Description
Warm, buttery Italian cookies with a light vanilla glaze — soft, mildly sweet, and perfect for Christmas gifting.
Ingredients
10 tablespoons (142 g) salted butter, softened
¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour, plus up to 1 cup (125 g) more for shaping
3½ teaspoons baking powder
Glaze:
½ cup (65 g) powdered sugar
1½–2 tablespoons milk
Optional: nonpareils or sprinkles
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Beat softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Mix in eggs, then stir in milk, vanilla, and salt.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk 3 cups flour with baking powder and combine gradually.
5. Add extra flour only if needed until dough is firm and shapeable.
6. Roll into tablespoon-sized balls or shapes and place 2 inches apart.
7. Bake for 8 minutes, keeping cookies pale.
8. Cool on tray 5 minutes, then on rack fully.
9. Whisk powdered sugar with milk, glaze cookies, and add sprinkles if desired.
10. Let glaze set completely before serving.
Notes
Dough texture varies with humidity; add flour slowly.
Avoid overbaking — cookies should stay pale for tenderness.
Glaze only after cookies have cooled.
Store in airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze for months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes per batch
- Category: Christmas Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 62
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg