Italian Easter Cookies Recipe

A very delightful cookie recipe.

Ingredients of the Recipe:
1. 1/2 cup butter
2. 3/4 cup white sugar
3. 3 eggs
4. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5. 1 teaspoon almond extract
6. 1/4 cup milk
7. 1/4 cup vegetable oil
8. 3 3/4 cups all purpose flour
9. 5 teaspoons baking powder
10. 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
11. 1/2 cup butter softened
12. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
13. 1 teaspoon almond extract
14. 3 tablespoons milk
15. 3 drops red food coloring

Method of Preparation:
1. Heat up the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease the cookie sheets. Mix together 1/2 cup butter and white sugar in a bowl until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Add eggs to the mixture one by one.

2. Then add a teaspoon vanilla and a teaspoon almond extract, 1/4 cup milk and oil. Mix the flour and baking powder and stir to form a wet mixture. Make 1 inch balls from the dough.

3. Shape the balls into strands 5 inches long. Tie the strands into loose knots and place the cookies on the prepared cookie sheets.

4. Bake the cookies on the bottom shelf of the oven for 5 minutes and then on the top shelf for 5 minutes. Take the cookies out of the oven when they turn golden brown. Allow the cookies to cool and then dip them into the icing.

5. To make the icing; Mix together confectioners’ sugar, 1/2 cup butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 teaspoon almond extracts. Add 3 tablespoons milk one by one and stir and add the food coloring if desired.