Description
Sweet memories of family gatherings bloom with these buttery Italian Easter cookies, passed down through generations of love. Crisp edges and delicate crumb invite warm connections as you savor each tender, powdered sugar-dusted bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 large eggs
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
Leavening and Seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Liquid and Glaze Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup milk (60 ml)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk (45 ml)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
- Prepare all ingredients and equipment, ensuring butter is at room temperature for optimal mixing.
- Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C), creating an ideal baking environment for delicate cookies.
- Whip butter and sugar in a spacious mixing bowl until the mixture becomes airy and pale, creating a fluffy base.
- Incorporate eggs individually, thoroughly blending after each addition to ensure smooth integration.
- Infuse the mixture with vanilla extract, stirring gently to distribute the aromatic flavor.
- Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate vessel, whisking to eliminate potential lumps.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the creamy mixture, alternating with milk to maintain a consistent texture.
- Gently shape the dough into uniform spheres, roughly the size of a tablespoon.
- Arrange cookie spheres on parchment-lined baking sheets, delicately flattening each with the base of a glass.
- Position the trays in the preheated oven, baking until the cookie edges develop a subtle golden hue, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for five minutes, enabling them to firm up slightly.
- Transfer cookies to wire cooling racks, permitting complete cooling and texture stabilization.
- Craft a glossy icing by blending powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until achieving a silky-smooth consistency.
- Dip each cooled cookie into the icing, ensuring an elegant, even coating.
- Immediately embellish with festive sprinkles while the icing remains wet, creating a decorative finish.
- Permit the icing to set completely before serving, allowing the cookies to reach their ultimate flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Soften butter completely at room temperature for smoother, more even mixing and better cookie texture.
- Sift dry ingredients to eliminate lumps and ensure a lighter, more uniform cookie consistency.
- For gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, maintaining the same measurements.
- Use room temperature eggs to help them blend more evenly and create a smoother dough without curdling.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 155
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 32 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg