Ingredients
Cookie Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 cup butter, room temperature
- 1 whole egg
- 1 additional egg white
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
Icing Ingredients
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon whiskey or rum
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, and salt to combine the dry components evenly.
- Cream Butter and Eggs: In a separate bowl, cream the room temperature butter until smooth. Add the whole egg, additional egg white, and vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Combine Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients alternately with the milk to the butter and egg mixture, stirring gently after each addition until a soft dough forms.
- Add Walnuts: Fold in the finely chopped walnuts evenly throughout the dough for a crunchy texture.
- Form Cookies: Drop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes or until the cookies are set but still soft to the touch. Remove from the oven and let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
- Prepare Icing: In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and whiskey or rum until smooth and glossy. Adjust consistency by adding more milk if necessary.
- Ice Cookies: Once the cookies have cooled completely, spread the icing over the top of each cookie and allow it to set before serving.
Notes
- Use room temperature butter to ensure proper creaming with the eggs for a light cookie texture.
- If you prefer a non-alcoholic version, substitute the whiskey or rum in the icing with an equal amount of milk or vanilla extract.
- Store cookies in an airtight container for up to one week to maintain freshness.
- For a more intense chocolate flavor, consider using Dutch-processed cocoa powder.
- Walnuts can be toasted before chopping to enhance their flavor.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
