italian christmas cookies with cocoa and orange liqueur

Ingredients

• Servings: 24
• cookies:
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• icing:
• 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Recipe

Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 10 mins Ready Time: 40 mins


• preheat oven to 375 degrees f (190 degrees c). grease 2 baking sheets.
• sift flour and baking powder together in a bowl. beat sugar and butter together in a separate bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy; beat in eggs. stir creamed butter mixture, cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons liqueur, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract into flour mixture until dough is just combined.
• turn dough a lightly floured work surface and knead, adding flour as needed to keep from dough sticking to your hands. roll dough, 1 to 2 tablespoons per cookie, in your hands and form a log-shape; twirl log into desired shape. place cookies on the prepared baking sheet.
• bake in the preheated oven until edges of cookies are lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
• stir confectioners' sugar, 2 tablespoons liqueur, water, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract together in a bowl until icing is creamy. dip cookies into icing. place a piece of waxed paper under a wire rack and place cookies on wire rack to cool.