Best 6 Tender Italian Sugar Cookies Recipes

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Indulge in the delectable world of Italian sugar cookies, where every bite is a symphony of flavors and textures. These tender cookies, often referred to as "biscotti" or "frollini," have been a beloved part of Italian cuisine for centuries. With their delicate crumb, crisp edges, and just the right amount of sweetness, they effortlessly transport you to the heart of Italy, where the aroma of freshly baked goods fills the air. Discover the secrets to crafting these delectable cookies, from selecting the finest ingredients to mastering the art of shaping and baking, and bask in the joy of creating a taste of Italy in your own kitchen.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

ITALIAN SUGAR COOKIES



Italian Sugar Cookies image

aka Italian White Christmas Cookies. I have had this simple recipe for years. This makes a basic soft cookie that can be iced and decorated for the holidays

Provided by Dave5003

Categories     Drop Cookies

Time 43m

Yield 120 large cookies

Number Of Ingredients 10

4 cups sugar
2 cups vegetable shortening (such as Crisco)
6 eggs
2 cups buttermilk
4 teaspoons vanilla or 4 teaspoons anise extract
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 teaspoons baking soda
7 1/2 cups flour (see instructions below)
icing (optional) or nuts (optional)
colored sugar sprinkle (optional)

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 90.2, Fat 3.8, SaturatedFat 1.1, Cholesterol 10.7, Sodium 28.9, Carbohydrate 12.9, Fiber 0.2, Sugar 6.9, Protein 1.3

TENDER ITALIAN SUGAR COOKIES



Tender Italian Sugar Cookies image

These traditional Italian cookies are moist and tender. -Weda Mosellie, Phillipsburg, New Jersey

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 30m

Yield 3 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 13

3/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
ICING:
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
Food coloring and coarse sugar, optional

Steps:

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

Nutrition Facts : Calories 136 calories, Fat 5g fat (2g saturated fat), Cholesterol 20mg cholesterol, Sodium 54mg sodium, Carbohydrate 21g carbohydrate (12g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 2g protein.

TENDER SUGAR COOKIES



Tender Sugar Cookies image

Want to simplify your sugar cookies? Roll this buttery dough from our Test Kitchen into balls and dip them into colored sugar before baking.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 40m

Yield 5-1/2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 11

3/4 cup butter-flavored shortening
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup buttermilk
Colored sugar and/or coarse sugar

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extracts. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours., Roll into 1-in. balls; dip tops in sugar. Place 2 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 9-11 minutes or until lightly browned and tops are cracked. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 61 calories, Fat 2g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 6mg cholesterol, Sodium 47mg sodium, Carbohydrate 9g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.

SOFT ITALIAN SUGAR COOKIES



Soft Italian Sugar Cookies image

This is a bit different than the other recipe on this site as it does not use buttermilk and has a lot less sugar. Found it in a Simple & Delicious magazine.

Provided by HokiesMom

Categories     Dessert

Time 50m

Yield 3 dozen, 36 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 13

3/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
food coloring (optional)
colored crystal sugar (optional)

Steps:

  • In a large mixing bowl, cream together shortening and sugar.
  • Beat in eggs and vanilla.
  • Combine flour, baking powder, and salt together (I use a whisk) and gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well.
  • Shape dough into 1-1/2" balls.
  • Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.
  • Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.
  • Remove to wire racks to cool after 2 minutes.
  • ****FOR ICING****.
  • In a small bowl, combine the milk, butter, vanilla and confectioners' sugar until smooth.
  • Tint with food coloring (I prefer the gel) if desired.
  • ****DECORATING****.
  • Dip the cooled cookies into the icing.
  • Sprinkle with colored sugars if desired.
  • Place on waxed paper until icing is set.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 137.6, Fat 5.5, SaturatedFat 1.7, Cholesterol 17.4, Sodium 75.4, Carbohydrate 20.6, Fiber 0.3, Sugar 12.4, Protein 1.7

TENDER CRISP SUGAR COOKIES



Tender Crisp Sugar Cookies image

These no-roll sugar cookies are great for the holidays. Children like to shape the cookies into balls and dip them into the sprinkles!

Provided by ETHELMERTZ

Categories     Desserts     Cookies     Sugar Cookies

Time 35m

Yield 60

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 ½ cups butter
1 ½ cups shortening
1 ½ cups white sugar
1 ½ cups confectioners' sugar
4 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
3 eggs
6 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 ½ teaspoons cream of tartar
½ teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • Cream butter, shortening and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients, add to creamed mixture; mix to blend.
  • Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Dip in regular or colored sugar or decorator sprinkles. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Flatten slightly with the bottom of a water glass.
  • Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 10-12 minutes. *Larger cookies bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 15 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 172.9 calories, Carbohydrate 18.8 g, Cholesterol 21.5 mg, Fat 10.1 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 1.8 g, SaturatedFat 4.3 g, Sodium 87.4 mg, Sugar 8 g

ITALIAN COOKIES I



Italian Cookies I image

This cookie recipe has been handed down to me from my grandmother. It has been in the family for at least four generations.

Provided by C. Davis

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Italian

Time 35m

Yield 18

Number Of Ingredients 6

½ cup butter, softened
½ cup white sugar
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 156.3 calories, Carbohydrate 21.8 g, Cholesterol 44.6 mg, Fat 6.1 g, Fiber 0.6 g, Protein 3.3 g, SaturatedFat 3.5 g, Sodium 129.7 mg, Sugar 5.7 g

Tips:

  • Use room temperature ingredients: This will help the cookies spread evenly and bake more evenly.
  • Don't overmix the dough: Overmixing will make the cookies tough.
  • Chill the dough before baking: This will help the cookies hold their shape and prevent them from spreading too much.
  • Bake the cookies at a high temperature: This will help them rise and become crispy.
  • Don't overbake the cookies: Overbaking will make them dry and crumbly.
  • Let the cookies cool completely before frosting them: This will prevent the frosting from melting.

Conclusion:

Tender Italian sugar cookies are a delicious and easy-to-make treat that are perfect for any occasion. With a few simple tips, you can make sure that your cookies turn out perfectly every time. So next time you're looking for a sweet and satisfying snack, give these cookies a try!

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