Description
Italian Easter Cookies are bright, buttery, ring-shaped treats decorated with rainbow-colored dough and sprinkles. A festive, family-friendly cookie perfect for Easter celebrations and springtime baking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (or almond or lemon extract)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/2 cups (310g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Gel food coloring (4–5 colors)
- Rainbow nonpareils or pastel sprinkles
Instructions
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in your chosen extract.
- In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually mix into the wet ingredients to form a soft dough.
- Divide the dough into 4–5 portions and tint each with a different gel food coloring. Knead until colors are evenly distributed.
- Roll small logs of each colored dough and place side-by-side. Wrap and gently roll together, then transfer into a piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
- Pipe 2-inch rings onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Sprinkle with nonpareils.
- Chill the trays for 20–30 minutes to help the cookies hold their shape.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden.
- Let cookies cool completely on wire racks before storing or decorating further.
Notes
- Chill piped cookies before baking to help them maintain their shape.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without altering dough texture.
- You can substitute vanilla with almond or lemon extract for variety.
- For a fun variation, dip cooled cookies in white or dark chocolate.
- Cookies can be frozen after baking for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 55mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: Italian Easter Cookies, Ciambelle di Pasqua, Easter cookie recipe, rainbow cookies, festive spring cookies
