Description
Delightful Italian cookie bites celebrate classic holiday traditions with rich almond and vanilla flavors. Crisp, golden edges and powdered sugar coating invite friends and family to share sweet moments together.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup (113 g / 4 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (480 ml / 16 fl oz) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsps baking powder
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsps (30–45 ml) milk
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp almond extract
- Sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, ensuring a non-stick surface for delicate cookie crafting.
- Creaming: Whip softened butter and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale, creating a smooth base for the cookies.
- Liquid Integration: Gently blend eggs into the butter mixture, one at a time, then fold in vanilla and almond extracts to elevate the flavor complexity.
- Dry Ingredient Combination: Sift together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl, ensuring even distribution of leavening agents.
- Dough Formation: Merge dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring carefully until just combined, avoiding overmixing to maintain a tender cookie texture.
- Shaping and Positioning: Craft compact 1-inch spheres using hands or a cookie scoop, gently flattening each ball and arranging them on the prepared baking sheet with ample spacing.
- Baking Process: Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven, baking for 10-12 minutes until edges transform to a golden-brown hue, signaling perfect doneness.
- Glazing Technique: Whisk powdered sugar and milk to create a silky glaze while allowing cookies to cool completely.
- Finishing Touch: Dip cookie tops into the glaze, letting excess drip away, then immediately adorn with decorative sprinkles or toppings for a festive appearance.
- Setting: Allow glazed cookies to rest until the topping sets completely, creating a delightful sweet shell that adds visual and textural appeal.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters: Use room temperature butter for smoother, more even mixing and a fluffier cookie texture.
- Avoid Overmixing: Gently combine ingredients to prevent tough, dense cookies that lack delicate crumb structure.
- Spacing Impacts Baking: Leave enough room between cookies on the baking sheet to ensure even heat circulation and uniform golden edges.
- Glaze Consistency is Key: Adjust powdered sugar and milk proportions to create a glaze that’s thick enough to coat but thin enough to drip elegantly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 22
- Calories: 131
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 25 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 37 mg