These traditional Italian holiday cookies are soft, lightly sweet, and delicately flavored with almond (or vanilla or anise), then coated in a smooth icing and finished with cheerful nonpareil sprinkles. Their tender, cake-like texture comes from a simple dough enriched with butter and eggs, while the glaze adds a glossy finish that sets beautifully on top. These cookies are a staple on Christmas trays and festive gatherings, offering nostalgic flavor and a charming, classic look. Chilling the dough and icing while the cookies are fully cooled ensures clean results and perfect texture every time.
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour (spoon method)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup salted butter (1 stick, room temperature)
- 1½ tsp almond extract (or vanilla or anise extract)
For the Icing
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp almond or vanilla extract
- Nonpareil sprinkles
