Italian Christmas Cookies

Recipe Ingredients

Here are essential ingredients you’ll need to create these Italian Christmas Cookies.

Cookies

All-Purpose Flour: This provides the structure for the cookies. It binds the wet ingredients together and creates the dough's foundation.

Granulated Sugar: Sugar adds sweetness, of course, but it also contributes to the cookies' tenderness and browning.

Butter: Butter adds richness, flavor, and tenderness to the cookies. Softened butter is crucial for proper creaming with the sugar, which incorporates air and creates a light texture.

Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese: Ricotta, a soft Italian cheese, is mild and creamy, not salty, and its addition to the dough yields a texture that’s silky and melt-in-your-mouth tender — using a whole-milk variety is crucial to the success of this recipe.

Grated Lemon Peel: Lemon peel adds a bright, citrusy flavor that notches back the sweetness of a sugar cookie without overwhelming it.

Eggs: Eggs bind the ingredients together, add moisture, and contribute to the cookies' structure.

Other Ingredients You’ll Need: Baking powder, salt, vanilla.

Frosting

Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar forms the base of the frosting, providing sweetness and structure.

Lemon Juice: Lemon juice adds a tangy flavor to the frosting that complements the lemon in the cookies. It also helps to create the right consistency for spreading.

Other Ingredients You’ll Need: Gel food colors (optional), candy sprinkles (optional).

How to Make Italian Christmas Cookies

1. Mix Dry Ingredients

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Make sure your baking powder is fresh for proper leavening.

2. Mix Remaining Ingredients  

Beat sugar, softened butter, whole milk ricotta cheese, and lemon peel until fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Make sure your butter is properly softened for smooth creaming.

3. Combine 

Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients until just combined. Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes. Chilling the dough prevents spreading during baking.

4. Shape & Bake 

Roll dough into 1-inch balls and place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, until set but not browned. Don't overbake; they should be soft.

5. Cool & Frost

Cool cookies completely. Mix powdered sugar and lemon juice for frosting. Frost cookies and add sprinkles.

How to Store Italian Christmas Cookies

To keep your leftover Italian Christmas Cookies fresh and delicious, here's how to store them.

Room Temperature

Store the cookies in an airtight container. This prevents them from drying out and becoming stale. If you're stacking the cookies in a container, place a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper between the layers. This will prevent the frosting from sticking and smudging. Store for up to 4 days.

Freezer

If you want to store the cookies for a longer period, you can freeze them. Place the cooled, unfrosted cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then, transfer them to an airtight freezer bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 2 to 3 months. Thaw them completely, at room temperature, before frosting and serving.