Italian Easter Cookies (Printer-friendly)
Soft, lightly sweetened lemon cookies with pastel sprinkles, perfect for Easter celebrations.
# What you'll need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
06 - 3 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
08 - 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
09 - 2 tablespoons milk
→ Icing
10 - 1 cup powdered sugar
11 - 2-3 tablespoons milk
12 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ Decoration
13 - Colored sprinkles (nonpareils or confetti)
# Method:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt until well blended.
03 - In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, approximately 3-4 minutes.
04 - Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract and grated lemon zest until incorporated.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with milk, mixing until a soft, smooth dough forms.
06 - Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough and roll into 4-inch logs. Shape each log into a ring and firmly pinch the ends to seal.
07 - Place shaped rings on prepared baking sheets, spacing them approximately 2 inches apart to allow for slight spreading.
08 - Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the bottoms are lightly golden. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
09 - Whisk together powdered sugar, 2-3 tablespoons milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and slightly thickened.
10 - Dip the top of each cooled cookie into the icing, immediately sprinkle with colored sprinkles. Allow icing to set completely before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The texture is impossibly soft and pillowy like little clouds.
- That whisper of lemon makes everything feel like spring.
- Kids go absolutely wild for the sprinkles.
02 -
- The dough will feel sticky but resist adding extra flour or cookies become tough.
- Work quickly once the icing is made or it starts to harden.
03 -
- Grate the lemon zest before cutting the lemon to get the most oils.
- Do not overbake or these lose their signature soft texture.