Italian Butter Cookies For Christmas
Author: 
 
Nostalgic Italian butter cookies the ones you find in Italian bakeries. Homemade is better, they're crisp, buttery and melt in your mouth.
Ingredients
  • 1 cup of very good quality unsalted butter, room temperature, try a European one like Pulgra
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg and 1 egg yolk, large
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 2¼ cups all purpose flour
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons cream if needed to pipe easier
  • 12 oz. good quality white, dark or milk chocolate, not candy melts
  • ¼ teaspoon of coconut oil to smooth out the chocolate
  • sprinkles of your choice
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350. The butter and eggs must be at room temperature when you're ready to go.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. In a mixing bowl cream the butter and sugar together until nice and fluffy.
  4. Add the eggs and vanilla until combined.
  5. Whisk together the salt and flour then add to the butter mixture a little at a time on low speed til well combined.
  6. If the dough seems to dry add the cream little by little, if too wet add a tiny bit more flour.
  7. Place the dough into the piping bag ( source listed in post) I use a tall glass to hold the bag while I'm filling it, leave enough room on the top so the dough doesn't squish out.
  8. Start piping on your parchment.
  9. They spread a little so I piped them 2 inches apart.
  10. Now place the piped cookies into the fridge for up to an hour for better results before baking.
  11. Place them in your preheated oven when ready to bake around 15 to 18 minutes with the bottom having a nice golden brown color.
  12. Cool COMPLETELY on a rack before dipping in chocolate.
  13. Melt the chocolate in the microwave in a small bowl in 30 second increments, add in your coconut oil for a glossier texture.
  14. Dip one side of the cookie into the chocolate then over a bowl add the sprinkles and place the cookies back onto a clean baking sheet with new parchment.
  15. Put the pan in the fridge so the chocolate gets nice and hard and sets well.
  16. Stores well on the counter in a box or can with wax paper between them, they also freeze well for a month.
Recipe by Proud Italian Cook at https://www.prouditaliancook.com/2025/12/italian-butter-cookies-for-christmas.html