Italian Christmas Cookies are a true celebration of the holiday season. These soft, pillowy cookies are glazed to glossy perfection and showered in cheery colored sprinkles, making every bite a taste of nostalgic joy. Simple, classic ingredients come together in a dough that’s easy to shape, bake, and decorate—ideal for family baking sessions or festive gatherings. When I make these, the kitchen fills with a scent that instantly says “Christmas is here!” Whether you call them anginetti, Italian wedding cookies, or simply Italian Christmas Cookies, their delicate vanilla flavor and tender crumb are sure to win over every cookie lover at the table.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Ingredients You’ll Need
Let’s celebrate just how wonderfully simple the ingredient list is for Italian Christmas Cookies. Every item is chosen for flavor and texture, with each playing a key role in creating the cookies’ signature softness, sweetness, and that beautiful festive glaze. Here’s exactly what you’ll need—and why it matters!
- Unsalted Butter (½ cup, softened): Start with good-quality butter for delightfully tender cookies and a rich, buttery undertone.
- Granulated Sugar (½ cup): Brings balanced sweetness and helps the cookies bake up light and fluffy.
- Large Eggs (3): These add structure and help create that irresistible, cake-like interior.
- Vanilla Extract (1 tbsp for dough + ½ tsp for glaze): Infuses the cookies and glaze with classic warmth and aroma.
- All-Purpose Flour (2½ cups): The base that gives your cookies the perfect crumbly, soft texture.
- Baking Powder (2½ tsp): Ensures the cookies rise gently and stay fluffy, never dense.
- Salt (¼ tsp): Just a pinch to balance sweetness and deepen flavor.
- Powdered Sugar (2 cups): The key to a smooth, satiny glaze that sets beautifully on top of each cookie.
- Milk (3 tbsp): Helps thin the glaze just right for dipping and coating each treat.
- Colored Sprinkles: Not just decoration—they add crunch and joyful color to every cookie!
How to Make Italian Christmas Cookies
Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Station
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. This step sets you up for batch after batch of perfectly baked Italian Christmas Cookies. The parchment also keeps cleanup a breeze and ensures your cookies lift right off without any sticking trouble.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture looks pale and fluffy. This takes a few minutes and is key to locking in air for that signature soft texture. Don’t rush—this is where a lot of the cookie magic begins!
Step 3: Add the Eggs and Vanilla
Beat in the eggs one at a time, taking care to mix until each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in a generous tablespoon of vanilla extract. The eggs provide the cookie’s soft, cloudlike interior, while the vanilla gives that warm, inviting aroma you associate with freshly baked Italian Christmas Cookies.
Step 4: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisking aerates the mixture and distributes the leavening evenly, ensuring every cookie rises just right in the oven.
Step 5: Bring the Dough Together
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix; you want everything just combined to maintain that tender, cake-like crumb.
Step 6: Shape and Bake
Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them about 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheet. Bake for 8–10 minutes. Keep a close eye: the bottoms should just turn golden, while the tops stay pale and soft. Let them cool on a wire rack to keep their delicate texture intact.
Step 7: Glaze and Decorate
While the cookies cool, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Dip the tops of each cookie into the glaze and quickly add your favorite colorful sprinkles before the icing hardens. This step gives Italian Christmas Cookies their festive flair—and is the perfect job for little kitchen helpers!
How to Serve Italian Christmas Cookies
Garnishes
Classic colored sprinkles are the heart and soul of Italian Christmas Cookies. Though the traditional look uses red, green, and white for the holidays, feel free to play with any color palette. A dusting of edible glitter or a touch of sparkling sugar can add an extra wintry touch for special occasions.
Side Dishes
These cookies shine alongside a hot espresso, a foamy cappuccino, or mugs of rich hot chocolate. For a full Italian dessert platter, serve them beside almond biscotti, pignoli cookies, or chocolate-dipped biscotti for a true taste of Christmas cheer.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange Italian Christmas Cookies in a decorative tin lined with parchment for gifting, or stack them high on a cake stand as a colorful centerpiece. They also make gorgeous additions to cookie swaps and festive treat trays—just wrap them with cellophane and a festive ribbon for instant holiday joy!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once glazed and fully set, store Italian Christmas Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay soft and delicious for up to a week, making them ideal for nibbling throughout the holidays or prepping in advance for parties and gift-giving.
Freezing
If you’d like to prepare ahead, freeze the unglazed cookies in a single layer, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag for up to three months. When you’re ready to serve, thaw at room temperature, add the glaze and sprinkles, and enjoy cookies as fresh as the day you baked them.
Reheating
Though these cookies are best enjoyed at room temperature, you can revive day-old or thawed cookies by letting them sit out for 10–15 minutes. If you love a slightly warm cookie, place them on a plate and microwave for just 5 seconds—just enough to bring back that fresh-from-the-oven softness, without melting the glaze.
FAQs
Can I add flavors like anise or lemon to Italian Christmas Cookies?
Absolutely! Anise or lemon extract make wonderful additions and bring a more traditional Italian flavor. Start with ½ teaspoon and adjust to taste, either in the dough or the glaze.
Why do my cookies crack or dry out?
This usually happens if you overbake or if your dough is too dry. Make sure to watch your oven closely and bake just until the bottoms are golden. If your dough feels crumbly, add a teaspoon of milk until it comes together smoothly.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes! The dough can be wrapped tightly and stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Let it come to room temperature before shaping, then proceed as usual for perfectly tender Italian Christmas Cookies.
Are these cookies suitable for gifting?
These are some of the very best cookies for holiday gifts! Their sturdy shape and festive glaze make them perfect for packing into tins or treat bags. Just be sure the glaze is fully set before stacking or wrapping.
What’s the best way to get the glaze to set quickly?
Let your freshly glazed cookies sit in a cool, dry spot. You can also place the tray in the fridge for 10–15 minutes if you’re short on time—but don’t stack them until the glaze is firm to the touch.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to infuse your holiday baking with warmth, tradition, and a whole lot of joy, you really can’t go wrong with Italian Christmas Cookies. Whether shared with friends, packaged for gifts, or enjoyed over cozy coffee chats, they truly bring a little extra magic to the season. Happy baking, and may every batch fill your home with sweetness and cheer!
Print
Italian Christmas Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight your loved ones with these traditional Italian Christmas Cookies, also known as Italian wedding cookies or anginetti. These tender, lightly sweet treats are perfect for holiday gatherings and gift-giving.
Ingredients
Cookies:
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
Glaze:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Colored sprinkles for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Shape and bake: Roll dough into 1-inch balls, place on baking sheet, and bake for 8–10 minutes until bottoms are lightly golden. Let cool on a wire rack.
- Make glaze: Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Dip each cookie top into the glaze, add sprinkles, and let set.
Notes
- These cookies are also known as Italian wedding cookies or anginetti.
- You can add lemon or anise extract to the dough or glaze for a festive twist.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 30mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
