If you’re looking for a sweet treat that feels like a warm hug from Italy, you’ve got to try this Italian Cookies Recipe. These charming little cookies are tender, buttery, and perfectly balanced with a hint of almond that makes every bite memorable. Topped with a delicate glaze and colorful sprinkles, they bring such joy both to the eyes and the taste buds. Whether for a festive occasion or just a cozy afternoon with a cup of coffee, these cookies will quickly become one of your favorite go-to recipes to share and savor.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering these ingredients is simple, but each one plays an essential role in crafting the perfect Italian cookies. From the creamy butter that ensures a soft crumb to the almond extract that brings a subtle, fragrant note, every element combines to create delightful flavor, texture, and that classic homemade charm.
- Unsalted butter: Use it softened to room temperature for a smooth, creamy dough that holds its shape.
- Granulated sugar: Adds the right amount of sweetness and helps create that tender crumb.
- Large eggs: Room temperature eggs help bind everything together while adding richness.
- Whole milk: Adds moisture so the cookies stay soft and melt-in-your-mouth perfect.
- Almond extract: This little splash is the secret to the classic Italian cookie flavor.
- All-purpose flour: The base of our dough, providing structure and balance.
- Baking powder: A leavening agent that helps the cookies rise to tender perfection.
- Salt: Enhances the sweetness and rounds out the flavors beautifully.
- Powdered sugar: For the glossy, sweet glaze that makes these cookies so delightful to look at and eat.
- Rainbow-colored nonpareil sprinkles: Adding that playful pop of color that makes these treats irresistible.
How to Make Italian Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar
Start by beating together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture turns light and fluffy. This is the foundation that will help create a tender texture and ensures your cookies have that delightful melt-in-your-mouth feel every time.
Step 2: Mix in the Eggs and Flavors
Add eggs one at a time, fully mixing each before the next goes in. Then stir in the whole milk and almond extract. This combination brings moisture and that signature almond aroma which is an absolute game-changer in your Italian Cookies Recipe.
Step 3: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Sifting here prevents clumps and helps to keep your dough light, which translates to soft and tender cookies.
Step 4: Incorporate Dry Ingredients into Wet
Slowly add the flour mixture to your wet mix on low speed. The batter will become quite thick, so don’t worry — this means your cookies will hold their shape wonderfully. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to make sure everything is perfectly mixed.
Step 5: Chill the Dough
Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30-45 minutes. Chilling firms the dough, making it easier to scoop and roll into the prettiest, smooth balls, which is crucial for that picture-perfect cookie shape.
Step 6: Prepare Baking Sheets and Preheat Oven
While your dough chills, preheat your oven to 350°F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper. Having everything ready ensures a smooth and stress-free baking session.
Step 7: Shape and Bake the Cookies
Use a 1½-tablespoon cookie scoop to portion the dough. Roll each portion into a smooth ball and place on the baking sheets spaced 2 inches apart. Bake 10-12 minutes until the tops remain pale but bottoms just start to show a golden edge. This careful bake ensures soft, meltaway cookies every time.
Step 8: Cool Before Decorating
Allow the baked cookies to cool on the sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Make sure they are completely cool before adding glaze or sprinkles — patience here really pays off for the final texture.
Step 9: Make the Almond Glaze
Whisk powdered sugar, almond extract, and whole milk until smooth and the consistency resembles honey. This glaze adds sweetness and a lovely sheen, plus it’s just thin enough to coat but thick enough to hold the rainbow sprinkles in place.
Step 10: Dip and Decorate
Dip each cooled cookie tops into the glaze, letting the excess drip back into the bowl before returning them to the rack. After glazing 2-3 cookies, sprinkle their tops with those colorful nonpareils. Doing this in batches helps the glaze set properly while making sure sprinkles stick perfectly.
Step 11: Let the Glaze Set
Let the decorated cookies sit at room temperature until the glaze hardens completely before serving or storing. This final step gives you that satisfying crackly glaze and a gorgeous presentation.
How to Serve Italian Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
While the rainbow sprinkles provide a classic festive touch, you can also jazz things up with finely chopped nuts, edible flowers, or a light dusting of powdered sugar for a delicate finish. These little extras create visual appeal and add subtle texture or fragrance to the cookies.
Side Dishes
Pair these Italian cookies with a steaming cup of espresso, a luscious hot chocolate, or even a chilled glass of sweet dessert wine for a truly Italian-inspired treat time. Their light sweetness complements many beverages perfectly, enhancing your indulgent experience.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve the cookies stacked in pretty boxes or arranged on colorful platters with fresh fruit and flowers for parties. You might also thread a few on a ribbon to gift as edible necklaces at celebrations, making your Italian Cookies Recipe extra special and memorable.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Place your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, separated by parchment paper to keep them fresh and prevent sticking. They maintain their soft texture wonderfully for up to a week, perfect for snacking on throughout the week.
