Best Tender Italian Sugar Cookies Recipes

ITALIAN SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
• In another large bowl, using a hand mixer on medium, beat together the shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Beat in eggs and extracts for 30 seconds, then add half of the flour mixture. Beat until fully incorporated, then add remaining half of the flour mixture.
• Use a cookie scoop to portion out the cookies onto the prepared baking sheets. For a more smooth appearance, you can roll the cookies into balls but that is optional.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes, until just lightly golden and cookies start to crack on top.
• Allow cookies to cool completely before frosting.
• Whisk together powdered icing sugar, milk, melted butter, and your choice of flavor extract. Adjust the consistency with additional powdered sugar or milk, it should be thin.
• Spoon approximately one tablespoon of icing onto each cookie. Come back and add sprinkles once the glaze has started to set (so the sprinkles don't just roll off).
• Allow icing to set for 30 minutes before serving or storing.

ITALIAN SPRINKLE COOKIES

Steps:

• 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.

TENDER ITALIAN SUGAR COOKIE

Steps:

• 1. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
• 2. Shape dough into 1 1/2 in. balls. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 400 degree for 8 - 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
• 3. For Icing: In a small bowl, combine the milk, butter, vanilla and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Tint with food coloring if desired. Dip the tops of cookies in icing; allow excess to drip off. Sprinkle with colored sugar if desired. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set.

ITALIAN CHRISTMAS SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Combine : butter, sugar, eggs , vanilla then add ricotta and mix well.
• 2. Add the dry ingredients flour, salt, baking soda. Mix well and drop by tablespoons onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, or a greased cookie sheet.
• 3. Bake 350* 10 minutes or so, just barely lt golden on the edges..remove to cooling rack.. Cool completely before putting vanilla frosting on top, then add sprinkles, if you have any left store in fridge...

ITALIAN SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream shortening and sugar with electric mixer.
• Add eggs one at a time and beat well.
• Add buttermilk, flavor extracts, baking soda and cream of tarter and blend well.
• Now by hand with a wooden spoon, add flour 1 cup at a time until the mixture is stiff.
• Drop from heaping tablespoons onto a lightly greased cookie sheet 2 to 3 inches apart. If not icing you may press on the nuts or sprinkles now (or you can ice or frost and decorate with sprinkles after baking).
• Bake in a preheated 375F oven, center oven rack, 10 to 13 minutes or until cookie edges are slightly brown and tops look set. DO NOT OVERBAKE. Overbaking cause dry, hard cookies.
• Carefully remove to rack to cool. Frost or decorate as desired.
• Notes: recipe may be halved, cookies freeze well, for best baking use an insulated baking sheet as these tend to burn on the bottom. Store airtight.

ITALIAN COOKIES I

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Mix in the egg and vanilla. Combine the flour and baking powder; stir into the creamed mixture until blended. Divide dough into walnut sized portions. Roll each piece into a rope and then shape into a loop. Place cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until firm and golden at the edges.