Italian Lemon Cookies With Sprinkles

dojemi's Note:

These cookies are called several names but our family always called them Easter Cookies, because that's when my Grandmother made them, and the name stuck. Prep time also includes forming the dough into desired shapes. Amount of cookies will vary depending on their size.

• Total Time: 32 mins
• Prep Time: 25 mins
• Cook Time: 7 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 36

Yield: 3.0 dozen

• 5 ½ cups sifted flour
• 6 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup sugar
• 6 eggs
• 1 cup Crisco cooking oil
• 3 teaspoons lemon extract (or anise extract)

Frosting

• 1 (1 lb) box confectioners' sugar
• milk (enough to make a drizzle consistency)
• 2 teaspoons lemon extract
• colored sprinkles

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Sift together the dry ingredients.
3. Add sugar and mix well.
4. Add remaining ingredients and mix well to combine.
5. Form the dough into small one-inch balls (or roll into a long 'snake' and twist into desired shapes).
6. If dough in dry and crumbly add a bit of milk at a time to get it to the right consistency.
7. Place on cookie sheet and bake till golden brown (apporximately 7-8 min).
8. Frosting: Add milk and extract to the confectioners sugar and mix well.
9. You do not want a watery consistency nor a cake frosting consistency, but just thick enough to have some remain on the cookie and drizzle (slowly) down the sides.
10. Dip top of ball into the frosting and allow to sit for a few seconds before topping with sprinkles.
11. If allowed to dry, sprinkles will not adhere.

Reviews

[Chefto3]

I made these yeterday to take to my mother-in-laws house for a pre easter dinner. They were delicious! I added yellow food coloring to the icing to make them look more festiv of the the easter holiday. I did over cook the first two batches causing them to turn out on the dry side, but they were still good enough to have with coffee. So I recommend keeping an eye out on them so they are not over done. I will be making these again for more than just easter. Thanks for the great recipe!

[Chef #744939]

I made these for my grandson for his Easter basket, and they came out great. Instead of the lemon, I used orange juice and orange zest. Came out excellent! I also dyed the frosting different colors, for variation in the basket, making, blue, green, pink and orange tops then used pastel sprinkles. Very cute!

[BettyBoopers]

I saw a picture of these and couldn't resist making them for my great grandchildren's Easter baskets this year. They looked so cute along with all the other homemade goodies I made them this year. I plan to make them for Christmas too, using red and green coloring and decorative jimmies and nuts etc. on top.