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    Home » Biscotti & Cookies » Simple Italian Christmas Sugar Cookies

    Simple Italian Christmas Sugar Cookies

    Published: Dec 13, 2020 · Modified: Sep 7, 2023 by Jessica Montanelli · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Total time to make this recipe: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    overhead of a cookie box full of christmas vanilla and chocolate sugar cookies

    Sweet and crumbly, with a hint of salt and vanilla. These Christmas sugar cookies are super easy to make and are the classic Italian Christmas cookies. They're not linked to any regional traditional recipe, they're simple and humble and that's why everybody loves them! A double dough of chocolate and vanilla to please everybody. They will make a beautiful cookie box to gift to your family and friends.

    cookie box lined with paper full of vanilla and chocolate sugar cookies

    Italian Christmas sugar cookies, known as "Biscotti di Natale," are a perfect holiday treat that captures the essence of Italy's rich culinary traditions. These cookies, shaped into festive designs like stars, angels, and bells, are not only visually appealing but also incredibly delicious.

    The secret to their irresistible charm lies in their buttery, tender texture and a subtle sweetness that perfectly complements the aromatic hints of vanilla and orange. What makes this recipe truly special is the opportunity for creative decorating, where icing and colorful sprinkles can transform each cookie into a work of edible art.

    Whether you're sharing them with loved ones or using them to adorn your Christmas tree, Italian Christmas sugar cookies are a heartwarming tradition that will undoubtedly be cherished by all.

    If you love simple Christmas cookies, check also these Italian Almond Cookies and these Orange and Chocolate Biscotti.

    What are Italian Sugar Cookies?

    In Italy, we call them "Pastafrolla" cookies. They have a crumbly, buttery dough used in Italy to make cookies and "Crostate". They are a mix between shortbread and sugar cookies and that's what makes them so delicious.

    The classic shortbread recipe follows the 3:2:1 ratio, 3 parts of flour, 2 parts of butter, and 1 part of sugar. But the Pastafrolla recipe in Italy has many small variations to make it more or less crumbly, with the addition of eggs which makes it more similar to the classic American sugar cookies. For these cookies, for example, the 3:2:1 ratio is not exactly followed, plus it has the addition of 1 egg. This is to make the dough easier to roll out and cut out with cookie cutters.

    cookie box lined with paper full of vanilla and chocolate sugar cookies

    How to make the Best Italian Christmas Cookies

    You can use a food processor to make the dough, which is very fast and easy. But if you don't have one, you can also do it by hand.

    Add in the food processor the cold butter, sugar, salt, and vanilla and mix at low speed for a few seconds until the butter is all chopped up. Then add the egg, flour, and baking powder and mix again for a minute or two until the dough starts coming together.

    Divide the mix into 2 bowls and in one add the cocoa powder. Knead well with your hands until the dough comes together into a smooth and solid ball. At this point, it shouldn't crumble anymore. Cover both doughs in plastic wrap and flatten it into a disk so later it will be easier to roll out. Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Use this time to preheat the oven.

    Now comes the fun part! On a wooden board or table dusted with flour, roll out the cookie dough with a rolling pin and cut out all the shapes with a cookie cutter. Place them on a lined cookie sheet and bake! When you take them out of the oven transfer them immediately to a cooling rack and let them cool down completely before you decorate them.

    Why do you put the dough in the fridge before baking?

    While kneading the dough, the butter will start melting from the heat of your hands and the temperature of the room. it's important that the butter is as cold and solid as possible before you put your cookies in the oven, or they might lose their shape and consistency.

    To do so, it's essential to chill the dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes so that the butter will solidify again. Use this time to preheat the oven. After the chilling time, you can immediately roll the dough, cut out your cookies, and bake them.

    overhead of a cookie box full of christmas vanilla and chocolate sugar cookies

    How to Decorate the Cookies

    I personally like homemade cookies as they are, simple and plain, like shortbread. The only decoration I do is to add a little bit of melted dark chocolate (simply melted in the microwave) on some and salt flakes on some. But of course, you can do all the decorations that you like.

    You can add icing, sprinkles, chocolate, candied fruits, and more! Since they keep their shape very well and they are nice and flat, you can decorate them just like any sugar cookie, with a simple sugar icing.

    FAQ & Tips

    Can you freeze sugar cookies?

    Yes, you can freeze the baked and cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 months. If you stack them, make sure you separate the layers with parchment paper.

    How long do they last?

    If stored properly, in a cookie tin box or airtight container, they can keep they flavor and consistency for about 5-7 days. After 1 week, they will start to become dry but they will still be edible for up to 2 weeks.

    What is the best thickness for sugar cookies?

    I found that the cookies thick about ¼ inch ( 6 mm) were the ones cooked perfectly and with the best consistency, crumbly and soft. If you roll them too thin, they will easily overcook and become very crunchy. If you roll them too thick they might be undercook and stay too soft.

    hand taking a vanilla christmas sugar cookie from a cookie box

    The Recipe

    If you like this recipe, try also these other cookie recipes:

    • Orange and Chocolate Biscotti
    • Cavallucci, Christmas Walnut Cookies
    • Cantucci, Classic Almond Biscotti

    If you tried this recipe, please take a moment to rate it and share your thoughts in the comments. Your feedback means a lot to me! ★★★★★

    📖 RECIPE

    overhead of a cookie box full of christmas vanilla and chocolate sugar cookies

    Italian Christmas Sugar Cookies

    Crumbly and buttery sugar cookies cut out in all your favorite Christmas shapes. They're simple and classic, like most Italian recipes.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Chilling: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 30 cookies
    Author: Jessica Montanelli

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
    • ½ cup Sugar
    • 5.3 oz Butter
    • 1 Egg
    • ½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon Salt
    • ¼ teaspoon Baking powder
    • 2 tablespoon Cocoa powder
    • 2 tablespoon Dark Chocolate, optional

    Instructions

    • In a food processor, add the cold butter, sugar, salt, and vanilla extract. Mix at low speed for a few seconds until the butter is all chopped up.
    • Add the egg, flour, and baking powder and mix again for a minute or two until the dough starts coming together.
    • Divide the mix into 2 bowls and in one add the cocoa powder. Knead well with your hands until the dough comes together into a smooth and solid ball. At this point, it shouldn't crumble anymore.
    • Cover both doughs in plastic wrap and flatten it into a disk so it will be easier to roll out.
    • Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
    • Preheat the oven at 350°F / 180°C.
    • Take the dough out of the fridge and place it on a wooden board or table dusted with flour. Roll it out with a rolling pin about ¼ inch (6mm) thick and cut out the shapes with cookie cutters.
    • Transfer the cookies to a lined cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
    • Take them out of the oven and transfer them immediately (carefully!) to a cooling rack and let them cool down completely before you decorate them.
    • You can melt a couple of tablespoons of dark chocolate for a minute in the microwave and drizzle the melted chocolate on the cookies with a teaspoon.

    Notes

    You can store the cooled cookies in an airtight container or tin cookie box for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze the cooled cookies for up to 3 months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 88 kcal | Carbohydrates: 10 g | Protein: 1 g | Fat: 5 g | Saturated Fat: 3 g | Cholesterol: 16 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 4 g

    Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: Italian
    Have you tried this recipe?Snap a photo and tag @jess.cookingmydreams or use the hashtag #cookingmydreams!
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    Hi, I'm Jessica! Born and raised in Siena, Tuscany, I've been immersed in the rich traditions of Italian cuisine my entire life. Through my food blog, I hope to share a slice of Tuscan warmth and the genuine flavors that have been a part of my journey since childhood.

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    65 shares