Italian Wedding Cookies
Total Time
Prep: 25 min. Bake: 15 min./batch + standing
Yield
about 7 dozen
You don't need a party to enjoy these Italian wedding cookies. The soft, lemon-scented, cakelike cookies with a sweet glaze and pretty sprinkles make any day brighter.
Ingredients
- 6 large eggs, room temperature
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 2 tablespoons plus 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup shortening
- 3 teaspoons almond extract
- 1-1/2 teaspoons lemon extract
- GLAZE:
- 3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 cup warm 2% milk
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Colored sprinkles
Directions
- Using a heavy-duty mixer, beat eggs on high speed until light and foamy, about 5 minutes; set aside. In a large bowl, combine the flour, confectioners' sugar and baking powder; on low speed, gradually beat in shortening and extracts until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Gradually add beaten eggs (dough will be stiff).
- Roll dough into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12-14 minutes (tops of the cookies will not brown, but bottoms should brown slightly).
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, milk and extracts until smooth. As soon as cookies are removed from the oven, quickly dip 2 or 3 at a time into glaze. Remove with a slotted spoon or tongs; place on wire racks to drain. Immediately top with sprinkles. Let dry for 24 hours before storing in airtight containers.
Nutrition Facts
1 cookie: 87 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 13mg cholesterol, 49mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
Of all the Italian cookie recipes I make, this is my favorite. These sprinkle cookies take some time, but, believe me, they are well worth it! My husband and I used to operate an Italian American restaurant, and this recipe goes back generations. —Gloria Cracchiolo, Newburgh, New York
Recipe Creator
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