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Secret-Ingredient-Italian-Cut-Cookies-for-the-holidays-recipe-tutorial

I grew up with the most delicious cookies you could ever imagine, and today I’m passing on my Grandma’s secret-ingredient Italian cut cookies recipe to you. I promise, you and your family will thank me when you try them.

My wonderful Italian Grandma strikes again!

I recently shared her scrumptious Braciole recipe on the blog and today I’m sharing another absolute family favorite, her holiday cookies. Both Grandma and my mom made these cookies to the joy of everyone around us my entire childhood. In fact, when I went off to college my mom continued the cookie tradition, sending them to me and my roommate in regular care packages. I’ll never forget when my roomie Nicole started calling them the “better than sex” cookies. Haha! Sorry Nicole, I just had to share. It was a cookie nickname that stuck because they really are THAT good. I don’t think I’ve ever told my mom the secret code name.

When I moved away after college all the way across country to California, my amazing mom continued to send me care packages with these cookies for several years. They didn’t just arrive at the holidays, but would hit the mailbox any old time to bring a giant smile to my face. For about five years after moving to Cali, I worked at the same company and made some amazing friends who all quickly began to enjoy the delights of the Italian Cut Cookies.

My mom would mail the care packages right to my office, and when the mail person dropped the box at the door one of my co-workers would grab it with joy. I’ll never forget the day my boss, the wonderful woman who ran our whole office, came running to my desk with box in hand shouting “cookies!” That really made me laugh, and we all enjoyed some great cookies that day. They truly are perfect for sharing.

So today I’m hoping to expand the Italian Cut Cookies fan club, and share with you my Grandma’s recipe, including her secret ingredient. These are not your average sugar cookies.

Italian Cut Cookies

Ingredients

Cookies

3 cups flour (sifted)

1 cup shortening

1 cup white granulated sugar

3 eggs

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp almond extract

Frosting

1 cup powered sugar

1 tbsp milk or almond milk

1/4 tsp almond extract

Other needed items:

wax paper

Rubbermaid Brilliance food storage containers

rolling pin

mixing bowls and spoon

baking stone or cookie sheet

drying rack

sprinkles of choice

holiday cookie cutters of choice

Step 1: Thoroughly mix shortening, sugar and eggs until moist. Add the secret ingredient almond extract and stir!

Step 2: In a separate bowl, mix dry sifted flour, salt and baking powder.

Step 3: Add dry to wet ingredients and mix until it becomes a dough-like consistency.

Step 4: Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour.

Step 5: Roll out dough on wax paper. Be sure to put down a little extra flour under and on top of your cookie dough so that it does not stick to the cookie cutters.

Step 6: Using your favorite holiday cookie cutters of choice, cut out cookies and place on baking stone or cookie sheet.

Step 7: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bake cookies for 12-20 minutes. Baking time varies depending on the type of cookie sheet or baking stone you use, and if you prefer them to be soft or crunchy. I personally prefer softer cookies so I tend to bake them for the shorter amount of time.

Step 8: Create your frosting by mixing powered sugar, milk and once again your secret ingredient, 1/4 tsp of almond extract! Mix until thick enough to frost your cookies (you may need a little extra sugar to get the texture you want) and then decorate with festive sprinkles!

Step 9: Taking inspiration from my mom’s care packages, pack up cookies in the new Rubbermaid Brilliance food storage containers, and share with the ones you love. Rubbermaid Brilliance is actually really awesome for storing any kind of food, from cookies and other desserts to entrees, salads and even messy soups. They’re 100 percent leak-proof with a strong air tight seal and are made with a crystal clear, stain and odor resistance material. They also stack perfectly for easy storage. I picked mine up in the home storage section at our favorite Fred Meyer.

Deal Alert! Get a limited time Rubbermaid Brilliance offer on Ibotta here! $2 off an individual Brilliance container and $4 off a Brilliance set.