Italian Christmas Cookies
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 cups confectioners sugar
- frosting
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon butter
- 16 oz ricotta cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon shortening
- 1 tablespoon lemon exgtract
- 1/2 cup colored candy sprinkles
- Carbohydrate 32.8746800277507 g
- Cholesterol 23.9096121298676 mg
- Fat 8.74970406481028 g
- Fiber 0.28125000532542 g
- Protein 2.49322867886786 g
- Saturated Fat 5.46511972592456 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (64g)
- Sodium 207.215968158532 mg
- Sugar 32.5934300224253 g
- Trans Fat 0.625331605288638 g
- Calories 217 calories
Step-by-step
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheets,
- In a large bowl, cream together the 1 cup of butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the ricotta cheese and vanilla. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow the cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the frosting, warm the milk, 1/2 teaspoon of butter and the shortening, in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until solids are melted. Remove from heat and gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar and lemon extract. Dip each cookie into the icing then dip in colored sugar or sprinkles.
Should these be stacked immediately or left flat to cool completely on a wire rack? When fresh ricotta replaces a portion of the traditional fat in a dough, the resulting bake exhibits a tender, cake-like interior that relies entirely on gentle handling to avoid density. Overmixing the all-purpose flour after incorporation develops gluten networks that ruin this softness, turning a delicate pastry into a heavy scone.
Complements and Pairings
Serving these frosted drops requires considering their pronounced sweetness and citrus notes. Pouring strong, unsweetened dark roast coffee or bracing Earl Grey tea cuts through the rich sugar glaze without competing against the subtle dairy flavor from the cheese. Fresh berries placed alongside the platter add necessary acidity to balance the plate.
- Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for precisely 8 to 10 minutes until edges barely show color.
- Store cooled pastries in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.
- Whisk dry leaveners thoroughly into the flour before adding to wet components to prevent pockets of bitterness.
