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Canestreletti or Canestrelli
- 55 mins total
- 15 mins prep
- 10 mins cook
- 30 mins Resting Time
- serves 4 dozen
Skip To The Recipe
Canestrelletti or Canestrelli. My grandmother’s favorite Christmas cookies. Actually, they were my grandfather’s favorite and my grandmother always prepared them for him for Christmas. Of course, my mother carried the tradition that was passed down to me.
It would not be the holiday season without at least three if not four batches of those heavenly little morsels.
Just the right amount of sweetness with the perfect light crunch that will not break off in tiny pieces, with a hint of lemon.
Do not be scared by the amount of butter, once one will be in your hands and you bite into it, you will forget about the amount. You will be in love with them before you know it.
What are Canestreletti or Canestrelli?
All my life I heard them be referred to as canestreletti. which means smaller canestrelli.
Originally from the Piemonte and Liguria regions of Italy, Northern Italy. Deliciously soft and buttery texture cookies with a delicious lemony flavor. They literally melt in your mouth.
Shortbread cookies that are well suited to any time of the day and night. Perfect with your morning espresso, cappuccino, or tea.
Excellent gift idea during the holiday season. Wrap them in a beautiful holiday decorative paper as a present to your family and friends.
Easy to make, you can make quite a few using the smaller cookie cutter. But most of all they will so wonderfully appreciate it as there are no others with such a distinct taste.
Why another recipe?
You will encounter numerous recipes that all differ from mine. I do not add vanilla extract. I also use a combination of powder sugar, a must or they will not taste the same, as well as granulated sugar.
However, the main difference, I use egg yolks versus cooked eggs. Mine are richer in flavor and texture and they will not flake away every time you bite into one.
TIPS
It is a very simple recipe, but follow these suggestions for success;
- Use fresh lemon zest. The flavor that it gives to those little cookies is out of this world. Barely a hint when you bite into it, but just the perfect uplifting from all other cookies.
- Use non-salted butter that is brought to room temperature. Do not melt the butter as it will not allow your Canestrelletti to hold the shape.
- Wrap the dough in plastic saran wrap and refrigerate for a couple of hours. You want the flavors to blend.
- Work your dough fast as the warmer it gets the softer and less manageable it will get for you. Dividing it and working into batches, will be idyllic.
- Use any of your favorite cookie cutter shapes. Use smaller ones to better enjoy the flavors. I use small hearts, stars, and flowers. Make sure they are all the same size therefore they all will be baking evenly.
- Although there is plenty of butter in those little cookies, I always use either parchment paper or a Silpat to prevent any from attaching themselves to the cookie sheet.
- Wait until the canestreletti are completely cooled down before dusting a generous amount of powder sugar.
- Do use some of the egg white to brush over the top of them prior to entering the oven. A beautiful golden coat will be kissing them once out of the oven.
- Save the egg whites to make meringues.
How can you store your canestreletti or canestrelli?
Once cooled completely and dusted with powder sugar, the canestrelletti can be stored for up to 1 week in an airtight container. However, I am quite confident that you will have them all gone before the second day approaches. Prior to serving them, dust with a little more powder sugar.
I usually place them under a glass cloche cake stand. Anytime someone walks by, they reach in and help themselves to a few.
Looking for more delicious recipes?
Why not try making:
Dried Cranberry Chocolate Cookies
Enjoy those sweet Italian Canestrelli this holiday season, and remember, they are the perfect sweet gift to give.
Equipment and ingredients used to prepare this recipe
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Nutrition Facts
Canestreletti
Amount Per Serving
Calories 910
Calories from Fat 468
% Daily Value*
Fat 52g80%
Saturated Fat 31g194%
Cholesterol 317mg106%
Sodium 17mg1%
Potassium 126mg4%
Carbohydrates 96g32%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 27g30%
Protein 14g28%
Vitamin A 1680IU34%
Calcium 51mg5%
Iron 1.3mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Canestreletti
- 55 mins total
- 15 mins prep
- 10 mins cook
- 30 mins Resting Time
- serves 4 dozen
Ingredients
-
1/2 lemon rind finely grated
-
3 cups unbleached flour
-
1/2 cup powder sugar
-
1/4 cup granulated sugar
-
1 cup unsalted butter
-
4 egg yolks (save the egg white)
Instructions
-
Mix all the above ingredients until you are able to roll the dough with some ease.
-
Let it rest, covered in a dark spot for at least 30 minutes.
