Tender Italian Sugar Cookies

Name: Tender Italian Sugar Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 3 dozen.
Ingredients: 3/4 cup shortening; 3/4 cup sugar; 3 large eggs; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 3 teaspoons baking powder; 1/8 teaspoon salt; ICING:; 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

These traditional Italian cookies are moist and tender. —Weda Mosellie, Phillipsburg, New Jersey

Ingredients

3/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
ICING:
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

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine 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 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
For icing, in a small bowl, combine milk, butter, vanilla and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Tint with food coloring if desired. Dip tops of cookies in icing; allow excess to drip off. Sprinkle with coarse sugar if desired. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set.

Nutrition Facts

1 each: 136 calories, 5g fat (2g saturated fat), 20mg cholesterol, 54mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 fat.

Originally published as Italian Vanilla Christmas Cookies in Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook 2006

Reviews

My Review

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Average Rating:

lvarner

Oct 1, 2018

These cookies are nice to make for a cookie tray. They are quite pretty, and I change the color of the food coloring to go with the holiday and/or season. To me, they needed a little something extra so I have at times added 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract or 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips to the cookie dough with very good results.
buffetfan

Apr 17, 2018

I made these for a luncheon at school and they were well received. After reading reviews I added a teaspoon of butter emulsion that I had along with almond extract to add more flavor. I kept the vanilla extract too. I think they are more like a shortbread cookie than sugar, though. They were delicious and, as another mentioned, not too sweet but perfect with the icing. I also used a cookie scoop for uniform size. Will definitely be making them again.
susan

Mar 20, 2017

I have made Italian cookies many years for holidays and weddings. I saw this recipe and thought it was pretty for a tray. I will not make again. Too sweet and I did not like the taste. I will continue using my recipes I have been handed down from family.
Madeline

Dec 26, 2016

I used almond extract instead and they turned out just great... the icing and sugar sprinkles make up for the not so sweet cookie. This is a keeper!
JMartinelli13

Dec 3, 2016

Base cookie isn't overly sweet, but was balanced out with the icing and sprinkles. I used a cookie scoop to get uniform cookies.
janr13

Apr 9, 2016

Just made these cookies and also found them a little bland, will make them again just will add some orange extract to flavor them up. Icing was very runny even after adding extra sugar.
cdugdell

Dec 31, 2015

Love these cookies and they are always a hit a christmas time
CarrieBerry4Chad

Apr 22, 2015

Just ok. I agree with others that these are pretty bland. Not a very sweet cookie if that's what you're looking for.Easy to make, but not my idea of a sugar cookie.
auntyshock

Mar 13, 2015

For more flavor use almond flavor in cookie and i used peppermint flavor in icing
slmerk

Mar 12, 2015

Easy to prepare with ingredients that are always on hand. Very nice presentation Unfortunately they don't have much flavor. I used extra vanilla in the dough and icing and double dipped them and they were still just eh. I was pretty disappointed.