Hello all!

Butter cookies have me completely obsessed! I am a good home baker, and cookies are my specialty, but I can't find a recipe that really emulates the butter cookies I have gotten at bakeries during my life. I want to make ones like these:



or these:



but I can never get the same flavor or the same dry, crumbly texture. I know there are some professional bakers here-- would any of you divulge the secret to making these? Are they actually done with shortening and not butter? Put me out of my misery if it really is just a mix that I couldn't buy anyways!

I've caught onto the flavor emulsion thing and I have a bottle of Princess flavoring that I'm going to try but would creme bouquet be better?

All the recipes I've found on the internet are just combinations of flour, (icing) sugar and butter, some have hard-boiled egg yolk, some have a regular egg, some have cream of tartar, some have baking soda, but I've tried these and they don't have the right "bakery" texture. Does anyone have a recipe to suggest?

Thank you!

My sentiments exactly! I was hoping to see that recipe in the Cake Boss book, but it's not there. How could he not include this staple from Italian bakeries?

And then, I sent an e-mail to someone I met a couple of years ago, whose father owns 3 Italian bakeries in NYC, asking for their recipe. Their cookies are da bomb, because if you tin them for about two weeks, and let them mature, the floury taste and crumbly texture goes away and all that's left is the butter/sugar/vanilla taste with a perfect consistency. I guess I hit a sore note, because I never heard from him.

Anyone out there have a cookie like I just described?

Theresa

Touring? Is he a soldier or a rock star?

Theresa

Not a soldier (thankfully, but no disrespect)! Far from it-- he is part of Legally Blonde the Musical's production as one of the musicians. Though he might be a rock star one day...

very cool

Theresa

*bump*

Just in case anyone new knows something about this mysterious cookie.

I know the bakery by us uses an ingredient called Kernal Paste in theirs. I don't know the rest of the ingredients, but that one is definitely in there.

drdm99: that is intriguing! I'll have to look up kernal paste.

It is used as a substitute for almond paste or marzipan. It is produced by pulverizing the pit of an apricot into a paste.

I wonder if it affects the texture much, because I have several emulsion flavorings that already have almond in them...

I found this video today-- it isn't exactly what I've been looking for, but it IS a piped, sandy-looking butter cookie. Of course the measurements do nothing for me and what in the world is all that "vanilla"? Probably the secret ingredient.[/url]

That picture is the EXACT cookie I'm trying to make!!!!! They sell them in every grocery store.. Any luck finding a good recipe???

In the North End of Boston they use anise extract as well as other stuff.

Google turned these up in addition the the millions of others for "italian butter cookie sprinkles recipe"

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Sprinkle-Cookies

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Italian-Sprinkle-Cookies

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1610,141191-243196,00.html

Thanks for posting those links, Irene!

I tried Crumb Boss' Italian Butter Spritz Cookies. These tasted exactly like the cookies I would get at the Italian bakery. I think the "secret" ingredient is almond paste. Everyone who has tried them has loved them.

http://www.crumbboss.com/italian-butter-spritz-cookie

Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Thanks for the link saapena!

I have been wanting to make these cookies for years but I could never get an authentic recipe for them. Will have to try to crumb boss recipe.

You are very welcome SugarSweetCafe ! Just make sure to follow her mixing ingredients. I may have to make them over the weekend now since just looking at the recipe causes me to really, really want them--and I have to bring dessert anyways... If you have any questions, just PM me and I will help as much as I can.

Sheryl

Thanks for the crumb boss recipe. I have been looking for a good Italian bakery butter cookie recipe.

Haha thanks Irene, but I use google too. I was wondering if anyone had actually tried and found a good recipe. I wish I had time to try every one on google. Catherine, you posted this, find anything you recommend?

Thanks saapena! I'm getting a new cookie press and trying those tonight!!

I have made the Crumb Boss Italian Cookies and they are just like the italian bakery! I moved to PA from NY and boy do I miss the italian bakeries! But it is delicious. Give it a try.

I enjoy watching all the Crumb Boss videos - this woman owns Woodland Bakery in Chatham, New Jersey and she makes several new videos every weekend and posts the recipes on her blog and uploads her vids to youtube. I have made several of her recipes and they have all come out great. The videos are funny.

Just in case anyone new knows something about this mysterious cookie.

Just in case anyone new knows something about this mysterious cookie.

I too was on the quest for the perfect Italian butter cookie!

I too lived in Evanston off Main St. (behind the ice rink)!

I hoever actually found the recepie you seek! (after a two year search for it)

 

Italian Bakery Butter Cookies - By CNC74

 

Let it be known from this day forth that CNC74 spilled the beans and gave up the famous recepie for Italian Bakery Butter Cookies!!! Risking life and limbs (yes probably multiple apendiges) and now in fear of a mob style hit in retrobution I present you the following mystery ingredients:

 

1. 1/2 cup - CORN STARCH!

2. 1 cup - CONFECTIONERS SUGAR

3. 1 1/2 cup - FLOUR

4. 1 Tblsp - PURE VANNILA EXTRACT

5. 2 STICKS SALTED BUTTER

6. 1 TSP - SALT

7. (OPTIONAL) 1 EGG YOLK (ADDS THE RICH YELLOW COLOR SOME HAVE REPORTED)

8. (OPTIONAL) INSTEAD OF EGG YOLK: YELLOW FOOD COLORING.

 

BEAT BUTTER AND VANILLA FIRST THEN ADD THE DRY INGREDIENTS. PRESS YOUR MIX WITH A WALTON COOKIE PRESS FO RBEST LOOKING RESULTS! BAKE 10 MINUTES AT 350.

 

NOW FOR THE TRICK TO ADDING "SPRINKLES" AFTER THE FACT.

1/4 cup - CONFECTIONERS SUGAR

TSP - WATER

MIX WELL TO A PASTE CONSISTANCY (ADD MORE WATER IF NESASARY. BRUSH ON TOP OF COOKIES AND APPLY THE SPRINKLES!

 

THATS IT FOLKS!

AThanks for the recipe CNC. I'll have to try sometime.

AAbout a year ago I was obsessing about these cookies, too....but the ones that have the longer shape and then dipped in chocolate and then sprinkled. I found a recipe, a very simple one and everybody I know looooooves them...I have to bring them to every party I go to! I don't know if its exactly what you're looking for...but definitely worth making!

Beat 4 sticks unsalted butter, add 1/2 cup granulated sugar and beat til fluffy....add one egg, vanilla and almond extracts (I just eyeball this, maybe 1 tsp each?)...add 4 cups all-purpose flour (I've used some cake flour on occasion as well, maybe 1 cup in addition to 3 cups AP flour)... add flour a cup at a time until blended...then I put it inthe pastry bag with a large star tip (can't think of the number, but not the 1M...the one with more "teeth" (typong this in bed now and don't feel like getting up to see which one! lol)...bake @350 for 10-15 min until lightly golden brown...let cool then dip in melted chocolate then sprinkles.

Hope this helps! When I was looking it up, the person who had this recipe said that she was told to find one without baking powder/soda....so I dont't know if that helps....hope some of you will enjoy this recipe!

• Ingredients
• 2 1/2 cups AP flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Sift together the flour and salt, set aside.

Cream together the butter and sugar. Stir in the egg yolks, almond and vanilla extract. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.

Fill a cookie press or pastry bag with the dough.

Press the cookies about 2 inches apart onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Decorate with colored sugar or sprinkles if desired.

You can also die the dough to make colorful cookies.

Bake for 6-8 minutes.

I know this is an old thread but does anyone have the Crumboss recipe? I went to the link and the domain is expired. I would love to try this recipe. Thank you!