Italian Christmas Cookies with Cocoa and Orange Liqueur
Description
Italian Christmas cookies with cocoa and orange liqueur topped with homemade orange icing are festive addition to the cookie table.
Ingredients
•
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed
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4 teaspoons baking powder
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1 cup white sugar
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1/2 cup butter, softened
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4 eggs
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1 cup cocoa powder
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2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
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2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
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2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur
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2 tablespoons water
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions
1
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 2 baking sheets.
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.
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.
4
Bake in the preheated oven until edges of cookies are lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
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.