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 Anginetti in English? ›

Anginetti (Italian Lemon Drop Cookies) Recipe - Food.com.

Do they still make Stella d Oro Anginetti cookies? ›

Remember that popular cream puff recipe in the 90s for Stella D'oro's anginetti cookies filled with a mixture of whipped topping, cream cheese and pineapple? I loved those things. They were easy to make and even easier to eat. Sadly, Stella D'oro stopped making those cookies several years ago.

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

How do you roll Anginetti? ›

Heat oven to 350 degrees. and place cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet. To form the knots I like to use a cookie scoop so all will be similar in size, then take the scoop of dough and roll it into a log about 5 or 6 inches, it's the length of a bench scraper, that's how I measure mine.

What is the name of the Italian cookie? ›

This is the proper name for the biscuit we know as biscotti, which in Italian just means “cookies.” Twice-baked and sliced, these ultra-crunchy, not-too-sweet biscuits are usually studded with nuts and simply beg to be dipped in coffee, tea, or a glass of vin santo.

What are Italian rainbow cookies called? ›

Italian Rainbow cookies are sometimes also called Neopolitans, Venetian Cookies, 7 Layer Cookies, Italian Flag Cookies, and even Tri-color cookies. Many of you probably know them as Seven Layer Cookies (3 cake, 2 chocolate and 2 jam).

Are Stella d oro cookies no longer available? ›

The NY Daily News reports that Stella D'Oro, the famous Bronx maker of Italian cookies and breadsticks has closed. Stella D'Oro was the producer of the Swiss Fidge Cookies, known popularly in frum circles as “shtreimel cookies” for their appearance.

Is Stella Doro still in business? ›

The Stella D'oro bakery in Kingsbridge is scheduled to close within the next week or so, costing 155 jobs. It is the end of a business started by a family of Italian immigrants in the Bronx in 1932, and had a devoted following among not only Italians but also observant Jews because the cookies met kosher requirements.

Did Stella change recipe? ›

U.S.-brewed Stella Artois stays true to the time-honored Belgian recipe and will use the three signature ingredients: Saaz hops, malted barley, and water. It is brewed under the strict supervision of Brewmasters in Leuven, Belgium.

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 1 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”.

What is the difference between Italian wedding cookies and Mexican 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.

Why did my Italian wedding cookies flatten? ›

If you don't refrigerate, they will come out flatter, more like a traditional drop cookie. Still good, but I love how they bake up if you refrigerate the dough. I find it easiest to make the dough the day before and they bake it up the next day or so.

How many calories are in Anginetti cookies? ›

Results for "Anginetti Cookies"

Other sizes: 1 oz - 128kcal, 1 large - 81kcal, 100 g - 450kcal, more...

What is cookie dough in Italian? ›

Italian Translation. pasta biscotto.

Why are Italian rainbow cookies called cookies? ›

Rainbow cookies are typically composed of layers of brightly colored, almond-based sponge cake (usually almond paste/marzipan), apricot and/or raspberry jam, and a chocolate coating. Commonly referred to as a "cookie," their composition is closer in many ways to a layered cake or petit four.

What are galletas made of? ›

Beat the butter, sugar, egg yolks and vanilla extract together. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt, and sift them into the butter mixture. Stir to make a smooth dough. Shape the dough into small balls.

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