Italian Wedding Cookies, yield: 70-80
Italian Wedding Cookies, traditionally await the guests of the wedding reception on a long and neatly arranged cookie table. The cookie table was a wedding ceremony custom. It was customary and cultural in Italy. Women’s family members from both sides of the family would start months before the wedding making their favorite cookies. The cookies are brought to the wedding ceremony along with other presents for the couple. The cookies would be presented on a long table. Guests of the wedding ceremony once gathered at the reception, find their table or seat, and go to the cookie table to begin to mingle…this would start the reception proceedings.
There are numerous Italian wedding cookies. pignoli, assorted biscotti, pizelli, cucidate, anise cookies and lastly butter type cookies.
This recipe is butter and almond-based wedding cookie, that is tossed 2-3 times in confectioners’ sugar once slightly cooled to make them evenly white. White of course signifies the “purity” of marriage.
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 – cups unsalted butter
- 3/4 – cups confectioners sugar
- 1/4 – teaspoon salt
- 1-1/2- cups finely ground almonds
- 4 – teaspoons Vanilla extract
- 3 – cups all-purpose flour (sifted)
- 1/2- cup confectioners sugar (sifted) for coating the finished cookie
Procedure:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C)
- Cream the butter in a mixing bowl
- Add the salt to the sugar and mix well
- Gradually add the confectioner’s sugar and salt to the creamed butter
- Beat until light in color and fluffy.
- Mix in the finely ground almonds
- Blend in the flour in two to three additions, and mix well
- Place mixture in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, reserve in the fridge for 20 minutes.
Bake:
- Remove cookie batter from the fridge
- Shape into round balls using a teaspoon-sized amount. Can make crescent shapes as well.
- Place on an un-greased cookie tray about a finger’s width apart.
- Bake 12-15 minutes (DO NOT BROWN)
Coating with confectioners sugar:
- Once removed from the oven cool for 2-3 minutes
- Toss in sifted confectioners sugar
- Let cool completely and roll again 1-2 more times to obtain evenly coated balls
- The final product should have the appearance of a mini snowball.
These cookies are absolutely delicious…they are also a great “Holiday” cookie and festive for Christmas… giving a pleasant wintry feel by the appearance of mini-snow balls.