| | |

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. I’ll immediately grab your rss feed as I can’t find your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please let me know in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.

  2. Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your article seem to be running off the screen in Internet explorer. I’m not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know. The style and design look great though! Hope you get the issue fixed soon. Thanks

  3. The crux of your writing while appearing reasonable in the beginning, did not really sit very well with me personally after some time. Somewhere within the paragraphs you actually were able to make me a believer but just for a very short while. I nevertheless have got a problem with your jumps in logic and one might do well to fill in those gaps. When you can accomplish that, I could undoubtedly be amazed.

  4. I actually wanted to construct a brief word so as to say thanks to you for those great guides you are writing at this site. My long internet search has finally been rewarded with awesome suggestions to exchange with my company. I would tell you that we readers actually are very lucky to be in a very good community with very many awesome professionals with valuable solutions. I feel truly blessed to have seen the web site and look forward to some more fabulous times reading here. Thanks again for everything.

  5. Today, I went to the beach with my children. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell someone!

  6. With everything that seems to be developing throughout this specific area, a significant percentage of opinions are generally rather stimulating. Nevertheless, I am sorry, because I can not give credence to your whole suggestion, all be it radical none the less. It looks to everyone that your commentary are not totally justified and in actuality you are generally yourself not really completely convinced of your point. In any event I did enjoy reading through it.

  7. whoah this blog is great i love reading your articles. Keep up the great work! You know, a lot of people are looking around for this information, you could aid them greatly.

  8. I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks

  9. What i do not realize is actually how you are not really much more well-liked than you might be now. You’re very intelligent. You realize therefore significantly relating to this subject, made me personally consider it from numerous varied angles. Its like women and men aren’t fascinated unless it’s one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your own stuffs great. Always maintain it up!

  10. I in addition to my buddies have already been looking through the best advice located on your web blog while all of the sudden got an awful suspicion I had not expressed respect to the website owner for those strategies. These boys appeared to be totally joyful to learn them and have very much been loving them. Appreciate your getting simply considerate and then for pick out variety of high-quality themes most people are really desirous to learn about. My very own sincere regret for not expressing appreciation to earlier.

  11. Great write-up, I?¦m regular visitor of one?¦s website, maintain up the excellent operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.

  12. Wonderful website. A lot of helpful info here. I’m sending it to several friends ans additionally sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks to your effort!

  13. Good post and right to the point. I don’t know if this is actually the best place to ask but do you people have any thoughts on where to employ some professional writers? Thanks in advance 🙂

  14. Wow! This could be one particular of the most useful blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Great. I am also an expert in this topic so I can understand your hard work.

  15. It is really a nice and useful piece of information. I am glad that you just shared this useful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.

  16. В России сертификация имеет большое значение для подтверждения соответствия продукции установленным стандартам. Она необходима как для производителей, так и для потребителей. Документ о сертификации гарантирует соответствие товара нормам и требованиям. Особенно это актуально для товаров, влияющих на здоровье и безопасность. Сертификация помогает повысить доверие к бренду. Также сертификация может быть необходима для участия в тендерах и заключении договоров. Таким образом, соблюдение сертификационных требований обеспечивает стабильность и успех компании.
    добровольная сертификация

  17. What i do not understood is in truth how you’re no longer really a lot more neatly-appreciated than you may be now. You’re so intelligent. You recognize therefore considerably relating to this subject, made me in my opinion imagine it from so many numerous angles. Its like men and women are not involved except it’s something to accomplish with Girl gaga! Your personal stuffs great. At all times care for it up!

  18. It’s really a great and useful piece of info. I’m satisfied that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.

  19. I’m really inspired along with your writing talents and also with the layout for your weblog. Is this a paid subject or did you customize it yourself? Either way stay up the excellent quality writing, it is uncommon to peer a great blog like this one today..

  20. Have you ever thought about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is valuable and everything. But think of if you added some great images or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and videos, this blog could undeniably be one of the most beneficial in its niche. Excellent blog!

  21. I haven?¦t checked in here for some time as I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂

  22. You actually make it seem so easy together with your presentation but I to find this matter to be really one thing that I feel I’d never understand. It seems too complex and extremely extensive for me. I’m looking ahead for your subsequent submit, I’ll attempt to get the cling of it!

  23. Appreciating the hard work you put into your blog and in depth information you offer. It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed information. Wonderful read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  24. naturally like your website but you need to check the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very bothersome to tell the truth then again I?¦ll certainly come back again.

  25. I am also commenting to make you be aware of what a useful discovery my friend’s child found viewing your web page. She came to find so many issues, with the inclusion of how it is like to possess an ideal coaching heart to make certain people completely learn a number of multifaceted matters. You undoubtedly exceeded my expected results. I appreciate you for delivering such good, trustworthy, revealing as well as cool tips on the topic to Mary.

  26. You could certainly see your skills in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always follow your heart.

  27. I cherished up to you’ll obtain carried out proper here. The comic strip is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. however, you command get got an shakiness over that you wish be handing over the following. in poor health definitely come further in the past again as precisely the similar just about a lot steadily within case you defend this hike.

  28. Hey There. I discovered your blog the use of msn. This is a really smartly written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your helpful information. Thank you for the post. I’ll certainly comeback.

  29. Definitely believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the web the simplest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while people consider worries that they just do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people could take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

Leave a Reply

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