This recipe comes from my grandmother's hometown of Castel di Lucio, Sicily.

Ingredients

For the dough:

• Make the dough by doubling the recipe for Grammy's Cookies

For the icing and decoration:

• 12 eggs
• 3 cups of powdered sugar
• 3 teaspoons of lemon or vanilla extract
• A few teaspoons of milk
• Sprinkles (nonpareils)
• Cloves (optional, for animal designs)

Instructions

For the cookies:

1. Prepare the dough, following the same instructions as given in the recipe for Grammy's Cookies.

2. When the dough is prepared, start making your designs:

   • For the basket design, roll the dough into a log, thicker in the middle and thinner on the sides. Flatten the thick middle part, and add the egg. Secure with dough strips on top of the egg, and connect the thinner part of the dough log as the top of the basket. Add braids, bows, flowers, etc. to make it pretty!
   • For the cross design, make a cross shape with the dough and add the egg to the middle. Secure with more dough on top of the egg and add decorations.
   • For the bird design, use the dough to create the outline of a bird. Add the egg to the middle of the bird's body, and secure with more dough on top to make a wing shape. Use small scissors to cut feathers into the bird's body, and use the clove as the eye.
   • Be creative with other designs! Some ideas include a nest or a rabbit.

3. Baking time will vary depending on how large your cuddrureddri are. Let them bake for about 15 minutes, then check on them every 5-10 minutes until they are baked.

For the icing:

1. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract to a bowl. Add a teaspoon of milk at a time, and mix until you have the right consistency (not too thin, not too thick).
2. Spread on the cookies with your fingers, and add sprinkles while the icing is still wet.