Description
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with these soft and tender Italian cookies, delicately flavored with vanilla and almond extracts, and topped with festive green sprinkles for a fun and colorful treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Toppings
- Green sugar or sprinkles, for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow easy removal of cookies.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps give the cookies a tender texture.
- Add Eggs and Extracts: Add the eggs one at a time to the creamed mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts to infuse the dough with warm, nutty flavors.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agent and seasoning.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined to form a soft dough without overworking it.
- Shape the Cookies: Roll the dough into small balls about 1 inch in diameter and place them spaced out on the prepared baking sheet.
- Decorate and Flatten: Gently press each dough ball slightly with the back of a spoon and sprinkle generously with green sugar or sprinkles to add a festive touch.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges just begin to turn golden, ensuring a soft and tender center.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on a wire rack before serving to let them set properly.
Notes
- Use softened butter at room temperature for easy creaming and better texture.
- Do not overmix the dough once the dry ingredients are added to avoid tough cookies.
- Customize the sprinkles colors for different occasions or themes.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to keep them fresh.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with a suitable plant-based margarine.
