Last Updated on January 10, 2022 by Kimberly Stroh

I love Christmas cookies that are easy to make and reliable. Every year, my family looks forward to a big plate of cookies to nibble on and my neighbors love one as a gift. These Italian Sugar Cookies get rave reviews year after year. People ask me for the recipe so much that I wanted to share it with my readers too. It’s a great recipe for novice bakers, but they look gorgeous once finished.

I’ve got to thank the Italian people for giving us the gift of an easy sugar cookie recipe. A traditional sugar cookie recipe is much more complicated. I love my Sour Cream Sugar Cookies for cutting out cute shapes, but a foolproof recipe that is quick to throw together is priceless.

You don’t even need butter for these cookies. Italian Sugar Cookies are made with shortening instead of butter. The batter comes together quickly and there’s no need to refrigerate the batter before baking, which means you’ve got less wait time while creating the recipe.

They bake into a soft drop cookie that doesn’t look perfect, but tastes so delicious and rich. To finish and add an extra touch of sweetness, you dip the cookies into a glaze.

For a festive look, I add a few drops of food coloring into my glaze and create a red batch and a green batch. Sprinkle them with sanding sugar and they’ll sparkle!

Anyone can make these Italian Sugar Cookies and they should definitely be on your Christmas cookie list this year.

Looking for even more great Christmas cookie recipes? I’ve got so many! Here are favorites that my readers love to make every year:

• Raspberry Shortbread Thumbprint Cookie
• Soft Maple White Chocolate Chip Cookie
• Classic Gingerbread Men Cookies

How To Make Soft Italian Sugar Cookies

I love to make cookies in my stand mixer, but you don’t have to use that if you want to use a hand mixer instead. That’s the only major kitchen tool you’ll need other than ordinary everyday kitchen items.

What To Serve With Italian Sugar Cookies

I love to include these as part of a dessert table for Christmas or as a platter to giveaway. What makes them versatile is that you can change out the glaze colors. I used red and green for Christmas. You can make them with white glaze and gold sanding sugar for New Years – the possibilities are endless.

My kids enjoy the Italian Sugar Cookies with milk and I always serve them with a fresh pot of coffee. They’re so rich and delicious, you don’t have to anything else in particular. I’d avoid serving them with whipped topping or ice cream – just let them stand out on their own!

How To Change The Colors Of Your Cookies Per Occasion

Since I make these for Christmas, I use red and green food coloring to tint my glaze. The glaze starts out white. I’ve made them for wedding showers and baby showers by tinting the glaze to the occasion we’re celebrating. While they’re traditionally a December cookie – there’s no reason you can’t make them year round. Just change your food coloring and sanding sugars.

How To Keep Your Italian Sugar Cookies Fresh After Baking

Once the glaze is set, you can store them in air-tight container. Be sure the glaze is set before you start stacking them. I keep my different glaze colors separate too. They’ll stay soft and fresh for 3-4 days. There’s no need to refrigerate them.

Can You Freeze Italian Sugar Cookies?

Yes! I do not recommend freezing the cookie batter before baking, but you can freeze the cookies after baking. Once they’ve cooled and the glaze is set, you can freeze some for later. They’ll last for 3 months in the freezer, if you store them in freezer bags. Let them thaw to room temperature before enjoying again.

What You Need From The Grocery Store:

• Shortening
• Sugar
• Eggs
• Vanilla Extract
• All-Purpose Flour
• Baking Powder
• Salt
• Milk
• Butter
• Powdered Sugar
• Food Coloring + Sanding Sugar

Step-By-Step Directions To Make Italian Sugar Cookies

Preheat the oven to 400º. In a mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and mix well.

Shape dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. Place 1 inch apart on uncreased baking sheets (you can use parchment paper or silicone baking mats).

Bake at 400º for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks for cooling.

To make the glaze, combine the milk, butter, vanilla and powdered sugar in a small bowl. Whisk it until smooth. Divide into two bowls and tint using red and green food coloring to the color intensity that you want. Sprinkle with sanding sugar and let it set.

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Yield: 1 Dozen Cookies

Soft Italian Sugar Cookies Christmas Recipe

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One of the easiest Christmas recipes, these Italian Sugar Cookies melt in your mouth and they're topped with festive glaze.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 3/4 Cup Shortening
• 3/4 Cup Sugar
• 3 Eggs
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 3 Cups All-Purpose Flour
• 3 Teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1/8 Teaspoon Salt

For The Glaze:

• 1/4 Cup Milk
• 2 Tablespoons Butter, Melted
• 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 2 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar

For Decoration:

• Red & Green Food Coloring + Sanding Sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400º. In a mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and mix well.
2. Shape dough into 1 1/2-inch balls. Place 1 inch apart on uncreased baking sheets (you can use parchment paper or silicone baking mats).
3. Bake at 400º for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks for cooling.
4. To make the glaze, combine the milk, butter, vanilla and powdered sugar in a small bowl. Whisk it until smooth. Divide into two bowls and tint using red and green food coloring to the color intensity that you want. Sprinkle with sanding sugar and let it set.

Notes

Store cookies in an air-tight container for 3-4 days to enjoy.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 407Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 372mgCarbohydrates: 60gFiber: 1gSugar: 36gProtein: 5g

**Nutrition is calculated by a third party. Actual values may vary.

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