There’s no better way to kick off cookie season than with a platter of family favorites donned with Lemon Drop Italian Cookies!
This is a popular cookie in Italian households, and it’s one that my dad makes year after year. These lemon drop Italian cookies from scratch are soft and cakey and they impart a pleasing lemony flavor that’s sure to appeal to all of your cookie-loving friends!
I asked Pops for his Italian Christmas cookie, along with a couple of other family favorites, and he passed along his tried and true recipe inspired from Sweet Maria’s Italian Cookie Tray Cookbook.
I adapted the recipe slightly to include more lemon, and I substituted half-and-half for milk. I’d like to tell you that I made the switch with deliberate intention, but truth is, I was out of milk, but had half-and-half (go figure). I am here to say, it was a delicious save. The little bit of extra fat from the half-and-half plays nicely in this recipe. And it’s okay because calories don’t add up in holiday cookies. AmIright? 😉
These are the best Lemon Drop Italian Cookies – tender, tasty, and addicting! They possess all of the special qualities that we love about Christmas confections. Plus – they’re cute and adaptable.
Feel free to decorate your Lemon Drop Italian Cookies with:
- icing
- icing and sprinkles
- icing and sparkle sugar
- icing and multicolor nonpareils, as I’ve done today
So I have a little Christmas surprise for you.
It’s a gift that keeps on giving…
I’ve partnered with a group of talented blogger friends to bring you an array of gorgeous and delicious Christmas cookies…
A virtual cookie exchange, with cocoa to boot….
Whether you’re looking for gingerbread or shortbread, we’ve got you covered! #VirtualCookieExchange
The Beach House Kitchen · Hot Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
Beyond Mere Sustenance · Brandy-Spiked Mexican Hot Chocolate
Seasons & Suppers · Lemon Pistachio Shortbread Cookies
Contemplating Sweets · Hedgehog Cookies
The Busy Spatula · S’mores Cookies
Salt & Lavender · Vegan Gingerbread Cookie Bars
Meg is Well · Bradshaw Cookies: A Sour Cream Cookie with Cream Cheese Frosting
What Should I Make For – Ugly Sweater Gingerbread Cookies
The Sweet Nerd – Gingerbread Cookies – All Spruced Up
Here’s to sweet cookies, good friends and happy holidays! Hope you try my Lemon Drop Italian Cookie recipe!
Buon Appetito!
PrintLemon Drop Italian Cookies
- Yield: 48 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
There’s no better way to kick off cookie season than with a platter of family favorites donned with Lemon Drop Italian Cookies!
Ingredients
- Lemon Drop Italian Cookies
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup half-and-half
- 4 tsp lemon extract
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 3 cups flour
- 2 Tbsp plus 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 – 2 drops red or green food color (optional)
- colored sprinkles
- Lemon Confectioners’ Frosting
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 4 tsp lemon extract
- 1/3 cup water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F and line cookie sheets with parchment.
- Place eggs, half-and-half, lemon extract, sugar and oil in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer or hand mixer, mix on medium speed until well blended.
- Next, add flour and baking powder and mix on low speed until just blended.
- If using food coloring, add now and give a final mix.
- The dough will be soft and sticky.
- Lightly dust the dough and your hands with a small amount of flour.
- Using a heaping teaspoonful, form dough into balls and place on cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 8 – 10 minutes, or until slightly browned.
- Remove from oven. Using a metal spatula, remove cookies from sheet and place on wire racks to cool.
- In the meantime, prepare frosting.
- In an electric mixer or large bowl, add the three ingredients.
- Mix until smooth.
- Using an offset spatula, frost the tops of cookies. The frosting will drip down the sides to coat the cookies.
- Add sprinkles and allow to dry on wire cooling racks.
- Store in an airtight container.
{Recipe inspired by Dad via Sweet Maria’s Italian Cookie Tray}
Forgot to pin? Here you go!
CIAO!
Erin says
Instead of lemon extract, could I substitute fresh (Meyer) lemon juice/zest? If so, any suggestions on proportions?
