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,

Comments

  1. Your italian sprinkle cookies look delicious - what a terrific holiday treat.

    How cool that you put the step-by-step picture in your blog. That really helps when/baking and cooking - because I'm always the type of person to ask "is it supposed to look like this?"

    Happy holidays!

    Tim
    from SuperTeacherWorksheets.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you and I'm glad you commented the other day. I enjoyed checking out your website and since I homeschool, this will come in handy. Have a great Christmas

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks Kirstin! Hope you had a great Christmas too. :)

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  4. I have made these time and time again and they are always a hit. Being Italian I have very fond memories of my grandmothers cookies/food and this cookie take me back in time. Thanks for sharing..

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