Italian Christmas Cookies with Cocoa and Orange Liqueur

Italian Christmas cookies with cocoa and orange liqueur topped with homemade orange icing are festive addition to the cookie table.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 204 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 eggs
• 2 tablespoons water
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur
• 0.5 cup butter, softened
• 3.5 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 2 baking sheets.

Step 2

Sift flour and baking powder together in a bowl. Beat white sugar and butter together in a separate bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy; beat in eggs. Stir creamed butter mixture, cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons liqueur, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract into flour mixture until dough is just combined.

Step 3

Turn dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead, adding flour as needed to keep from dough sticking to your hands. Roll dough, 1 to 2 tablespoons per cookie, in your hands and form a log-shape; twirl log into desired shape. Place cookies on the prepared baking sheet.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until edges of cookies are lightly browned, about 10 minutes.

Step 5

Stir confectioners' sugar, 2 tablespoons liqueur, water, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract together in a bowl until icing is creamy. Dip cookies into icing. Place a piece of waxed paper under a wire rack and place cookies on wire rack to cool.