-
Roll it out to a ¼ of an inch and use favorite cutters to make cookies. Place the cookies on parchment paper on a large cookie sheet. With a small brush, brush over a light coat of egg white.
-
Bake in the oven at 375F for 10 minutes or when golden.
-
Let it cool off and sprinkle powder sugar over it.
Originally published on December 18, 2018, updated on November 26, 2021.
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I can imagine the subtle citrusy aroma spreading in the house while these cookies are in the oven. Lovely memories to go with a lovely recipe.
Thank you Maria
Oh my goodness these cookies look like perfect buttery bites! I will be making these with my holiday baking for sure!
Thank you Sue! You will enjoy them
Yum! I am loving these Christmas cookies! They are so easy and delicious!
Thank you! Yes, quite delicious and gone so fast too 🙂 make more
What an awesome recipe! So perfect for the holiday season. Delicious!
Thank you, Sam! Absolutely, you will enjoy it
These cookies sound amazing and I love that you are keeping your family tradition alive! Such a sweet story and awesome recipe. These will be on my holiday table for sure!
Thank you so much, Emily. I enjoy old and new traditions, that is the fun of life, at least for me.
As always, I appreciate the history and love you put in each of your recipes! And I have known these cookies since I travelled around Italy, I know how tasty they are! Getting ready to bake in a minute!
Thank you so much, Mihaela! Happy baking and thank you for stopping by Giangi’s Kitchen.
Oh goodness! I am adding these to my holiday baking list this year. Butter cookies with citrus sound amazing!
They sure are! You will enjoy them.
Happy baking!
What perfect treats to have at the holidays! I love all your tips, they are super helpful
Thank you, Kalin! Thank you for stopping Giangi’s Kitchen and that the tips can be of help to you
Loving these! They remind me of my childhood christmas cookies growing up in an italian family!
Thank you!
Love these cookies! Great texture and not too sweet.
Absolutely! That is one of the things I love the most about them, not too sweet.
Enjoy!
So fun and festive for Christmas!
Thank you! and so yummy too.
Enjoy!!
Delicious cookies. I’m going to add them to my Holiday baking list. Yum!
Thank you, Natalie! I am delighted that you will make them. I am sure you will enjoy them.
Happy Baking!
These are so delicious! I can definitely see how they are a holiday tradition passed down through generations. The family loved them and we will be making these with our Christmas cookies this year too.
Thank you! I am so happy you will make them for your family. Little sweet morcels.
Enjoy!
Such a simple recipe for cookies that are beyond deilcious! I also love your photo…I’m going to try and replicate your presentation for my Christmas party…wish me luck!
You got this, Emily, no luck needed. I am so happy you like them and I am sure your guests will enjoy them too.
Thank you!
The perfect cookie!
Thank you!
I made this for myself first and will be making again to share as gifts to my friends, these cookies is a perfect gift idea to share.
Thank you, Jeannie! I am so happy you enjoyed them and are making them for your friends.
Happy Holidays!
I can’t wait to give it a try such a lovely recipe!!
Thank you! Let me know when you do, love your input.
Enjoy!
My SO has told me about these cookies, that his nonna would make for the holidays. Thank you for sharing the recipe!!!
The pleasure is all mine.
These look like the perfect Christmas treats! Similar to what I’m baking, but still a bit different. Will try your recipe this year 🙂
Thank you, Matej! They are perfect now and all year round too. Love to see your recipe.
Enjoy!
These Canestreletti Short Bread Cookies are perfect Giangi, thank you so much for the recipe.
The pleasure is all mine Gabriela.
Enjoy!
Beautiful cookies. Perfect Christmas treat. I’m going to add your recipe to my baking list.
Thank you, Natalie! You will enjoy them and they are perfect all year round too, just in case 😋
Thank you for sharing! Being from an Italian family, I have very few passed down recipes from my relatives. Still not sure why, but Italians will not share their recipes. I have tried for years to get my relatives to put together a cook book of family favorites and they very nicely declined to share. So, I’ll just have to look for more along the way.
I can sympathize with you here. This recipe was given to me and yet one of the ingredients was not given to me correctly thus never coming out perfect. Until the day my mother was making them and here she is pulling out the right sugar to use. I feel as pulling a recipe out of a family member is the same as asking a chef their cooking secrets: you will never get the whole recipe.
Thank you, Gina, for stopping by Giangi’s Kitchen!