Italian Christmas Cookies with Cocoa and Orange Liqueur

Ingredients

• Cookies:
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Icing:
• 2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
• 2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease 2 baking sheets.

Sift flour and baking powder together in a bowl. Beat white sugar and butter together in a separate bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy; beat in eggs. Stir creamed butter mixture, cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons liqueur, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract into flour mixture until dough is just combined.

Turn dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead, adding flour as needed to keep from dough sticking to your hands. Roll dough, 1 to 2 tablespoons per cookie, in your hands and form a log-shape; twirl log into desired shape. Place cookies on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake in the preheated oven until edges of cookies are lightly browned, about 10 minutes.

Stir confectioners' sugar, 2 tablespoons liqueur, water, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract together in a bowl until icing is creamy. Dip cookies into icing. Place a piece of waxed paper under a wire rack and place cookies on wire rack to cool.