Italian cookies?

ITALIAN COOKIES

**you can drizzle honey before you sprinkle**

INGREDIENTS

3 cups all-purpose flour

3 eggs

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup white sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup butter, softened

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.

Cream the butter. Add in the eggs, sugar, and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, stir the flour and baking powder together.

Add flour mixture to butter mixture. NOTE: If batter is too dry, add a bit of milk.

Use hands to shape pieces of dough into loop-shaped cookies.

Place on cookie sheets and bake 8 to 10 minutes.

Cool and frost.

ITALIAN COOKIES 2

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup butter

1/3 cup white sugar

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS

Cream margarine or butter and sugar thoroughly; add eggs, vanilla, and 2 tablespoons of orange juice. Combine flour and baking powder and gradually add to creamed mixture.

Knead dough on lightly floured board for about 5 minutes. Using tablespoonfuls of dough, roll in 6-inch lengths; press ends together to form rings. Let stand on ungreased cookie sheets at room temperature for 15 minutes.

Bake 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 15-17 minutes or until lightly golden.

To Make Icing: Combine 2 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar with enough orange juice to make a thin glaze. Dip each hot cookie into glaze; cool on racks. Decorate with confetti sprinkles, if desired.

It's called struffoli, or honeyballs. They are available in italian bakeries especially around the holiday season.