Ingredients
- 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (240g)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (50g)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
- 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup sambuca or limoncello (see notes for an alcohol-free option)
- 2 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar (180g)
- 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon sambuca or limoncello (see notes for an alcohol-free option)
- 2 tablespoons boiling water
- Colored non-pareil sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the dry ingredients by placing flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a food processor. Pulse until mixed and add lemon zest.
- Add butter to the food processor and pulse until broken up. Then, add the beaten egg, sambuca or limoncello, and milk. Pulse until a dough forms. Wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut chilled dough into 20 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 6-inch rope and tie into knots. Place knots on the baking sheet with space in between.
- Bake the cookies in the middle of the oven for about 20 minutes until lightly browned. Cool completely on a wire rack.
- In a medium bowl, whisk confectioners’ sugar with lemon zest, lemon juice, sambuca or limoncello, and just enough boiling water to create a smooth icing.
- Brush the icing over cooled cookies and sprinkle with non-pareils, if desired. Allow the cookies to sit for 2 hours to let the icing set.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
For a non-alcoholic version, replace sambuca or limoncello with lemon juice or water.
Ensure to chill the dough for at least 4 hours for the best texture in your cookies.
Store the iced cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 10mg