As the festive season approaches, the delightful aroma of Italian Christmas cookies, known as biscotti di Natale, fills the air. These traditional treats are a celebration of the holiday spirit, passed down through generations of Italian families. With their unique flavors, textures, and shapes, these cookies are sure to bring joy to your Christmas gatherings. From classic favorites like pignoli cookies and amaretti to regional specialties such as struffoli and panpepato, the world of Italian Christmas cookies is rich with culinary delights. In this article, we will explore some of the most beloved recipes and guide you in creating these delectable treats in your own kitchen. Whether you are a seasoned baker or just starting your culinary journey, we invite you to join us on this sweet adventure as we uncover the secrets behind these timeless Italian Christmas cookies.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
SPUMONI SLICES - ITALIAN CHRISTMAS COOKIES
These three colored cookies are pretty simple to make and add a nice touch of color to your gift platters
Provided by Steve_G
Categories Dessert
Time 57m
Yield 84 cookies, 42 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Beat shortening and margarine or butter about 30 seconds or till softened.
- Add half the flour, the sugar, egg, 2 tablespoons milk, vanilla, baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoons salt.
- Beat till thoroughly combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.
- Stir in remaining flour.
- Divide dough into thirds.
- Into one portion, mix chocolate and 2 teaspoons of the milk.
- Into second portion, mix cherries.
- Into third portion mix nuts, remaining milk, flavoring, and enough green food coloring to tint dough.
- To shape dough, line bottom and sides of an 8 x 4 x 2 inch loaf pan with clear plastic wrap.
- Press pink dough evenly in pan.
- Top with chocolate dough.
- Top with green dough.
- Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Invert pan; remove dough.
- Remove plastic wrap.
- Cut dough into 1/4 inch thick slices; cut each slice crosswise into three pieces.
- Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake in 375 oven 8 to 10 minutes or till edges are lightly browned.
- Remove and cool on rack.
- Drizzle with powdered sugar icing tinted green or with melted chocolate.
ITALIAN CHRISTMAS COOKIES
Make and share this Italian Christmas Cookies recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Kimschmee
Categories Drop Cookies
Time 20m
Yield 2 dozen cookies, 24 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Firstly, sift the flour and baking powder together into a bowl.
- Then, in a larger bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and add vanilla, then pour the dry ingredients into the wet and mix.
- Knead and add flour as needed to keep dough from sticking to hands. Pinch off dough, roll in your hands to form a log and then twirl into shape. Place on greased cookie sheets.
- Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.
- Combine the next 3 ingredients until creamy.
- Dip cookies into icing and sprinkle with trim. Place on wire rack with wax paper on counter to collect the dripping icing and sprinkles.
ITALIAN CHRISTMAS SPICE COOKIES
While growing up in Boston, every Christmas my Neopolitan auntie would make a delicious chocolate round cookie spiced with cloves. She called them "Todors" (phonetic spelling). It's been 50 years since I've had them as no bakery seems to make them. Finally, after much research, I was able to locate a recipe that sounded just like the real thing. I tweaked the recipe a bit till I got the taste that I remembered. Warning: You can't each just one.
Provided by Dedee Royale
Categories Dessert
Time 1h10m
Yield 50-55 cookies
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa, cloves, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg.
- In a large separate bowl mix together eggs, sugar, oil, milk and vanilla.
- Add flour mixture to wet mixture in small batches and mix until combined.
- Add chocolate chips and chopped almonds. Dough will be very stiff.
- With lightly oiled hands, continue to mix the dough till all ingredients are incorporated. Wash hands thoroughly.
- Lightly oil your hands again so the dough won't stick to them and break off pieces of dough, rolling them with your palms into balls the size of walnuts.
- Arrange on prepared baking sheet 2" apart and bake for 10 minutes.
- Once cooled, dip the top of each cookie into the chocolate glaze. While still wet garnish tops with a few sliced almonds.
- When set, re-dip the bottom of each cookie back into the chocolate glaze and let set again.
- While still slightly wet, generously dust or roll each cookie into 1 cup powdered sugar.
- Set aside to dry before stacking.
- Cookies will keep in an airtight container for 2 weeks.
ITALIAN CHRISTMAS COOKIES (FILLED)
These are cookies my grandmother used to make for Christmas every year. We always filled them with pre-made mincemeat or the filling in the recipe, but she has down two others in the recipe as well - ground raisins with cinnamon, cloves and sugar/orange juice/sweet wine, and almond paste with brown sugar and rum flavoring (meant to be sweet). Be creative with the frosting colors and sprinkles - that was the only part I was allowed to help with and we always tried to make them as "pretty" as possible.
Provided by AdeleProvence
Categories Dessert
Time 1h
Yield 2 dozen, 24 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Sift together flours and salt.
- Cut shortening into flour mixture.
- Melt 1/2 + 1/3 cup sugar in 1/2 cup water and pour into flour mixture and mix.
- Roll out and cut into circles the size of a large can like fruit comes in, about 2 1/2 inches in diameter.
- Make the filling by mixing together nuts, 2 tbsp sugar, and raisins.
- Place a tablespoonful of filling on one side of each circle.
- Wet the edges of the circle, fold over (should look like a half moon), and seal with a fork.
- Prick the top of all assembled cookies with a fork to vent.
- Bake at 400F for 7-10 minutes, until just turning golden.
- Let cool.
- Dust lightly with powdered sugar or make frosting by mixing 1 tbsp water, powdered sugar, and vanilla. If desired, frosting may be tinted with food coloring and sprinkles may be put on cookies immediately after frosting.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 200.6, Fat 8.9, SaturatedFat 2, Sodium 13.2, Carbohydrate 28.3, Fiber 0.7, Sugar 9.9, Protein 2.4
ITALIAN WHITE CHRISTMAS COOKIES
Make and share this Italian White Christmas Cookies recipe from Food.com.
Provided by shelshel0110
Categories Dessert
Time 45m
Yield 50-100 Cookies
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Melt crisco an butter, then cool.
- Beat eggs and sugar.
- Add milk, vanilla, and anise extract.
- Add crisco/butter mix.
- Slowly add flower and baking powder. Work gently.
- Bake on cookie sheet 3-5 min on bottom rack, then 3-5 min on top rack. Bottoms should come out lightly brown.
- Let cookies cool, then ice with a mixture of powdered sugar and water. Add red and green food coloring to icing for a more festive look.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 221.7, Fat 9.6, SaturatedFat 3.1, Cholesterol 24.3, Sodium 95.9, Carbohydrate 29.8, Fiber 0.7, Sugar 8.1, Protein 3.9
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: This will make a big difference in the taste of your cookies.
- Follow the recipes carefully: Don't skip any steps or ingredients, or you may end up with cookies that are dry, crumbly, or too sweet.
- Chill the dough before baking: This will help the cookies to hold their shape and prevent them from spreading too much.
- Bake the cookies until they are just set: Overbaking will make them dry and crumbly.
- Let the cookies cool completely before decorating them: This will help the decorations to adhere to the cookies.
Conclusion:
Italian Christmas cookies are a delicious and festive tradition that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a little planning and effort, you can make these cookies at home and share them with your loved ones. So get baking and enjoy the holiday season!
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