Soft, White Italian Cookies, dipped in a sugar glaze. A great family recipe, passed down the generations. Perfect for Christmas and the holidays!
White Italian Cookies are a family favorite at JoJo's house. Every time there's a wedding or a family gathering, then these tasty little treats get made! They're also great during the holiday season, you can do as JoJo has done and make different colors and shapes.
Here's what JoJo says: "The cookie recipe has been in my family a very long time. My mom passed at the age of 83, her gramma used to make them. It's a nice spongy type of cookie. Soft yet firm. These have been to every wedding, shower, reunion etc in my family for years
Baked cookies will keep in the freezer for up to 3 or 4 weeks. After baking, allow cookies to cool completely. Place them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet to freeze them, then store them in a freezer-safe zip-top storage bag labeled with the name and date.
This site contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, check Privacy Policy.
Most homemade cookies will keep their taste and texture for up to 3 days. If you leave them out for too long, the cookies begin to harden or dry out. To prevent cookies from becoming stale, cover them with plastic wrap or keep them in an airtight container with a piece of fresh bread.
Recipe by JoJo Lanthier
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
10 - 12 Minutes
Yield
Approx 3 dozen.
Ingredients you will need
- eggs
- sugar
- milk
- oil
- anise (optional)
- all purpose flour
- baking powder
- salt
See the recipe card below for quantities.
Instructions
1. Beat eggs until fluffy, add sugar and continue to beat.
2. Add milk, oil, and anise.
3. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking powder then add to wet ingredients slowly.
Take a piece of dough and roll it between your hands until you create a long string of dough, about 8 inches long and an inch wide.
Place rolled dough on the table and cut it into two-inch pieces. Take each piece and twist or tie each piece in a knot.
Arrange on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Sprinkle with some sugar.
4. Bake at 350 degrees until light brown (10-12 minutes) DO NOT OVER BAKE.
5. Cool and frost with a mixture of powdered sugar and water, thin enough to dip the cookie in, and sprinkle if desired...I ADD ANISE TO THE FROSTING AS WELL.
If you prefer a less sweet cookie, you can leave the sugar frosting.
Tip: If you add 1 Tablespoon of flour to the frosting mix it will make it shiny.
NOTES:
You can use food coloring and a tiny drop of anise for flavor.
I sometimes make a big bowl of white cookie dough, then separate it into small bowls and make different color cookies.
We'd love to hear from you and what you thought of our recipe. Did you make any changes or add some other ingredients? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading and happy cooking!
Recipe Card
Soft, White Italian Cookies, dipped in a sugar glaze. A great family recipe, passed down the generations. Perfect for Christmas and the holidays!
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup plus 2 tsp oil
- 2 tbsp anise
- 6 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 5 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Beat eggs til fluffy, add sugar and continue to beat.
- Add milk, oil, and anise.
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking powder then add to wet ingredients slowly.
- Take a piece of dough and roll it between your hands until you create a long string of dough, about 8 inches long and an inch wide.
- Place rolled dough on the table and cut it into two-inch pieces. Take each piece and twist or tie each piece in a knot.
- Arrange on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Sprinkle with some sugar.
- Bake at 350 degrees until lightly brown (10-12 minutes) DO NOT OVERBAKE.
- Cool and frost with a mixture of powdered sugar and water, thin enough to dip the cookie in, and sprinkle if desired.
Notes
- If you add 1 Tablespoon of flour to the frosting mix it will make it shiny.
- I sometimes use food coloring and a tiny drop of anise for flavor.
- I make a big bowl of white then separate it into small bowls and make different color cookies.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 36 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 115Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 108mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 1gSugar: 6gProtein: 3g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate
Here's a collection of delicious cookie recipes you can make for Christmas
Amaretti Style Cranberry and Orange Almond Cookies. These amaretti-style biscuits use minimal flour and have a light airy finish, fit to accompany desserts and drinks light as a feather and fat-free too!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Tiffin is a delicious American twist on the classic British Tiffin chocolate snack, made up of peanut butter, jelly, crushed cookies, chocolate and raisins. An easy no bake sweet chocolate bar recipe.
Easy Chocolate Tiffin is a delicious no-bake British recipe, made of chocolate, crushed cookies, syrup, and raisins, often served at English afternoon tea.
Easy Sesame Brown Sugar French Palmier Cookies, AKA Elephant Ears. These are a very easy to make crispy puff pastry cookie, filled with sesame seeds and brown sugar. Great for the holidays!
Amazing Ginger Cookies.
These amazing ginger cookies are a classic cookie, crisp and baked to give you a perfect cookie full of flavor. Perfect for Christmas or any time of the year.
White Chocolate and Cranberry Banana Drop Cookies.
These are a light, soft, fluffy cookie, loaded with white chocolate and cranberries. Great for using up those overripe bananas!
Cranberry and Orange Thins are very thin, crisp, buttery cookies, easy to make with a crunchy, caramelized texture. Delicious with a coffee or tea.
