Befanini -

5 from 1 vote

Befanini

These not-too-sweet Italian sugar cookies, called befanini, are topped with sprinkles and are so fun to make with kids! Easily gluten-free.

Prep Time10

Cook Time15

Chill Time30

Total Time1

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Italian

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings: servings

Calories: 89kcal

Whisk together 4 cups gluten-free flour, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt, 1 cup granulated sugar, and the zest of 1 lemon in a large bowl. Make a well in the center, then crack in 3 of the 4 eggs (save one for glazing) into the middle.
With a fork, begin beating from the center outwards, incorporating the dry ingredients slowly into the eggs until a thick dough forms. Add 1 or 2 tablespoons milk, or more if needed, if the dough is dry and doesn't come together after a bit of mixing. Use your hands to mix and knead the dough together, then wrap it in plastic and rest it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 days.
When ready to bake, heat the oven to 350ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. On a well-floured surface, roll the dough out to about ¼ inch thick. Use cookie cutters in your favorite shapes to cut the cookies and place them on the lined baking sheet.
In a small bowl, beat the reserved egg, then brush the egg onto the top of each cookie and sprinkle it with Colored sprinkles.
Place in the oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the cookies are puffed and lightly golden on top. Cool, then serve.

Make them gluten free - Use a gluten-free 1:1 flour substitute for the all-purpose flour to make these gluten-free.
Add sugar - If you prefer a sweeter batch of cookies, feel free to increase the amount of sugar to 1 ½-1 ¾ cups of sugar.
Vanilla - Unlike many cookie recipes, befanini doesn't call for vanilla extract. However, if you wish for a bit more flavor, add 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract to the dough.
Get kids involved! This is a beautifully simple recipe, and it's perfect to make with kids. Let them stir the dough, roll it out, and cut it into whatever shapes they love. And of course, don't forget the sprinkles!