Growing up, Christmas was a huge gathering at my paternal grandmother's house. The aunts and my grandmother would cook and bake for days leading up to the holiday. All I remember is the desserts, pizzelles, rosettes, tarts, Totos and sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles.
I've searched for years trying to find that sugar cookie recipe! These Tender Italian Sugar Cookies are from Taste of Home, and while they are not exactly like the ones I remember growing up, they are delicious and easy to make.
I made zero changes to this recipe. I used a cookie scoop to get uniform balls. The base cookie isn't very sweet, but is balanced nicely with the icing. You could easily change up the extracts if you wanted to. Thank you so much to Weda M for the recipe!
Tender Italian Sugar Cookies
ingredients:
- 3/4 cup shortening
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 Eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 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
instructions:
- 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.
- Shape dough into 1-1/2-in. balls. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 400° for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
- 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 coarse sugar if desired. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set.
Yield: 3 dozen.
I have always wanted to make these cookies. Now I think I'll make your recipe. They look so pretty.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of those old fashioned cookies that instantly get the memories going :)
DeleteVery festive!
ReplyDeleteI've got an amazing sprinkle collection! It's my son's favorite thing to help with, even now that he's a grouchy teenager :)
DeleteNothing better than a bite of memories.....
ReplyDeleteso true!
Deleteooh now I bet those just melt in your mouth! I'd have a hard time not eating more than one! Thanks for sharing at Celebrate365 Cooke Exchange!
ReplyDelete