Italian Butter Cookies Bakery Style For The Holidays Recipes

ITALIAN BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven, then heat to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place butter into the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the paddle attachment, beat the butter on high until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides once, about 2 minutes.
• Add the sifted powdered sugar. Start the mixer on low, and then increase the speed to high. Beat until the mixture is very smooth and soft peaks form, scraping down the sides of the bowl once halfway through.
• Add the egg yolk one at a time, and blend completely after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and blend completely once more.
• Sift the flour with baking powder and salt. Add the flour mixture one-quarter cup at a time, mixing on low speed until just combined. Don't overmix.
• Fit a piping bag with a large open star piping tip. Pipe 2" long sections of filling onto a baking sheet, leaving 1-2" between each cookie.
• Bake 13-15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Cool on the pan 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring thoroughly between each, until the chocolate has melted. Melt the coconut oil or shortening, then add, 1 tsp at a time, to the melted chocolate. Whisk until the chocolate mixture is very smooth and slightly thinned out. Dip each cookie into the melted chocolate, coating halfway, then place onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle the chocolate with sprinkles.
• Allow the chocolate to harden completely. For best results, let cookies sit at room temperature for 24 hours to properly crisp and for the chocolate to fully cure.

GINA'S ITALIAN BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine cake flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
• Combine butter, sugar, and shortening in a large bowl; cream with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Mix in almond paste until thoroughly combined. Add eggs, vanilla extract, lemon juice, and almond extract. Reduce the mixing speed to low and slowly add dry ingredients. Scrape down the bowl once all dry ingredients are added, then mix on medium speed until evenly combined, about 30 seconds.
• Fit a large pastry bag with an 864 or 4S tip and fill bag with batter. Pipe evenly sized cookies onto an ungreased cookie sheet 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart, giving cookies space to puff slightly during baking.
• Bake in the preheated oven, in batches if necessary, until bottom edges are slightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.