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Cleo Coyle writes two bestselling mystery series with her husband. To learn more, click here. |
While anginetti can be served with or without colorful sprinkles (nonpareils), the sprinkles are what make these cookies especially popular for Italian weddings, which is why I featured this recipe in my 7th Coffeehouse Mystery Espresso Shot (first edition 2008) where a spectacular wedding takes place at the heart of a perplexing murder mystery.
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| To learn more about Espresso Shot, click here. |
If you've ever been to an Italian wedding, then you know about the cookie table! In my family, those tables were always piled high with homemade specialties from cousins, aunts, mothers, and grandmothers of the bride and groom.
As for the anginetti, the sprinkles evoke the longstanding wedding tradition of giving guests almonds coated with hard-sugar shells as favors. Because almonds have a bittersweet taste, they represent the truth of married life, but the sugarcoating represents the hope that the newlyweds' life will be more sweet than bitter.
May these cookies add
a little sweetness to your life...
a little sweetness to your life...
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| My beloved aunt, Mary Capaccio |
For years, I was her little assistant cook, and I always think of her with love whenever I make a recipe she taught me.
Thank you, Aunt Mary, I miss you and love you. I know you would be thrilled to see this post and join me in inviting everyone to...
Eat with joy!
Eat with joy!
~ Cleo
To download this recipe in a
free PDF document that you
can print, save, or share,
free PDF document that you
can print, save, or share,
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Cleo Coyle's Anginetti
(Glazed Italian Lemon Cookies)
Makes about 3 dozen cookies
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup white granulated sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pure lemon extract
1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest (grated from rind, no white pith)
1/8 teaspoon table salt (about two pinches)
3 large eggs (lightly whisked with fork)
1/4 cup whole milk
4 teaspoons baking powder
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Directions:
Step 1 – Make your dough: Cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Beat in the vanilla and lemon extracts, lemon zest, and salt.
Add the eggs and beat for a full minute until light and fluffy. Add the milk and baking powder and beat for another 30 seconds.
Finally, blend in the flour, but take care not to over-mix at this stage or you will develop the gluten and your cookies will be tough. The dough will be soft and sticky. YOU MUST (1) Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour—cold dough is easier to work with. AND (2) USE FLOURED HANDS TO WORK WITH THE STICKY DOUGH. If storing overnight, take out dough, pat into a disc and tightly wrap in plastic.
Add the eggs and beat for a full minute until light and fluffy. Add the milk and baking powder and beat for another 30 seconds.
Finally, blend in the flour, but take care not to over-mix at this stage or you will develop the gluten and your cookies will be tough. The dough will be soft and sticky. YOU MUST (1) Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour—cold dough is easier to work with. AND (2) USE FLOURED HANDS TO WORK WITH THE STICKY DOUGH. If storing overnight, take out dough, pat into a disc and tightly wrap in plastic.
Step 2 – Bake: Preheat your oven to 350 F. and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicon sheets or lightly coat surface with non-stick spray. USE FLOURED HANDS TO WORK WITH YOUR STICKY DOUGH. Break off pieces and form into one or more of these classic shapes.
For lemon drops, simply roll pieces of dough into 1-inch balls. Again, if the dough is sticky, be sure to chill it first AND use floured hands when working with it.
For love knots, roll pieces of dough between palms to form ropes. Tie the ropes into small knots. (Chill first and use floured hands, dough is sticky.)
For rings, form the ropes into circles instead and press ends together (if dough seems dry, use a bit of water as glue).
Bake about 10 to 15 minutes.
Bake about 10 to 15 minutes.
NOTE: Do not overcook. The cookies will not brown on top, so look for a light golden browning on the bottoms. See my photo below...
Baking time of 10 to 15 minutes will vary, depending on your oven. For mine it's 12 minutes. Let the cookies cool before glazing and decorating.
Step 3 – Make the glaze: Into a bowl sift 2 cups powdered sugar. In a separate, small bowl place 4 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice (you should be able to extract this from 1 large lemon). Add 2 teaspoons pure lemon extract and 2 teaspoons water.
Add the lemon juice mixture to the sifted confectioners’ sugar. Fork-whisk until the glaze reaches the consistency you wish. If the glaze is too thin, add more confectioners’ sugar. If too thick, add a bit more water and blend until smooth.
Baking time of 10 to 15 minutes will vary, depending on your oven. For mine it's 12 minutes. Let the cookies cool before glazing and decorating.
Step 3 – Make the glaze: Into a bowl sift 2 cups powdered sugar. In a separate, small bowl place 4 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice (you should be able to extract this from 1 large lemon). Add 2 teaspoons pure lemon extract and 2 teaspoons water.
Add the lemon juice mixture to the sifted confectioners’ sugar. Fork-whisk until the glaze reaches the consistency you wish. If the glaze is too thin, add more confectioners’ sugar. If too thick, add a bit more water and blend until smooth.
(See my photos to help you gauge how
the glaze on the cookies should look.)
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| CLICK HERE to download this recipe as a free PDF, and... |
Eat (and read) with joy!
Our NEWCoffeehouse MysteryNow on Sale!
Learn More or Buy at:
Cleo Coyle’s Honey Roasted
is not only a coffee lover's mystery.
It's a culinary mystery with a tempting
menu of delicious recipes!
Click here or on the image (above)
for Cleo Coyle's Free Recipe Guide
to HONEY ROASTED
🔎
Don't miss Cleo's
Haunted Bookshop
Mysteries...
"A BEST READ OF 2022"
~ Lori Caswell, Escape with
Dollycas into a Good Book
"A GEM OF A STORY"
~ Kirkus Reviews
☕
"Terrific Series"
--Criminal Element
Our NEW
Coffeehouse Mystery
Now on Sale!
Learn More or Buy at:
Cleo Coyle’s Honey Roasted
is not only a coffee lover's mystery.
It's a culinary mystery with a tempting
menu of delicious recipes!
Click here or on the image (above)
for Cleo Coyle's Free Recipe Guide
to HONEY ROASTED
🔎
Don't miss Cleo's
Haunted Bookshop
Mysteries...
"A BEST READ OF 2022"
~ Lori Caswell, Escape withDollycas into a Good Book
"A GEM OF A STORY"
~ Kirkus Reviews
☕
"Terrific Series"
--Criminal Element
