Blood Orange Italian Style Cookies

These delightful cookies offer a unique twist on classic Italian treats, bursting with the vibrant flavor and aroma of blood oranges. The secret lies in the blood orange-infused olive oil (agrumato) and zest, creating a burst of citrusy goodness in every bite.

Ingredients:

• Dry Ingredients:
  • 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated cane sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated blood orange zest
• Wet Ingredients:
  • 1 cup blood orange-infused olive oil (agrumato)
  • 2 large eggs, whisked (at room temperature)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed orange juice
• Garnish:
  • Powdered sugar

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Combine Wet Ingredients:
   • In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, whisk together the granulated sugar, blood orange-infused olive oil, orange juice, and whisked eggs.
   • Beat on medium speed for about 3 minutes until the mixture becomes thick and creamy.
3. Mix Dry Ingredients:
   • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder to ensure even distribution.
4. Combine Wet & Dry Ingredients:
   • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three batches.
   • Mix well after each addition, making sure there are no dry flour streaks remaining before adding the next batch.
5. Shape and Bake the Cookies:
   • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
   • If you have a pastry bag fitted with a star-shaped tip, use it to pipe the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Aim for portions of about 2 teaspoons each.
   • Alternatively, you can use two spoons to drop rounded tablespoons of batter onto the baking sheet.
6. Initial Bake:
   • Place the baking sheet in the center rack of your preheated oven (350°F / 175°C) and bake for 10 minutes.
7. Golden Brown Finish:
   • To achieve a beautiful golden brown exterior on the cookies, increase the oven temperature to 425°F (220°C) and bake for an additional 2 minutes.
8. Cool and Serve:
   • Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Finishing Touch:
   • When the cookies are cool, dust them with powdered sugar for an extra touch of sweetness and a delightful presentation.
10. Enjoy! Now you can indulge in these delicious Blood Orange Italian Style Cookies and savor the burst of citrusy flavor.

Tips:

• Intensify the Blood Orange Flavor:
  • To add a stronger blood orange taste, consider adding a few drops of blood orange extract to the wet ingredients along with the other liquids.
• Blood Orange Substitute:
  • If blood orange-infused olive oil isn’t available, you can use regular olive oil instead. To compensate for the missing flavor, simply add an additional tablespoon of blood orange zest to the dough.
• Chilling the Dough (Optional):
  • For cookies that hold their shape better, consider chilling the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before baking.