Light Traditional Italian Breakfast Cookies are a fast and easy way to have your cookie and eat it at Breakfast. Crunchy on the outside and soft inside. These Breakfast Cookies are perfect anytime.
When my husband and I first got married, I could not watch my husband eat breakfast. I would place the large mug of caffè latte on the kitchen table and get the heck out of there.
I could never understand why he couldn’t eat breakfast like a normal person. You know, a cup of coffee, Tim Horton style, a Toasted Bagel or hey even a Muffin would work.
I know there are a lot of people who like to dunk a cookie or a piece of toast in their morning beverage. Not me, I tried it once and I got so upset when it got too soggy and fell in my coffee. Just not for me!
So how he could possibly throw anything and everything from cereal, to a Homemade Cake, Cookies to Yup even left over Tiramisu into that large mug was beyond me.
He would even tell me if the cake was too dry or not dry enough! How could he tell from all that soggy mess whether the cake was dry or not? But he swears he can tell!
So I decided to make him Traditional Italian Breakfast cookies, like his mother used to make. Something that most Italians do dunk in their cafe latte in the morning.
He was very happy about these Breakfast Cookies. They brought back memories and yes the perfect dunking Cookie.
But he couldn’t stop at these Tasty Italian Breakfast Cookies! Oh no. In goes 2 cookies and he doesn’t stop at that, a good bit of corn flakes are needed and eh why not a piece of that just made Yogurt Cake.
Give it a few swirls and there you have breakfast for the Italian.
Whether you are a dunker or not, these Italian Breakfast Cookies are a delicious way to start your day or even eat as a snack. Enjoy!
Traditional Italian Breakfast Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 egg (room temperature)
- 3/4 cup sugar (150 grams)
- 1/4 cup milk (remove from fridge 30 minutes before) (60 grams)
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil (50 grams)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 1/4 cups + 1 tablespoon flour (290 grams)
- pinch salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (more or less) for rolling (50 grams)
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350° (180° celsius). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.Whisk together flour, salt and baking powder.In a medium bowl beat together egg and sugar until light and frothy (2-3 minutes). Add milk, oil and vanilla, beat well.Add flour mixture a little at a time and mix with a wooden spoon (do not beat).Remove to a lightly floured flat surface and knead gently until combined. Dough will be slightly sticky so don't over flour.Remove pieces of dough to form into oblong shapes (approximately 2-2 1/2" x 3/4" – 6 1/2 x 2 centimeters) roll in granulated sugar and place on parchment paper lined baking sheets.Bake for approximately 10-15 minutes. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Republished from October 21, 2016.
Joanna Burns (nee Santostefano) says
Fabulous morning (oranytime) cookies! Perfect with coffee or tea. I laughed out loud at your description of your Italian’s dunking habits, I feel the same way as you do in regard to dipping cookies or in your case, cake , bread, etc. into morning coffee. As always your reciupes are wonderfully delicious as are your stories. Bravo.Joanna
Rosemary says
Hi Joanna, thanks so much, so glad you like the cookies and the stories! After all these years, I’m still not used to it lol. Take care and Happy New Year!
Lucrezia says
Love, love, love these cookies!
Rosemary says
Hi Lucrezia, thanks so much, so glad you like the cookies. Take care and Happy New Year!
Dawn says
Hi. These cookies are so spot on. Very good and very easy. I have looked up cookies made with farina multiple times and this recipe keeps coming up, but there is no farina in this. Do you have another recipe OR can I add farina to this and omit something else?
Rosemary says
Hi Dawn, I was a bit confused because in Italian flour is farina. I looked it up and it is something totally different, which I have never used, so I really don’t know how to use it, but I don’t think that you can substitute it with all purpose flour in this recipe. Sorry. Glad you liked the cookies though. Take care.
Diana says
I grew up in an Italian household and these were always my favourite cookie. I searched online for a recipe and came across this recipe not thinking much of it and wow, pleasantly surprised. They’re chewy and amazingly tasty. Adding this one to my recipe book. Easy to make and a crowd pleaser. Thank you!
Rosemary says
Hi Diana, thanks so much, so glad you liked them. Take care!
