Last Updated on January 23, 2022 by Kimberly Stroh
There’s something heavenly about making a spiced baked good during the holiday season. Your whole kitchen fills with an aroma that’s festive. Transport yourself to a European Christmas market with these traditional Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies. The cookies have a nutty cocoa flavor that’s mixed with seasonal spices. They bake into a soft cookie with a little crunch – thanks to the bits of walnut. It’s a unique recipe that our family loves to enjoy every Christmas season.
My Aunt grabbed this recipe while she was on a European cruise. She planned a trip purposely during the holiday season, just to see the European Christmas markets. At every market, she encountered beautiful handcrafted items to buy and delectable desserts that were irresistible. She tried several Chocolate Spice Cookies and realized she couldn’t come home without the recipe.
She brought home the recipe and started to tweak it slightly. It was handwritten, made it’s way home through her luggage and was written in Italian. After a little trial and error, she perfected the recipe. When the rest of the family experienced the same “love at first taste” like she did, she gladly shared the recipe.
Now, I make this as part of my annual holiday dessert tray. I make a bunch of cookies to place on a tray together. After our Christmas Eve dinner, I pull out the tray of cookies to accompany the family fun. I can’t imagine our Christmas without this recipe and I know your family is going to love it too.
I’ve got so many great holiday cookie recipes on my site! Check out some of these festive cookie recipes that readers love:
How To Make Traditional Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies
There are three different parts to making these Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies – making the batter, baking and adding the glaze. Even though there are three different parts to the recipe, I promise that they’re easy. This is a great cookie recipe that has awesome presentation, but they’re easy to make if you’re a beginner baker.
What Baking Tools You’ll Need
The basics of any baking recipe is technique. Investing in great baking trays is worth the money. I also love using silicone baking mats to help the cookies bake evenly and keep the cookies from sticking to the tray. For the glaze, I like to use a cooling rack to ensure the excess glaze drops through to the pan below (to be tossed). Lastly, you can make these cookies with or without a stand mixer.
What To Serve With Your Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies
I love to serve these alongside other holiday cookies, but they make a great homemade gift too. With their rich texture, you don’t need to serve with with any added topping. Pair them with an after-dinner cocktail or a big glass of ice cold milk. My kids enjoy the cookies with a mug of hot cocoa.
How To Keep Your Cookies Fresh After Baking
Once your cookies have cooled and the glaze has set, store them in an air-tight container. Since they’re glazed, I don’t stack the cookies, unless I have wax paper to place between. Sometimes when you stack the cookies, it can ruin the glaze and the sprinkles tend to fall off.
Can You Freeze Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies?
Yes! You can freeze these cookies two different ways. You can freeze the cookie dough, if you cover it with plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn. Just let the dough thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours before baking as directed. You can also freeze the cookies after they’ve baked – for up to 3 months. Let them thaw for a few hours before enjoying again.
What You Need From The Grocery Store:
- Shortening
- Sugar
- Eggs
- Milk
- Vanilla Extract
- All-Purpose Flour
- Cocoa Powder
- Ground Cinnamon
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Ground Cloves
- Chopped Walnuts
- Confectioner’s Sugar
- Light Corn Syrup
- Optional: Sprinkles For Garnish
Step-By-Step Directions To Make Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies
Preheat the oven to 350º. In a stand mixer (or large bowl) cream the shortening and sugar until light and fluffy – for about 5-7 minutes. Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla.
In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and cloves. Gradually beat it into the creamed mixture. Stir in the chopped walnuts by hand.
Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place them 1-inch apart on prepared baking tray (with silicone baking mat or parchment paper). Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the outside is light brown. Remove to wire racks and cool completely. You CAN NOT add the glaze until they’re completely cooled.
For the glaze: In a large bowl, mix the confectioner’s sugar, corn syrup and enough milk to reach the desired consistency. Dip the tops of the cookies into the glaze. Add sprinkles for garnish. Let the cookies set.
Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies
Soft and cake-like, these Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies have a hint of holiday spices. They're dipped in a vanilla glaze to finish. Top with a little bit of sanding sugar for a festive look.
Ingredients
- 3/4 Cup Shortening
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 4 Large Eggs (room temperature)
- 1/2 Cup Whole Milk
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder
- 2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
- 1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts
For The Glaze:
- 2 1/4 Cup Confectioner's Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Light Corn Syrup
- 3-4 Tablespoons Whole Milk
Garnish:
- Christmas Sprinkles (or Sanding Sugar)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º. In a stand mixer (or large bowl) cream the shortening and sugar until light and fluffy - for about 5-7 minutes. Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and cloves. Gradually beat it into the creamed mixture. Stir in the chopped walnuts by hand.
- Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place them 1-inch apart on prepared baking tray (with silicone baking mat or parchment paper). Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the outside is light brown. Remove to wire racks and cool completely. You CAN NOT add the glaze until they're completely cooled.
- For the glaze: In a large bowl, mix the confectioner's sugar, corn syrup and enough milk to reach the desired consistency. Dip the tops of the cookies into the glaze. Add sprinkles for garnish. Let the cookies set.
Notes
If you want to omit the walnuts, you can. Store leftover cookies in an air-tight container.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
36Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 166Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 94mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 1gSugar: 13gProtein: 3g
**Nutrition is calculated by a third party. Actual values may vary.