Imen Dridi Giada De Laurentiis’ Italian Easter Cookies are made with flour, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, and lemon zest, creating a citrus-infused dough. Topped with a lemon glaze and sprinkles, this recipe serves 6 and takes about 1 hour to prepare and bake.
More Giada De Laurentiis Recipes:
- Giada De Laurentiis Brownies
- Giada De Laurentiis Limoncello Recipe
- Giada De Laurentiis Christmas Cookies
🧡 Why You’ll Love This Italian Easter Cookies Recipe:
- Delightful Citrus Flavor: The fresh lemon zest and juice in the dough and glaze give these cookies a delightful, zesty citrus flavor that is both refreshing and tantalizing.
- Simple and Fun to Make: The recipe is straightforward, making it a fun baking project for both beginners and experienced bakers. It’s also a great activity to involve kids in.
- Perfect Texture: These cookies have a wonderfully soft and slightly dense texture, striking the perfect balance between a cake and a cookie.
- Light and Refreshing: Unlike heavier desserts, these cookies offer a light and refreshing end to a meal, making them a favorite for those who prefer less sweet, fruit-flavored desserts.
- Great for Gifting: Packaged in a pretty box or tin, these cookies make a wonderful homemade gift for friends, family, or neighbors.
❓ What Is Giada De Laurentiis Italian Easter Cookies Recipe?
Giada De Laurentiis’ Italian Easter Cookies are a delightful treat made from a lemon-flavored dough, baked to perfection, and topped with a sweet, tangy lemon glaze. They’re garnished with colorful sprinkles, embodying the spirit of Easter celebration.
🧈 Giada De Laurentiis Italian Easter Cookies Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted and cooled slightly)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
- 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 4 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
- multicolored sprinkles (if desired)
🍩 How To Make Giada De Laurentiis Italian Easter Cookies
- Warm the oven up to 350 degrees F. Place the racks in the oven’s upper and bottom thirds. Put two baking sheets with edges on them and line them with parchment paper.
- Mix the flour and baking powder together in a big bowl using a whisk. For the second bowl, mix the eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice with a whisk.
- Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and use a rubber spatula to mix them together until you have a messy dough.
- Put the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead it three or four times to make it smooth. Separate the dough into 12 equal pieces.
- Make a 5-inch loop out of each piece. Roll up each rope into a circle, and then put six cookies on each of the baking sheets that have been prepped.
- It will take about 10 to 15 minutes of baking until the cookies are puffy and a deep golden brown color. Let them cool for 10 minutes on the trays before moving them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
- Mix the powdered sugar, water, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a medium-sized bowl with a whisk until the mixture is smooth.
- Sprinkles can be added to the cookies after the glaze has been poured over them. Wait for the sauce to set, then serve.
💭 Recipe Tips
- Lemon Zest and Juice: Use fresh lemons for zesting and juicing. The freshness enhances the flavor significantly compared to bottled lemon juice or pre-packaged zest.
- Mixing Dough: When combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix until just combined. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies.
- Dough Consistency: If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour, but be cautious not to add too much as it can make the cookies dry.
- Shaping Cookies: Keep the size of the cookies uniform for even baking. If you find the dough difficult to shape, chill it for a few minutes in the refrigerator.
- Baking Sheets Positioning: Rotate the baking sheets halfway through baking to ensure even browning, especially if your oven has hot spots.
- Cooling: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This helps them set and prevents breaking.
🍨 What To Serve With Italian Easter Cookies?
Italian Easter Cookies pair well with light beverages like tea, coffee, or a glass of sweet dessert wine they also complement fruit salads, ice cream, or a cheese platter, offering a sweet finish to an Easter brunch or dinner.
🎚 How To Store Leftovers Italian Easter Cookies?
- Room Temperature: Keep the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week this maintains their freshness and texture.
- Freezing: For longer storage, freeze the cookies in a sealed container or freezer bag they can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
🥵 How To Reheat Leftovers Italian Easter Cookies?
- Oven Method: Preheat your oven to a low temperature, around 300°F (150°C). Place the cookies on a baking sheet and warm them for about 5-10 minutes.
- Microwave Method: If you’re in a hurry, you can use the microwave place a cookie on a microwave-safe plate and heat it for about 10-15 seconds.
FAQs
How do you make the lemon glaze for the cookies?
The lemon glaze is made by whisking together powdered sugar, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and a bit of water until smooth. The consistency should be thick enough to coat the cookies but still fluid enough to spread easily.
Can you make Italian Easter Cookies ahead of time?
Yes, these cookies can be made a day or two in advance once cooled and glazed, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. This can be helpful for planning holiday meals or events.
Are Italian Easter Cookies suitable for people with dietary restrictions?
As they contain flour, eggs, and butter, they are not suitable for vegan or gluten-free diets, substitutes like gluten-free flour or plant-based butter can be used to cater to certain dietary needs.
Can children help make these cookies?
Absolutely the simple dough and the fun of glazing and decorating the cookies make this a great recipe for children to assist with, under adult supervision. It can be a fun family baking activity for the Easter holiday.
Try More Giada De Laurentiis Recipes:
- Giada De Laurentiis Nutella Cookies
- Giada De Laurentiis Italian Easter Bread
- Giada De Laurentiis Banana Blueberry Bread
Giada De Laurentiis Italian Easter Cookies Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
- Calories 57
- Total Fat 2.3g
- Saturated Fat 1.4g
- Cholesterol 9.9mg
- Sodium 56.7mg
- Potassium 15.5mg
- Total Carbohydrate 8.4g
- Dietary Fiber 0.3g
- Sugars 2g
- Protein 0.8g
- Vitamin A 1.4%
- Vitamin C 0.2%
- Calcium 0.5%
- Iron 2%
Giada De Laurentiis Italian Easter Cookies
Description
Giada De Laurentiis’ Italian Easter Cookies are made with flour, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, and lemon zest, creating a citrus-infused dough. Topped with a lemon glaze and sprinkles, this recipe serves 6 and takes about 1 hour to prepare and bake.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Warm the oven up to 350 degrees F. Place the racks in the oven’s upper and bottom thirds. Put two baking sheets with edges on them and line them with parchment paper.
- Mix the flour and baking powder together in a big bowl using a whisk. For the second bowl, mix the eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla, lemon zest, and lemon juice with a whisk.
- Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture and use a rubber spatula to mix them together until you have a messy dough.
- Put the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead it three or four times to make it smooth. Separate the dough into 12 equal pieces.
- Make a 5-inch loop out of each piece. Roll up each rope into a circle, and then put six cookies on each of the baking sheets that have been prepped.
- It will take about 10 to 15 minutes of baking until the cookies are puffy and a deep golden brown color. Let them cool for 10 minutes on the trays before moving them to a wire rack to finish cooling.
- Mix the powdered sugar, water, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a medium-sized bowl with a whisk until the mixture is smooth.
- Sprinkles can be added to the cookies after the glaze has been poured over them. Wait for the sauce to set, then serve.
Notes
- Lemon Zest and Juice: Use fresh lemons for zesting and juicing. The freshness enhances the flavor significantly compared to bottled lemon juice or pre-packaged zest.
- Mixing Dough: When combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix until just combined. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies.
- Dough Consistency: If the dough is too sticky, add a little more flour, but be cautious not to add too much as it can make the cookies dry.
- Shaping Cookies: Keep the size of the cookies uniform for even baking. If you find the dough difficult to shape, chill it for a few minutes in the refrigerator.
- Baking Sheets Positioning: Rotate the baking sheets halfway through baking to ensure even browning, especially if your oven has hot spots.
- Cooling: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This helps them set and prevents breaking.