Annie says
Hi Erin, Thanks for your question! Although I have only used extract, I know that you would need more fresh juice than extract to achieve the same flavor (1 Tbsp juice to 1/2 tsp extract). But zest and extract are 1:1. I hope this helps!
Janet says
Can I use almond extract instead of lemon? I don’t have lemon & i want to make them NOW! How much almond would you recommend?
Annie says
Absolutely! I would match the measures…but for the glaze, at least, you can taste as you go… Enjoy!
DONNa says
Can I use butter in place of the oil?
Annie says
I have not tried it so I can’t speak from experience but everything I’ve read says you can. You might want to increase the butter by a little. For example, the recipe calls for 1/2 cup oil – so use 5/8 – 3/4 cup melted unsalted butter in its place. (This info comes from livestrong.com) Hope this helps!
Marissa says
Calorie free!? Sign me up!! These look melt-in-your-mouth delicious, Annie!
Annie says
You bet! 😉 Thanks, friend!
MARCELLINA says
Delicious Christmas cookies! I would love to stillness have my dad around to ask fir more if his recipes… he passed away a few years ago. You are lucky to have your dad and his recipes!
Annie says
I am so sorry to hear that, Marcellina. Thank you for stopping by, my friend… We are very lucky. <3
Anna says
haha! Annie, I totally agree, Christmas calories do not count!!! 🙂
Love your little cookies, they look so festive and delicious!
Annie says
Nope! That’s true…right? 😉 Thanks, friend! 🙂
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says
There are no calories in Christmas cookies or birthday cake! These are so fun, Annie! I love that you adapted them from your Dad! Cheers!
Annie says
Christmas cookies, birthday cake or pizza. Pushed it there, huh?! hahaha! Thank you, my friend! Dad knows his way around a sprinkle!! xoxo
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
These are so fun! I love the way you’ve decorated them. Lemon drop cookies are a weakness of my Mom’s, and I think I’ll have to include the half-n-half substitution just for her 😉
Annie says
Yesss, your mom will love it!! Thanks so much, my friend!! 🙂
Natasha @ Salt & Lavender says
These look so good. I especially like the rainbow sprinkles! So cute!
Annie says
Thank you, Natasha! Who can resist rainbow sprinkles? 🙂
Deepika|TheLoveOfCakes says
These cookies are too cute Annie!! I could just gobble so many of them in a go! I love the intense lemon flavor in there!
Annie says
The extra lemon is a nice touch! Thanks, Deepika!!
Sues says
Ahh I love these little cookies, but I’ve never made my own. I might need to change that! These are beautiful!
Annie says
Super simple and worth the short wait!! Thanks, friend!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
I’ve never had lemon drop cookies, but I just asked Boy, and he has! He says they are good, and I said, well I am willing to bet Annie’s are the best! These look delish, my dear! And dangerous, because I could pop these like candy! So GOOD! Cheers, doll! xoxo
Annie says
Awhhhh! You’re a sweetheart! You just can’t beat the classics! 🙂 Thanks, doll! xoxo
Giselle @ The Busy Spatula says
Love that you tweaked it with more lemon! They look like little drops of heaven <3
Annie says
The lemon in both the cookie and the icing makes all the difference! Thanks, friend!
Kendall says
It’s cool to see that every nationality has their own Christmas cookie spin. I’m Mexican so ours are butter cookies and I can always count on them to be delicious and abundantly available on Christmas. Maybe this year we’ll have to try this recipe.
Annie says
I agree! If you do try the Italian version – Enjoy!! 🙂
Tamara Andersen says
The best recipes have a connection, right? Your Lemon Drop Italian Cookies look and sound divine, and I’m so glad calories don’t count in December! I always bump up the lemon too, and a little extra fat always makes it taste better… Merry Christmas Annie!
Annie says
Oh yes they do! Thank you so much, my dear! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices says
I have never had them, but I would love to start now! ;.) They are so pretty in their “meatball” shape, one that invites you to bite in! The decoration is so festive and lovely, it brings a smile to my face! Happy Holidays, Annie!!
Annie says
I think you would really enjoy them, Nicoletta! Happy holidays, my friend! 🙂