Pin it
Want incredible Italian Christmas treats made right at home? Our family's been whipping up these simple Italian Christmas treats for decades! These delightful little goodies have just the right touch of anise flavor and a stunning glaze that makes them look like they came straight from Italy. With my straightforward approach, you'll be turning out amazing treats in no time flat.
Why These Stand Out
These Italian Christmas treats from scratch are so flexible - shape them into small rounds, fashion them into cute knots, whatever strikes your mood! My uncomplicated approach works great for holiday presents or when you just want something sweet. The mixture for these Italian goodies is really forgiving, so newcomers can still get awesome results.
What You'll Need
- Butter: Gives our Italian Christmas treats from scratch that melt-in-your-mouth quality.
- Sugar: We use granulated and powdered for just the right sweetness balance.
- Eggs: They're crucial for these simple Italian goodies.
- Baking Powder: This creates that light, airy feel.
- Flour: The main foundation of our Italian Christmas treats.
- Salt: Only a tiny bit needed!
- Vanilla: The real stuff works wonders.
- Anise: This gives them that true Italian flavor.
- Extra Sugar: You'll need this for the beautiful glaze.
Let's Start Baking
- Mix Your Dough
- For fantastic Italian Christmas treats from scratch, begin by beating your butter with sugar until it's light and airy. My grandmother always said don't cut corners on this part - it really makes for tender treats!
- Shape With Love
- This is the fun bit of making Italian goodies! Form them into little balls, twist them into fancy shapes - my children always want to join in here. Just coat your fingers with a bit of sugar so the simple Italian Christmas treats dough won't stick.
- Into The Oven
- Stick your Italian Christmas treats from scratch in a 350°F oven. Keep an eye out for slightly golden edges - they usually take around 10-12 minutes.
- The Final Touch
- After your Italian goodies cool down, give them a dunk in that delicious glaze and top with colorful sprinkles. This step makes our simple Italian Christmas treats look super festive!
Grandma's Secret Tips
Want amazing Italian Christmas treats from scratch every time? Make sure to keep the dough chilled while you're working. My approach works best when you let each tray cool all the way before adding glaze. And don't wait to add those sprinkles - get them on fast before the glaze hardens on your Italian goodies!
Keep Them Fresh
These Italian Christmas treats from scratch stay yummy in a container for about seven days. Planning ahead? My simple approach means they freeze really well - just hold off on glazing until you're ready to enjoy them. I often make twice as many Italian goodies and stick half in the freezer for when people drop by unexpectedly.
Holiday Magic
My Italian Christmas treats from scratch always vanish first from holiday sweet displays. This simple approach has become our yearly custom - everyone now counts on these Italian goodies during Christmas. They're ideal for giving away, sharing with others, or savoring with your morning coffee!
Pin it
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why should I refrigerate the dough?
It firms up the butter, making the dough easier to roll and keeps the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.
- → Is anise extract necessary?
Anise is traditional, but almond or extra vanilla works as substitutes. The taste will change but still be yummy.
- → How do I properly store the cookies?
After the glaze dries, keep them in an airtight box. They last a week at room temperature or up to three months frozen.
- → Can I prep the dough early?
Yep, you can refrigerate it for a day before baking. Let it warm up a bit before shaping into balls.
- → Why use powdered sugar on the glass?
The sugar stops the glass from sticking when flattening cookies and adds a slight sweetness.