It just wouldn't be Christmas in our family without this holiday favorite made every year by our loving Grandmother Lucia! There are many variations you can try with this recipe such as adding sprinkles or dragées for decoration. But Lucia always made them with her classic signature quality. The taste surpasses any embellishment you could imagine!
JEANETTES – Italian Christmas Cookies
by Dolce Vita Baskets
Ingredients:
3 cups flour
2.5 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup sugar
2 sticks butter
3 eggs
½ tsp Powdered Vanilla
Directions:
Combine dry ingredients except the sugar and set aside
Cream butter and sugar - add eggs one at a time
Add dry ingredients and fold into the creamed mixture until well blended
Portion out small balls of dough and shape them into ½ inch by 5 inch strips by rolling them on a floured surface. Take the rolled strips and make a spiral knot.
Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.
Cool the cookies adequately to touch. Coat each one in confection icing by dropping one by one in the icing, coating thoroughly. You may wish to repeat the process for a more thickened coating on each cookie. Allow the cookies to dry adequately on wax paper until hardened. Store them for freshness in a tin lined with wax paper
Icing:
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted to remove any lumps
3 to 4 tablespoons milk or water (use more or less for desired consistency)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (optional)
Tip:
Place sugar mixture in small bowl deep enough for dunking the cakes. Add vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon of milk, mix well. Add the remainder of milk slowly to attain the desired consistency mixing throughout the process
