These soft, cakey sweets can be anise flavored or even loaded with ricotta cheese, but nothing beats the classic version flavored with almond extract. My version of Italian Christmas cookies start ...

You want them to stay tender and not get too crispy! What can you use instead of almond extract in Italian Christmas cookies? If you want to skip the almond extract, use anise extract instead.

According to Rich Torrisi of Torrisi Italian Specialties, Christmas would not be complete without an industrial-size batch of the almond sponge ... for on the Christmas-cookie tray.” ...