Description
Soft, pillowy Italian peach cookies coated in sparkling sugar to mimic peach fuzz, bursting with subtle peach flavor and perfect for summer treats or gifting.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (310g)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200g) plus 1 cup for coating (200g)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (225g)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons peach nectar or juice (30ml)
- 1 teaspoon peach extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Food coloring (optional, peach or pink)
- Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Soften butter at room temperature.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Set aside 1 cup granulated sugar for coating in a separate bowl.
- Cream softened butter and 1 cup granulated sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Stir in peach nectar, peach extract, and vanilla extract. Add food coloring if using and mix until uniform.
- Slowly add flour mixture to wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, scoop dough balls and roll each generously in the reserved granulated sugar to coat.
- Place coated dough balls on parchment-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until set and slightly puffed but not browned.
- Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Optionally dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Notes
Use room temperature butter for best creaming results. Don’t skip coating dough balls in sugar to achieve the peach fuzz look. Baking time is crucial; cookies should be set but soft in the center. Dough can be frozen after shaping and sugar coating; bake from frozen adding 2-3 minutes. Substitute vanilla extract with almond extract for a nutty twist. For gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum. For dairy-free, substitute butter with vegan butter or coconut oil.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 12
- Fat: 4.5
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Protein: 1
Keywords: Italian peach cookies, peach cookies, sparkling sugar cookies, summer cookies, soft cookies, peach dessert, homemade cookies