Taralli di Pasqua (Italian Easter Cookies)

Italian Easter Cookies - Taralli

Ingredients for dough:

5 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder

6 eggs

1 cup of  granulated sugar

3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla extract

Icing:

3 cups confectioners' sugar

4 tablespoons of water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon lemon juice

multi-colored nonpareils

Instructions:

Wisk eggs until fluffy.  Add sugar a little at a time whisking after each addition.  Whisk vigorously for about 3 minutes, then add the melted butter and vanilla.  Continue to whisk vigorously until thick and fluffy.

In a large bowl combine the flour and baking powder.

Fold egg mixture into the flour mixture with a rubber spatula until a firm dough forms.

Knead the dough lightly in the bowl.  Break off one-inch balls of dough and roll with hands to form a five inch rope.   Pinch the ends together to form a circle and place on prepared pans about 1-inch apart.

Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, until taralli are golden brown.  Let cook completely before icing.

For the icing:

Heat all ingredients for icing in a pot until lukewarm.  Dip tops of cookies into the icing mixture or brush on, sprinkle with colourful cake decorations (nonpareils) 

 Adapted from:  http://nickmalgieri.typepad.com/blog/2012/04/iced-sweet-taralli-for-easter.html