Antonietta says
Thank you Rosemary for the recipe! They came out terrific and yummy. I had to change recipe a little to make it gluten and dairy free for myself and my husband. I used Gluten free Plain flour and Almond Milk. Also needed to cook them longer. They came out great! Thanks again
Rosemary says
Hi Antonietta, thanks so much so glad you both enjoyed them, and thank you for letting me know that they worked for gluten free. Take care!
Debbie (Nonna) says
Fantastico!!! Soooo easy to make. I am vegan so I replaced egg with 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce. Thank you so much.
Rosemary says
Hi Debbie, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed it. Take care.
Winter says
This cookies are the best in the world . If you like a sweet cookie try this recipe
Rosemary says
Hi Winter, thanks so much, so glad you liked them. Take care and have a wonderful weekend.
Cathy says
I made approx 21 cookies but they were quite big. Is the I side supposed to be dense? Your picture has them with lots of holes so I’m thinking they’re light. The taste is good but the cookies were heavy in weight. Is that how they should be?
Rosemary says
Hi Cathy, they are on the denser rather than lighter. They are meant to be dipped in milk. Maybe try making them smaller and they will come out a little lighter. Hope that helps. Take care.
Jenni says
I used this recipe instead of the “lady fingers” recipe because I am a lazy cook! They worked perfect and tasted delicious. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
Rosemary says
Hi Jenni, thanks so much, that’s a great idea using them as lady fingers. I would say you aren’t a lazy cook. Take care, have a great weekend.
Joann says
Am wondering if you might be able to help. I been looking for a cookie recipe that I uses to make for my kids when they were younger. My neighbor gave me the receipe it was so easy that I never wrote it down. All I remember is that it was a lot of flour and eggs flavoring butter,and I did everything right on the table, I would put the flour first than make a well and mix and knead right on the table.shape long or round. Have you ever heard of this kind of cookie. I would appreciate assistance you can give in finding this recipe again
Thank you very much
Joann
Rosemary says
Hi Joann, that sounds like an Italian butter cookie to me, I use a mixer only because it is easier but you certainly can make them the way you described. Let me know. https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/italian-butter-cookies/
John Churchfield says
I made these for my wife she works night shift so when she gets home in the morning she has a couple with her tea before going to bed she loves them. Going to make them today with lemon zest and juice. Wondering if you could us anise in them?
Rosemary says
Hi John, thanks so much, and yes you could add some anise if you like. Let me know how it goes.
Lin says
My dough turned out very dry! So strange as the recipe notes that the dough will be sticky. But tasted good in the end. It’s 2 and 1/4 cup flour – right???
Rosemary says
Hi Lin, yes the cup measurement is correct. If it is really dry then add a bit more milk. 🙂
Carole says
These cookies are so simple to make. I kept checking to see if I left something out. I made one slight change. I added the zest of one lemon and a teaspoon of lemon juice in place of the vanilla. I’m thinking that the vanilla would also be good. I’ll try that next time.
Rosemary says
Hi Carole, thanks so much and yes Italians like to add lemon also, great idea. Have a great weekend.
Candy says
These delicious cookies are reminiscent of cookies my husband, from Egypt, use to eat. I’ve been looking for a recipe for many years. The directions were easy to follow. I goofed and made 10 cookies instead of 21, so they baked longer. I will make them again.
Rosemary says
Hi Candy, thanks so much, glad you enjoyed them. Have a great Sunday.
Donna Coleman says
I made these today for the second time. The dough was very sticky and hard to handle. Also they spread out a lot. Very frustrating! they are delicious but not very pretty looking. What should I do if I try for a third time.
Rosemary says
Hi Donna, if your dough wasn’t like the dough in the video than you need more flour, make sure you are using a higher protein flour (over 11% closer to 12% or even try with a bread flour) this will help with the spreading. Let me know how it goes.
Kim says
I have made these before I have learned to roll them in plastic wrap.MAke one long roll and c up t them into 21pieces makes it easier and they are even chiil them so they don’t stick I use c powdered sugar and it doesn’t affect it just makes it nonestick.
Rosemary says
Hi Kim, that’s a great idea. Thanks.