Description
Festive Italian Christmas Cookies bring sweet holiday cheer with their delicate, powdery texture and rich nostalgic flavor. Generations of family traditions shine through these simple yet elegant treats that connect you to authentic Italian culinary warmth.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 15-ounces (425 grams) ricotta cheese
- 1 cup (226 grams) butter, softened
- 2 eggs
Dry Ingredients:
- 4 cups (480 grams) all-purpose flour
- 2 cups (400 grams) sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
Flavor Enhancer:
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a spacious mixing bowl, whip softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and airy, creating a creamy texture that incorporates air for a fluffy consistency.
- Introduce eggs and pure vanilla extract, carefully mixing until thoroughly combined and the batter appears smooth and uniform.
- Sift together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and baking soda in a separate vessel, ensuring no lumps remain.
- Gradually incorporate the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently to maintain the delicate air bubbles.
- Gently fold in fresh ricotta cheese, blending until evenly distributed throughout the dough without overmixing.
- Wrap the dough in plastic film and refrigerate for a minimum of one hour to allow flavors to meld and dough to firm up.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Using clean hands or a small scoop, form the chilled dough into uniform round balls, placing them carefully on the prepared baking sheets with slight spacing between each cookie.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, watching for a delicate golden edge that indicates perfect doneness.
- Remove from the oven and allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes to set, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Chill dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain cookie shape during baking.
- Use room temperature ingredients for smoother, more consistent mixing and better texture.
- Add festive variations by incorporating citrus zest or almond extract for a holiday twist.
- Freeze unbaked cookie dough balls for quick, fresh cookies anytime during the season.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 183
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg