I think we can all agree, there’s just nothing like Mom’s home cookin’. It just tastes better, doesn’t it? For that reason I’ve asked my Mom to submit some of her favorite recipes for me to share with y’all each Monday. Let’s get cooking in the kitchen with Mom!
This weekend Mom got to play Cookie Maker with one of her (and mine!) very favorite people – my niece Sophia! This little girl has the wildest of imaginations, so when she says you’re playing Cookie Maker you better be on the ball with the dough and the sprinkles because she means business! Mom decided it’d be even more fun to whip up a batch of cookies for real – and out of that fun playtime sprung these delicious Italian Sugar Cookies. I love them because they’re not too sweet and are perfect with a cup of coffee or an afternoon tea. They’re also super easy to make – so they’re the perfect recipe to whip up when you’ve got demanding little guests 😉
- ¾ cup shortening
- ¾ cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. almond extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tsp. baking powder
- ⅛ tsp. salt
- ¼ cup milk (I use almond milk)
- 2 tbsp. butter, melted
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 2 ½ - ¾ cups powdered sugar
- Food coloring and sugar sprinkles, optional
- Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in eggs, vanilla and almond extract.
- In a separate bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt.
- Gradually add to butter/sugar mixture and mix well.
- Shape dough into 1 ½ inch balls.
- Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.
- Bake 8 – 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove cookies to wire rack to cool.
- For glaze, combine milk, butter, vanilla and almond extracts and confestioners’ sugar in small bowl until smooth.
- Tint with food coloring if desired.
- Dip tops of cookies in glaze.
- Allow excess to drip off and place on rack set over cookie tray.
- Sprinkle with sugar sprinkles if desired.
- Let stand until icing is set.
- Enjoy!