ITALIAN S COOKIES
Italian S Cookies are soft, colorful, almond-flavored cookies shaped like the letter "S," and often glazed with a sweet icing and topped with sprinkles. These festive cookies are perfect for holidays, celebrations, or any special occasion!
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 tablespoon milk
- 1 egg yolk for brushing the cookies
For the glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoon milk
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- Sprinkles for topping optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Prepare the dough:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the almond extract and milk.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Shape the cookies:
- Scoop out small portions of dough (about 1 tablespoon each) and roll them into long ropes. Shape each rope into an "S" shape and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
Prepare the egg wash:
- In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolk with 1 tablespoon of water. Brush this egg wash over the shaped cookies for a shiny finish.
Bake the cookies:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are golden around the edges but still soft in the center.
- Remove from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Glaze the cookies:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and almond extract until smooth.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cooled cookies and top with sprinkles if desired. Let the glaze set before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute the almond extract with vanilla extract for a slightly different flavor.
- These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- If you’d like to make the cookies even more festive, you can dye the glaze with food coloring or use colored sprinkles.
- For a softer cookie, you can refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before baking.