Famous New Orleans Pecan Pralines. A great Southern, New Orleans institution! Delicious buttery brown sugar candy type cookie in one, made of pecans, butter, sugar, and milk. Great for Christmas time too!
Lemon and poppyseed thins are a very thin, crisp, buttery cookie, easy to make with a crunchy, caramelized texture. Delicious with a coffee or tea.
Easy oatmeal cookies taste amazing! Soft and Chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside, this basic oatmeal cookie recipe is great on it’s own or you can add chocolate, nuts or dried fruit. A simple classic cookie recipe
Alfajores De Maicena, delicious melt-in-the-mouth buttery shortbread cookies from Argentina, made with cornstarch and filled with Dulce de Leche then rolled in coconut.
Mini Meringue Cookies! These are a wonderful sweet treat made up of just 2 ingredients. Incredibly easy to make and are perfect for adding to desserts or eating just as they are.
Soft and Creamy Peanut Butter Cookies, decadent cookies with a peanut butter cookie dough and then filled with creamy peanut butter, a perfect cookie for PB fans!
Fluffy Amaretti Style Lemon Almond Cookies. These amaretti-style cookies are as light as a feather and fat-free too!
Double Chocolate and Orange Biscotti are lovely little Italian cookies perfect for having with a cup of coffee. Easy to make, and make perfect gifts too!
Joy Cookies. This is an easy recipe packed full of delicious chocolate, coconut and vanilla. These go fast so be sure to bake plenty!
Chinese Almond Cookies are simple little cookies, traditionally made for Chinese New Year. These cookies are soft, fluffy, and crumbly. The shape symbolizes coins and will give you good fortune in the coming new year! Easy recipe and are so addictive, be sure to make plenty!
Christmas Cookies with Sugar Icing. These little cookies are such fun to make! Get ready for the holidays and make up a batch. Great for gifts and there's a recipe for a super easy sugar icing too.
Florentine Cookies are a wonderful cookie type treat, with delicious nuts & fruit and coated on one side with white or dark or milk chocolate. Easy recipe!
Gingerman or even Gingerlady Cookies! Very cute and fun to make, have fun decorating these!
German Star Cookies, also known as Zimtsterne Cinnamon Cookies are a wonderful cookie for Christmas. They're crisp, chewy and spiced with all things nice!
Rum, Orange and Raisin Cookies - A delicious flavor combo, crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside!
Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. Soft and chewy oatmeal raisin cookies, a simple cookie recipe using pantry ingredients to give you the best ever cookies!
Quick Mix Spritz Cookies. These little cookies have a wonderful vanilla flavor and melt in your mouth. Easy to make! Get creative and make different shapes ready for Christmas!
Vanilla Butter Ring Cookies. These little cookies have a wonderful vanilla flavor and melt in your mouth. Easy to make!
French Palmier Cookies or Elephant Ears are a delicious little cookie filled with almonds and perfect for the holidays! Quick and easy to make too!
These Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies are packed full of flavor and incredibly easy to make. Loaded with goodies such as butterscotch and cinnamon, they're always popular and great with a nice cold glass of milk.
Lemon Melting Moments Cookies - A wonderful gentle lemon flavor with a melting sensation!
Pecan and Raisin Oatmeal Cookies. Soft and Chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside, these are the BEST EVER oatmeal cookies, loaded with pecan nuts and raisins. A simple classic cookie recipe
Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies. A lovely easy recipe and great for gift packages at Christmas!
Chewy White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies. Soft and Chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside, these are the BEST EVER oatmeal cookies, loaded with white chocolate. A simple classic cookie recipe
Macadamia and White Chocolate Cookies. Perfect with a cup of tea or glass of milk! A very easy cookie recipe.
Grandma's Crunchy Chocolate Chip and Walnut Cookies recipe is easy to make, and great for gifts. Loaded with chocolate and nuts, and perfect for the holidays
MaisieD
says:This recipe looks great and easy except you should post a comment between mixing ingredients and baking. I have never seen these cookies before and since you posted a photo, it would be nice if you detailed how you made the different shapes. One other thing, do they freeze well?
lovefoodies
says:yes these cookies freeze very well..as far as shapes i just twist or make braids,,twist and circle them,,the ones that look like little trees i roll the dough,,make little slices on 1 side then roll on a angel,,be sure not to make them to big these cookies grow as they bake,,they cannot be used in a cookie press
Peggy McElwain
says:can u put this thru a cookie press?
lovefoodies
says:Hi Peggy, these cookies need to be rolled by hand.
jojo
says:sounds like my moms old recipe do you put mixture in a pan and bake or a dough form that you roll
lovefoodies
says:Hi Jojo, what a coincidence you are also called the same name!! I’ve just asked JoJo for you about your question and she says this “you form any shape you like then you bake them” Does that make it a little clearer for you?
jojo
says:yes it does perfect thanks