If you’re looking for easy and delicious cookies to make, befanotti are the perfect recipe!
These traditional treats, typical of the Epiphany period, captivate both young and old with their cheerful shape and irresistible aroma. Befanotti are simple cookies, made with wholesome ingredients and decorated with colorful sprinkles that make them festive and fun. They are ideal to prepare with children, to give as gifts, or to serve at breakfast and snack time.
In this recipe, I will guide you step by step on how to make befanotti at home with just a few steps and guaranteed results. All you need is flour, eggs, sugar, butter, and a pinch of creativity to create soft, fragrant, and colorful Epiphany cookies. If you love traditional recipes and want to make simple and quick Epiphany sweets, these cookies will make you fall in love.
Discover how to prepare befanotti: easy and delicious cookies, perfect to enjoy with sweetness and joy!
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very economical
- Rest time: 30 Minutes
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Fall, Winter, All seasons
Ingredients
BEFANOTTI: EASY AND DELICIOUS COOKIES
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 7 tbsps butter
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tbsp rum
- Half lemon zest
- Half orange zest
- 1 tsp baking powder
- to taste milk
- to taste colored sprinkles
Tools
BEFANOTTI: EASY AND DELICIOUS COOKIES
- 1 Oven oven
- 1 Cookie Cutter cookie cutters
- 1 Cutting Board cutting board
Steps
BEFANOTTI: EASY AND DELICIOUS COOKIES
In a large bowl, mix butter, sugar, lemon, and orange zest.
Add eggs and rum, mix, then combine flour and baking powder.
Quickly knead and wrap the dough in plastic wrap. Let it rest in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Roll out the dough between two sheets of parchment paper to about 3/8 inch thick.
Cut out the cookies using your favorite cutters (hearts, stars, gingerbread men… anything goes!). Transfer them to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Brush the surface with a little milk and add colorful sprinkles.
Bake at 356°F for 12–15 minutes, until the befanotti are lightly golden at the edges.
✨Variations
With cocoa: replace 1/4 cup of flour with unsweetened cocoa powder.
With chocolate chips: add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of chips to the dough.
Citrus version: add juice and zest of orange for a more intense aroma.
Without butter: use 1/3 cup of vegetable oil instead of butter.
Glazed: once cooled, decorate them with a simple glaze of powdered sugar and lemon.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Can they be prepared in advance?
Yes, the dough can rest in the fridge for up to 24 hours, well covered.
How long do they last?
They keep perfectly in a tin box for 4–5 days.
Can I freeze them?
Yes! You can freeze the dough already rolled and cut, or the baked cookies.
Can I make them without sprinkles?
Of course, you can decorate them with granulated sugar, almond pieces, or leave them plain.
