ITALIAN CHRISTMAS COOKIES

Italian Christmas Cookies

4 1/2 cups flour

2 sticks butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

6 eggs

6 teaspoons baking powder

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Cream butter and sugar until blended.  Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.  Mix in vanilla extract.  In a separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder.  Slowly add flour to creamed mixture and mix until blended.  If the dough is too sticky, sprinkle a bit more flour.   Hand-roll teaspoon-sized balls and place 2″ apart onto ungreased baking sheet.  Bake at 350 until cookies are set and bottoms are lightly browned.

Confectioners’ Frosting

3 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla, almond, lemon, or anise extract (my personal favorite)

1/4 cup water

Mix all ingredients with an electric mixer, or by hand.  Beat until smooth.  Dip tops of cookies into frosting.  Leave plain or add colored sprinkles.  Let dry completely on cooling rack.

I have 15 days to make it all happen.  I do believe in miracles, I do believe in miracles….