Italian Lemon Knot Cookie Food

ANGINETTI, ITALIAN LEMON KNOT COOKIES

Steps:

• If you prefer, dough can be made the day before which makes it nice and chilled to work with, or you can start scooping them right after you make the dough but probably you will have to chill it for a while as you're making the cookies and the dough stays out. I sometimes stick it in the freezer for a few minutes to get it to firm up again.
• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until fluffy, add eggs one at a time, then the extract and zest.
• In a smaller bowl whisk the flour, salt and baking powder, then slowly add to the creamed mixture alternately with the milk, you might not have to use all the milk.
• When everything is incorporated, let the dough rest for 5 minutes or wrap and chill overnight.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. and place cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet.
• To form the knots I like to use a cookie scoop so all will be similar in size, then take the scoop of dough and roll it into a log about 5 or 6 inches, it's the length of a bench scraper, that's how I measure mine.
• Then take one side of the log and spiral it into a circle, you can tuck the other end down or up, it doesn't matter.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes according to your oven, mine took exactly 12 minutes, you want the underneath to be golden brown, not dark brown.
• Cool on racks.
• LIMONCELLO ICING
• One and one half cups of powdered sugar
• Five tablespoons of limoncello Liqueur
• zest of 1 lemon
• TRADITIONAL LEMON ICING
• One and one half cups of powdered sugar
• zest of 1 lemon
• One half teaspoon of lemon extract
• and lemon juice to get the right consistency.
• I always taste my icing to make sure it has the right amount of lemon, you can always add more, and I also like to brush my icing on instead of dipping., personal preference.
• After frosting immediately put your sprinkles on and then let the whole cookie dry for about an hour.
• You can keep them in tins with wax paper in between, or you can freeze them in an airtight container right after they bake and cool down, then frost them a day or two ahead before you'll be eating them.

ITALIAN LEMON KNOT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the eggs until nice and frothy (about 3-4 minutes).
• Add sugar. Continue to whisk until well combined and slightly thickened..
• Add the oil, milk, extract, zest and juice of a lemon. Combine well.
• Slowly add the flour mixture until well combined, dough will be soft.
• Preheat the oven to 350℉. Position rack to middle.
• Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Scoop dough with medium-sized cookie scoop and drop on a floured surface.
• Roll into a 4 inch strand about 1/2 inch in diameter.
• Shape into a concentric circle, with the ends overlapping.
• Place on parchment-lined baking sheets.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned.
• Transfer cookies to the wire rack to cool.
• Glaze cookies before serving.

ITALIAN LEMON KNOT COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
• Cream sugar, butter, and shortening together in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs. Beat in lemon extract. Add flour mixture gradually, beating well to combine. Wrap dough in waxed paper and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 2 baking sheets.
• Place the dough on a lightly-floured surface. Break off golf ball-sized pieces of dough. Roll each piece into a rope about 7 inches long and 1/2 inch in diameter. Tie into a knot with one end poking up in the center. Place 1-inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, 10 to 15 minutes.
• While cookies bake, combine confectioners' sugar, milk, and lemon extract in a bowl for icing until smooth.
• Transfer baked cookies to a wire rack to cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Spread icing evenly on top of the slightly warm cookies and add sprinkles.

ANGINETTI

Steps:

• With a mixer, combine the granulated sugar, butter, olive oil and lemon zest . Add the eggs, one at a time, and continue to beat for 1 minute.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt, and mix into the lemon mixture until a soft dough forms. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate, 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
• Divide the dough into thirds. Cut each third in half, then repeat. (You should have 12 small pieces of dough.)
• On a surface lightly dusted with flour, roll each piece out into a 1/2-inch-thick log, then cut each into 3 pieces. Coil each piece into a small bun shape, bringing the end up over the top and pinching to seal. (Don't worry if they look funny; the glaze will cover any screw-ups.) Repeat with all the pieces, then arrange on the prepared cookie sheets at least 3 inches apart.
• Bake in batches, rotating the pans halfway through, 18 to 20 minutes. Set aside to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Place the confectioners' sugar in a small bowl and break up any large clumps with a whisk. Add the juice of 1/2 a lemon and whisk until a smooth glaze forms (if the glaze is too thick, add a bit more lemon juice; if it is too thin, add a bit more sugar).
• Dip the tops of each cookie into the glaze and allow the excess to drip back into the bowl. Place on a wire rack to dry, then store in an airtight container. Cookies will keep for 5 days at room temperature, or 3 weeks frozen.

ANGINETTI (ITALIAN LEMON DROP COOKIES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• For cookies, cream together sugar and shortening.
• Add eggs and lemon extract and beat well.
• Add flour, baking powder and salt; Mix well.
• The dough should be soft and sticky.
• With a small cookie scoop, drop dough onto a slightly greased cookie sheet or baking stone, spacing them about 2-inches apart.
• Bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until firm and lightly brown.
• Remove cookies from cookie sheet and allow to cool completely on wire racks.
• For frosting, combine confectioners' sugar, water and lemon extract and mix until smooth.
• Frost the tops of each cookie with a metal spatula.
• Allow cookies to dry before stacking.
• Store in an airtight container.
• ~NOTE~If you want to freeze the cookies, freeze unfrosted and frost once thawed.

ITALIAN LEMON COOKIES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, sift flour and baking powder together.
• In mixing bowl, beat eggs with sugar until light and lemon colored.
• Add the softened butter and lemon zest.
• Slowly beat in the flour and baking powder.
• Gradually add milk and vanilla.
• Dough should be soft.
• Divide dough into 6 sections.
• Roll out each section into a rope 1/2-inch wide.
• Cut into 3-inch pieces and twist each piece to form a loop.
• Place on a greased baking sheet or a parchment lined baking sheet.
• Bake in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes or until light brown.
• Remove from oven and cool.
• Combine the powdered sugar and enough orange juice to form a thin icing.
• Brush on top of cookies and sprinkle with colored candies.
• Makes about 4 dozen cookies, depending on size and shape of cookie.