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Italian Butter Cookies

Ingredients

  • 5 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/8 cups granulated sugar
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 4 egg yolks, well beaten (save whites)
  • 2 cups butter
  • 1 ounce whiskey

Instructions

  1. Mix flour and sugar in large bowl. Make a well in flour mixture. Slice butter and place in well. Sprinkle lemon zest over this. Add whiskey and beaten egg yolks. Start kneading with your hands until you have a large very cohesive ball. This will take a while. When all mixed, roll out to medium thickness. Flour board and rolling pin liberally. Cut with cookie cutters.
  2. Beat egg whites until frothy. Brush froth on cookies.
  3. Bake until cookies just start to turn golden at the edges (approximately 10 minutes) at 350 degrees F. They cook fast, so watch closely.
  4. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar while still hot.