Italian Lemon Cookies (Anginetti) Recipe (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Igor · This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

Soft, pillowy, and filled with lemon flavor, these Italian Lemon Cookies (Anginetti) are perfect for any occasion. They are not too sweet and have a hint of vanilla you will love. Perfect with a cup of tea or coffee!

Italian Lemon Cookies (Anginetti) Recipe (1)

There is no hit and miss when we talk about Italian cuisine. You can blindly make any of their dishes and they will turn out great. That's why I am a huge fan and you will see lots and lots of Italian dishes on this blog. This time it's a dessert! Let me present you these Italian Lemon Cookies called Anginetti. They are everything you want cookies to be. Soft and pillowy, not too sweet, perfect with a cup of tea or coffee.

Italian Lemon Cookies (Anginetti) Recipe (2)

Information on these cookies is almost absent on the internet. Recipes - plenty of them; history or something like that - no, sir. Everything I have managed to find is that they are traditional in southern regions of Italy and their motherland is Naples. Well, we can't munch the history with a cup of tea, so we can live without it, I guess! The most important thing is the recipe itself and thanks God we have it.

Italian Lemon Cookies (Anginetti) Recipe (3)

These Italian lemon cookies are high on my dessert chart mainly because, as already mentioned, they are not too sweet. Lemon zest inside them and lemon juice flavoredconfectioners’ icing give these cookies a fresh, lemony taste which I love so much. The hint of vanilla is on point too. Colored sprinkles are optional but believe me, cookies look so much better with them (if you care for presentation).

Italian Lemon Cookies (Anginetti) Recipe (4)

To conclude, I want to say that if you are looking for some homemade tasty baked goods, these Italian lemon cookies are a no-brainer. They are light and buttery with the fantastic lemon flavor. These cookies are perfect for a tea party or a holiday dinner. Keep in mind that they disappear at a speed of light!

Italian Lemon Cookies (Anginetti) Recipe (5)

Italian Lemon Cookies - Anginetti

CookingTheGlobe

These lemon cookies coming from Italy are soft, pillowy, and not too sweet. You will love the fantastic lemon flavor!

4 from 20 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Ingredients

For the cookies:

  • ½ cup sugar
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest, grated
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder

For the icing:

  • ½ tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 ½ cups sifted powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • colored sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

  • The cookies. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

  • In a large bowl, beat together the sugar, vanilla, lemon zest and butter with an electric mixer until well blended. Beat in eggs, one at a time. After adding all the eggs, beat for 1 minute more. Stir in baking powder and flour and blend just until mixed. Cover the dough and refrigerate for about 1 hour. The dough will be sticky, so we chill it to make it easier to handle.

  • To form the knots, roll the dough into logs, about 5 inches long. Take one side and spiral the log into a circle. Repeat until all the dough is used. Bake for 15-17 minutes or until light golden brown.

  • The icing. Melt the butter over low heat. Add the sugar, lemon juice, and water. Whisk until the sugar melts. If icing is too thick, add some more water.

  • Remove cookies from the oven and let them cool. Brush the icing over the cookies. If using, top with colored sprinkles. Let the cookies to dry for about an hour. Store in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Notes

Adapted from "Italian Desserts" by Anthony Parkinson

Nutrition

Calories: 145kcal

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Igor

      Thanks, Oriana! They taste amazing too 🙂

      Reply

    • Connie

      This recipe looks delicious. How do you measure the amount for each cookie after the batter is chilled?

      Reply

  1. Heather Dimetres

    December 11, 2016

    I tried this recipe for the first time today. They came out wonderful. Easy to make, easy to eat ?. The icing was spot on, and these cookies taste like, right out of a bakery. Thank for this recipe. I will definitely make these cookies again.

    Sincerely,
    Heather
    Aka Pandarific

    Reply

    • Igor

      I am so happy that the cookies turned out great for you and you loved them, Heather! Thanks for getting back to leave a comment! 🙂

      Reply

  2. Diphanie Medina

    What happens of my dough is too sticky after being in the fridge? Help! I'm not sure what to do now, except make them colder maybe?? I followed 100%

    Reply

    • Igor

      Try adding more flour 🙂 It can be a little bit sticky, it's just how it is. Or try refrigerating for a longer period of time 🙂

      Reply

  3. LDAY

    Italian Lemon Cookies (Anginetti) Recipe (7)
    Just tried these cookies yesterday and they turned out exactly as described. My friends and family loved them. I might try adding a little more lemon next time to the cookie dough. Thanks for sharing this recipe.

    Reply

    • Igor

      I am happy your friends and family loved these 🙂 Thanks for the comment!

      Reply

  4. Kelly

    Italian Lemon Cookies (Anginetti) Recipe (8)
    I just made these for my boyfriend and his grandmother and the texture is fantastic, the only changes I made was to add about 2-3 extra teaspoons of flour to thicken up the dough because beforehand it resembled more of a batter. They have a very mild lemon flavor so if you want more lemon flavor, double the zest and sprinkle some extra zest coated with sugar on top of the shaped cookies right before you pop them into the oven. I'm trying these with lavender next time for a summer twist. And making a different version with lime instead of the lemon - I recommend this recipe to anyone. My cookies were tiny and took less than 12 minutes to cook and become lightly browned around the edges ♥ Thank you!

