Best Orange Italian Knot Cookies Recipes

ITALIAN KNOT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cream sugar, butter, margarine, milk, vanilla extract, and almond extract together in a large bowl. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating briefly after each addition.
• Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add 1 cup at a time to the creamed mixture until a dough forms, using your hands if and when necessary. Turn out onto a floured board and knead briefly until smooth and a bit sticky, but not sticking to your hands. Set aside to rest for 5 minutes.
• Pull off small pieces of dough, 1 at a time, and roll into a rope. Gently place one end towards the middle, followed by the other end, in a way to slightly overlap each other. Repeat to form remaining cookies and place on the prepared cookie sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven in batches until just turning a light brown on the bottom, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and allow to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile mix confectioners sugar, milk, and lemon juice together in a small bowl to form a thin glaze. Dip warm cookies in the glaze and sprinkle with sugar or sprinkles. Let set on waxed paper or a cooling rack to dry.

ANGINETTI

Steps:

• With a mixer, combine the granulated sugar, butter, olive oil and lemon zest . Add the eggs, one at a time, and continue to beat for 1 minute.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt, and mix into the lemon mixture until a soft dough forms. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate, 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• Divide the dough into thirds. Cut each third in half, then repeat. (You should have 12 small pieces of dough.)
• On a surface lightly dusted with flour, roll each piece out into a 1/2-inch-thick log, then cut each into 3 pieces. Coil each piece into a small bun shape, bringing the end up over the top and pinching to seal. (Don't worry if they look funny; the glaze will cover any screw-ups.) Repeat with all the pieces, then arrange on the prepared cookie sheets at least 3 inches apart.
• Bake in batches, rotating the pans halfway through, 18 to 20 minutes. Set aside to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Place the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl and break up any large clumps with a whisk. Add the juice of 1/2 a lemon and whisk until a smooth glaze forms (if the glaze is too thick, add a bit more lemon juice; if it is too thin, add a bit more sugar).
• Dip the tops of each cookie into the glaze and allow the excess to drip back into the bowl. Place on a wire rack to dry, then store in an airtight container. Cookies will keep for 5 days at room temperature, or 3 weeks frozen.

ORANGE ITALIAN KNOT COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Measure flour, cut in butter, and mix well with hands. (A dough blender also works wonderfully.)
• 2. Add sugar, salt, and baking powder. Mix well.
• 3. Make well in center and add milk, eggs, and vanilla, orange juice and orange zest. Mix until the dough comes together.
• 4. Wrap in Saran wrap and chill at least 1 hour.
• 5. Roll out dough into strips, form cookies into knots, and bake at 375 degrees for at least 15 minutes (golden tan bottoms).