dough for one hour.
  6. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  7. Roll dough into 1 inch balls. Dip the bottom of a small glass into some powdered sugar and press each ball down slightly.
  8. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
  9. Remove and cool completely.
  10. To make the glaze:
  11. Sift two cups of powdered sugar in a bowl. Whisk in milk and vanilla.
  12. Dip top of each cookie in the glaze. Garnish with some nonpareil sprinkles.
  13. Allow glaze to dry before freezing.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Facebook

Similar Posts

332 Comments

  1. Our e-pharmacy offers an extensive variety of medications with competitive pricing.
    Shoppers will encounter various medicines suitable for different health conditions.
    Our goal is to keep high-quality products without breaking the bank.
    Quick and dependable delivery ensures that your order gets to you quickly.
    Experience the convenience of ordering medications online through our service.
    https://www.fundable.com/proscar-5-mg

  2. Terrific work! This is the type of info that should be shared around the net. Shame on the search engines for not positioning this post higher! Come on over and visit my site . Thanks =)

  3. В России сертификация играет важную роль в обеспечении качества и безопасности товаров и услуг. Она необходима как для бизнеса, так и для конечных пользователей. Наличие сертификата подтверждает, что продукция прошла все необходимые проверки. Особенно это актуально в таких отраслях, как пищевая промышленность, строительство и медицина. Прошедшие сертификацию компании чаще выбираются потребителями. Кроме того, сертификация может быть необходима для участия в тендерах и заключении договоров. Таким образом, соблюдение сертификационных требований обеспечивает стабильность и успех компании.
    https://wiki.consultingfirm-usa.com/profile.php?user=lucienne-kilburn-135149&op=userinfo

  4. Greetings from California! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to browse your blog on my iphone during lunch break. I really like the knowledge you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m shocked at how quick your blog loaded on my phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, awesome site!

  5. Somebody essentially help to make seriously posts I would state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to make this particular publish amazing. Magnificent job!

  6. Thank you so much for giving everyone an extraordinarily memorable possiblity to discover important secrets from this blog. It really is so ideal plus stuffed with fun for me and my office peers to visit your web site at minimum 3 times in a week to read through the latest guides you have. Not to mention, I’m also at all times impressed considering the surprising opinions you serve. Selected two tips in this posting are unquestionably the most impressive I have had.

  7. Медицинский центр предоставляет профессиональные медицинские услуги для взрослых и детей.
    Команда профессионалов обладают высокой квалификацией и применяют передовые методики.
    У нас есть все удобства для восстановления здоровья.
    Мы предлагаем гибкие программы лечения для всех обратившихся.
    Мы заботимся о поддержанию высокого уровня сервиса.
    Все клиенты могут ожидать качественное лечение по доступным ценам.
    https://wiki.multipurpose-wapuula.com/profile.php?user=finley-steward-135149&action=view

  8. This is the proper weblog for anybody who wants to find out about this topic. You understand a lot its virtually onerous to argue with you (not that I actually would need…HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a subject thats been written about for years. Nice stuff, just nice!

  9. of course like your web-site but you have to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very troublesome to tell the reality nevertheless I will surely come back again.

  10. Greetings from Ohio! I’m bored at work so I decided to check out your website on my iphone during lunch break. I enjoy the information you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how fast your blog loaded on my phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, good blog!

  11. Good day very nice blog!! Man .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…I am glad to seek out numerous useful information here within the publish, we need work out extra strategies on this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  12. Hey very nice blog!! Man .. Excellent .. Superb .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I am satisfied to search out a lot of useful information right here within the submit, we need develop extra techniques on this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

  13. Just wish to say your article is as amazing. The clearness in your post is simply great and i can assume you are an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission allow me to grab your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please continue the gratifying work.

  14. Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?

  15. The next time I read a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I imply, I do know it was my option to read, but I truly thought youd have something fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you would repair when you werent too busy on the lookout for attention.

  16. Terrific work! This is the type of info that are meant to be shared across the internet. Disgrace on Google for no longer positioning this publish upper! Come on over and discuss with my site . Thank you =)

  17. of course like your web-site but you need to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I’ll definitely come back again.

  18. naturally like your web-site however you need to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to tell the reality nevertheless I’ll surely come back again.

  19. Whats up very cool website!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally…I’m satisfied to seek out numerous useful information right here within the put up, we’d like develop more strategies in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

  20. I used to be suggested this blog via my cousin. I’m no longer certain whether this submit is written by him as nobody else understand such specified approximately my trouble. You’re wonderful! Thanks!

  21. На территории Российской Федерации сертификация играет важную роль в обеспечении качества и безопасности товаров и услуг. Прохождение сертификации нужно как для бизнеса, так и для конечных пользователей. Наличие сертификата подтверждает, что продукция прошла все необходимые проверки. Особенно это актуально в таких отраслях, как пищевая промышленность, строительство и медицина. Прошедшие сертификацию компании чаще выбираются потребителями. Кроме того, это часто является обязательным условием для выхода на рынок. В итоге, соблюдение сертификационных требований обеспечивает стабильность и успех компании.
    сертификация продукции

  22. I intended to put you the very small remark so as to thank you so much again for the pleasing concepts you have provided at this time. It has been simply pretty generous of you to present easily precisely what a lot of people would have offered as an e-book to end up making some profit for themselves, certainly considering that you could have done it if you desired. Those tactics in addition acted as the great way to fully grasp some people have a similar zeal the same as my own to understand a whole lot more with respect to this problem. Certainly there are some more pleasant occasions up front for folks who check out your website.

  23. I am just writing to make you understand of the outstanding encounter my wife’s girl gained visiting your webblog. She even learned several things, most notably what it is like to have a great teaching heart to get other folks completely fully grasp certain problematic matters. You actually did more than her expectations. Thank you for offering the valuable, trustworthy, informative as well as fun tips about your topic to Kate.

  24. Great post. I was checking continuously this weblog and I’m inspired! Extremely useful information specifically the last section 🙂 I deal with such info a lot. I was looking for this particular information for a long time. Thanks and good luck.

  25. I got what you mean , regards for posting.Woh I am happy to find this website through google. “I would rather be a coward than brave because people hurt you when you are brave.” by E. M. Forster.

  26. After study a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.

  27. hello!,I like your writing very so much! share we communicate extra about your article on AOL? I require an expert on this space to resolve my problem. May be that’s you! Having a look forward to look you.

  28. obviously like your website however you have to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I to find it very bothersome to tell the reality on the other hand I will certainly come again again.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *