Angeletti Cookies

(992)

This Italian Christmas cookie blends all the things we love about sugar cookies and shortbread.

Angeletti Cookie Recipe
Photo: Victor Schrager
Hands On Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
1 hrs
Yield:
36 cookies

Baking a variety of Italian Christmas cookies is a tradition that many families treasure. But not all holiday cookies are created equal, and some take dramatically longer to finish than others. Luckily, whipping up a batch of Angeletti cookies is quick and easy, and you don't have to be an advanced baker to get these right.

Once you get the hang of it, you can serve dozens of these little balls in under an hour. The result is a satisfying bite that tastes like a sugar cookie shortbread hybrid. To finish the dessert, drizzle them with glaze and keep them plain or decorate them with multicolor nonpareil sprinkles. If you go the sprinkle route, top the cookies off before the glaze is fully set.

Ingredients

  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

  • ½ cup granulated sugar

  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 2 large eggs

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled, plus more for rolling the dough

  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

  • Glaze:

  • 1 ⅓ cups confectioners’ sugar

  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

  • 2 tablespoons multicolor nonpareil sprinkles, for decoration (optional)

Directions

  1. Heat oven to 375° F.

  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the butter, granulated sugar, vanilla, and eggs until blended. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt and mix until just combined (do not overmix).

  3. With floured hands, roll level tablespoonfuls of the dough into balls and place on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake until puffed and the bottoms are pale golden, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.

  4. Make the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, 2 tablespoons water, and the vanilla until the mixture forms a thick but pourable glaze (add more water if necessary).

  5. Dip the top of each cookie into the glaze, rounded side up, on a rack set over a piece of parchment paper. Sprinkle with nonpareils, if using.

  6. Allow the glaze to set, about 20 minutes. Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

81 Calories
3g Fat
13g Carbs
1g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Calories 81
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 18mg 6%
Sodium 48mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 1g
Calcium 9mg 1%

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Related Articles