Christmas Traditions and a recipe: Italian Sprinkle Cookies

 I absolutely love Christmas. I love decorating, baking, cooking, making memories. 


I love traditions, but I'm not opposed to wheedling out some traditions and I love creating new ones. Being "stuck" to certain traditions can sometimes be draining and cause conflict and there may just come a time when they aren't a good fit for your family. For example, my mom always made Oyster Stew on Christmas Eve. My hubby doesn't like it, and I can really only do one bowl, so I started a tradition of making Clam Chowder. I also started making Cinnamon rolls on Christmas Morning. Both of these have become favorites in our household. Find what works for your family. I have treasured memories of some great traditions growing up even though many of them we don't do as a family any longer. Create new ones as your family grows.

I love looking for ways to make new memories. 

I'd love to hear some of your traditions and/or favorite memories...


The other day I was visiting Grumpy's Honey Bunch, 
she has a great website filled with wonderful recipes. I found these cookies there and knew I had to make them. I remembered having these as a kid, first at my Great-Grandma's, Grandma's and my mom made them. Somewhere along the way they got forgotten. 

As soon as I started making them, I was transported back in time to the Italian kitchens and houses filled with relatives, talking loud, eating, laughing, enjoying the Holidays together. These will become a tradition in our home.

The recipe said it made 7 dozen. I decided to cut the recipe in half because I didn't need that many and I wanted to be sure it turned out. I called my grandma to make sure cutting it in half would be alright. I really enjoyed calling her from time to time to update her and let her know how they turned out. 

When it came to the frosting, I thickened it up a little more. These turned out so perfect. Next year I will make the whole batch (which is what this recipe is for).

Italian Sprinkle Cookies
Printable Recipe

from Taste of Home and Grumpy's Honey Bunch

 

6 eggs
5 c. all purpose flour
2 c. confectioners sugar
2 Tbs. plus 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 c. shortening
3 tsp. almond extract
1 1/2 tsp. lemon extract

Glaze:

3 3/4 c. confectioners sugar
1/2 c. warm milk
1 tsp. almond extract
1 tsp. vanilla extract
colored sprinkles

Using a heavy duty mixer, beat eggs on high speed until light and foamy, about 5 minutes; set aside. In a large bowl combine flour, confectioners sugar and baking powder; on low speed gradually beat in shortening and extracts until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Gradually add eggs. (Dough will be stiff).

Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2-inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes (tops of cookies will not be brown but bottoms will be lightly browned).

Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine all ingredients for glaze. Mix well. As soon as cookies come out of the oven, dip them in glaze to coat. Remove with a slotted spoon or tongs (I used a large slotted fork). Place on a wire rack to drain (I placed a cookie sheet underneath). Immediately put sprinkles on top. Let sit 24 hours before placing in containers. I apparently didn't read that part and as soon as they were cooled (after an hour or so) I put them in a container. They seem to be doing fine.

With Joy UNquenchable,