Freezing
You can freeze the baked and glazed cookies by layering them carefully in a freezer-safe container. Just thaw them at room temperature when ready to enjoy, and the cookies will taste just freshly made—ideal for preparing ahead for special occasions.
Reheating
If you want to bring back that just-baked warmth, pop your cookies in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes. This gentle heat refreshes their softness without melting the glaze, giving you an almost homemade-from-scratch experience every time.
FAQs
Can I use vanilla extract instead of almond extract?
Yes, you can substitute vanilla extract if almond extract is unavailable, but the almond flavor is what gives these Italian cookies their distinct and traditional taste. For the best authentic experience, almond extract is recommended.
How do I know when the cookies are done baking?
The cookies should look mostly pale on top with just a hint of golden color around the edges on the bottom. Overbaking can lead to a crunchier cookie, so it’s better to err on the side of underbaking slightly for a soft and tender texture.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
With some flour substitutions, yes. Using a gluten-free all-purpose blend that includes xanthan gum can work well. However, results may vary slightly in texture, so it might take a couple of tries to get your preferred consistency.
Is it okay to skip the glaze?
Absolutely! The cookies themselves are delicious on their own if you prefer a less sweet finish. The glaze and sprinkles are wonderful for presentation and added sweetness, but the base cookie is delightful without it.
How long do Italian cookies last once glazed?
Once glazed, they last best stored in an airtight container at room temperature for about 3-4 days before the glaze may start to soften. Enjoy them fresh for the best texture and flavor combination.
Final Thoughts
I hope you feel inspired to bake this charming Italian Cookies Recipe and share the joy it brings with your loved ones. They’re not only a beautiful and tasty treat but also a reminder of the simple pleasures in life, handmade with love. Trust me, once you try them, they’ll find a permanent spot in your baking repertoire!
Print
Italian Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
These traditional Italian cookies are soft, buttery, and delicately flavored with almond extract. They are perfectly sweetened and topped with a thin glaze and colorful rainbow sprinkles, making them a festive treat ideal for any occasion. The recipe yields tender cookies baked to a subtle golden finish, then coated with a sweet glaze that adds a lovely shine and a pop of color.
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter (soft room temperature)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs (room temperature)
- 3 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 2½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Glaze and Topping
- 2 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 2–3 tablespoons whole milk (start with 2 tablespoons then add the third if needed for consistency)
- Rainbow-colored nonpareil sprinkles
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or using a hand mixer on medium speed, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar for 1-2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Add Eggs and Flavorings: Add the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then mix in the whole milk and almond extract until fully combined, scraping down the bowl and beater as needed for even mixing.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until fully incorporated and forming a very thick batter. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough for 30-45 minutes, or until firm enough to scoop and roll into balls easily.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line three large baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Shape Cookies: Using a 1½-tablespoon cookie scoop, portion the dough and roll each scoop into a smooth ball with your hands. Place each dough ball on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Each baking sheet should hold 12 cookies.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the center of the oven for 10-12 minutes or until the tops are still pale and the bottoms are just starting to turn golden around the edges. You may bake 1-2 sheets at a time depending on your oven size.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Ensure the cookies are completely cooled before applying the glaze.
- Prepare Glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together the sifted powdered sugar, almond extract, and 2 tablespoons of whole milk until smooth. Add the third tablespoon of milk if needed to achieve a honey-like consistency, thin enough for dipping but thick enough to hold shape.
- Glaze Cookies: Dip the top of each cooled cookie into the glaze, letting excess drip back into the bowl. Place the glazed cookies on the wire rack.
- Add Sprinkles: After glazing 2-3 cookies, sprinkle rainbow nonpareil decorations atop the glaze so they adhere well but do not slide off. Repeat until all cookies are glazed and decorated.
- Set Glaze: Allow the cookies to sit at room temperature until the glaze is fully hardened before plating or stacking for storage.
Notes
- Make sure the butter and eggs are at room temperature for easier mixing and better texture.
- Do not overbake; cookies should be pale on top and just golden at the edges to remain soft.
- Refrigerate the dough fully before shaping to prevent spreading during baking.
- When glazing, dip only the tops and allow excess to drip, to avoid soggy bottoms.
- Work in small batches when glazing and adding sprinkles to ensure the glaze sets properly on each cookie.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