    Reply

    • Igor

      You are welcome, Kelly! I am glad you loved the recipe. Oh and thanks for your suggestions!

      Reply

  5. Celena

    Do they have to be tied in a knot? I’ll they cook fine in a ball too? Trying to make enough cookies for 150 people and that’s a lot of knots!

    Reply

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Italian Lemon Cookies (Anginetti) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Anisette cookies and Anginetti cookies? ›

While they look nearly identical, their differences primarily come down to flavor. Anginetti cookies are bursting with lemon, while anise cookies are flavored with licorice-like anise extract. Ricotta cookies are soft and moist from ricotta cheese and are flavored with lemon and almond extract.

What is the most popular Italian cookie? ›

Most Popular Italian Cookies
  • Amaretti. These lovely almond-flavoured biscotti were supposedly first made during the Middle Ages. ...
  • Ricciarelli. ...
  • Baci di dama. ...
  • Chocolate-Pistachio Biscotti. ...
  • Savoiardi. ...
  • Canestrelli. ...
  • Biscotti al Cocco. ...
  • Pizzelle.
Oct 22, 2020

Why did my Italian wedding cookies flatten? ›

The Problem: Your Oven Is Too Hot

If your cookies repeatedly turn out flat, no matter the recipe, chances are your oven is too hot. Here's what's happening. The butter melts super quickly in a too-hot oven before the other ingredients have firmed up into a cookie structure.

What is the difference between Mexican wedding cookies and Italian wedding cookies? ›

Italian wedding cookies typically contain almonds or hazelnuts and are flavored with almond extract, vanilla extracts and spices like cinnamon or anise. Mexican wedding cookies, on the other hand, use a combination of ground nuts such as pecans and walnuts, as well as butter, sugar and sometimes chocolate chips.

Does Stella Doro still make Anginetti cookies? ›

According to Marrero, the factory has discontinued Anginetti Puffs and Angel Wings, the cookies he helped to bake. At first, the Stella D'oro workers picketed in relative obscurity.

What kind of cookies are in an Italian cookie tray? ›

This classic assortment includes our Pignoli ( pine nut ) cookies, Chocolate Almond Macaroons, Cranberry Almond Biscotti and Amaretto Almond Biscotti.

What flour do Italians use for cookies? ›

For cookies, bars, cakes/cupcakes, biscuits, scones, or anything that needs a tender crumb, use Farina di grano tenero, 00. This is your “cake flour.” Nobody wants a chewy cake. For bread, I recommend starting off with Farina di Manitoba, grano tenero, 0; this is similar to standard American bread flour.

What is the most eaten cookie in the world? ›

Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co.

What is the oldest known cookie in the world? ›

Pizzelles are the oldest known cookie and originated in the mid-section of Italy. They were made many years ago for the “Festival of the Snakes” also known as the “Feast Day of San Domenico”.

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

How can I make my cookies fluffier instead of flat? ›

Butter keeps cookies fluffy in two ways. First, creaming cold butter with sugar creates tiny, uniform air pockets that will remain in the dough it bakes up. Second, cold butter naturally takes a longer time to melt in the oven.

Can you refrigerate Italian cookie dough overnight? ›

As a general rule of thumb, you should refrigerate cookie dough for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.

What do Italians call their cookies? ›

The word biscotto, used in modern Italian to refer to a biscuit (or cookie) of any kind, originates from the Medieval Latin word biscoctus, meaning 'twice-cooked'.

What is the best selling cookie in Italy? ›

There are many popular Italian cookie brands, but some of the most well-known are Mulino Bianco, Balocco, Lazzaroni, Doria, and Oro Saiwa. These brands offer a wide range of Italian cookies, from classic biscotti to soft amaretti.

What happened to Danish wedding cookies? ›

However, these beloved treats are no longer available on the shelves. Keebler, one of the largest cookie manufacturers in the U.S., has been known for its diverse range of products. Yet, their decision to discontinue Danish Wedding Cookies has left many consumers like me disappointed and longing for their unique taste.

What is the difference between anise and anisette? ›

Anise is always the main ingredient, and the liqueur also must meet minimum sugar (350 g/L), alcohol (38% abv) and anethole (anise aroma) content requirements. By comparison, anisette (sometimes seen as anisetta), is also an anise distillate, but it can be made with other ingredients in addition to anise.

Does anisette and sambuca taste the same? ›

And while Pastis is a similar-tasting liqueur that is prepared in similar fashion and sometimes confused with anisette, it employs a combination of both aniseed and licorice root extracts. Sambuca is essentially an anisette of Italian origin that requires a high minimum (350g/L) sugar content.

What are the four types of cookies? ›

Here are the 4 main types of cookies:
  • Session cookies. These are temporary web cookies that are only present as long as your web browser stays open or your session is active. ...
  • Persistent cookies. ...
  • Third-party cookies. ...
  • First-party cookies. ...
  • User experience. ...
  • Advertising and marketing. ...
  • Analytics and web optimization.
May 22, 2023

What are the seven types of cookies? ›

What are the different types of cookies?
  • Drop cookies.
  • Rolled or cutout cookies.
  • Sandwich cookies.
  • Filled cookies.
  • Cookie bars.
  • Molded cookies.
  • No bake cookies.
  • Pressed cookies.
Dec 31, 2023

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