Homemade Italian Snack Pastries
Homemade Italian snack pastries are soft, lightly sweet baked treats inspired by everyday Italian baking. With gentle vanilla and citrus flavor and a tender texture, these pastries are perfect for coffee breaks, casual snacking, or a simple homemade dessert.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Whisk or wooden spoon
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Small scoop or spoon
Ingredients
For the Snack Pastries
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup mild olive oil or melted butter olive oil gives classic Italian softness
- 1/4 cup milk or plain yogurt yogurt creates a softer crumb
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon zest or orange zest
For Finishing
- powdered sugar for dusting
- sliced almonds or sugar crystals optional topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Whisk together flour and baking powder in a mixing bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk eggs and sugar until smooth and slightly pale.
- Add olive oil or melted butter, milk or yogurt, and vanilla extract, mixing until combined.
- Stir in lemon zest, then gently fold in the dry ingredients until just combined.
- Scoop small portions of batter onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each. Add sliced almonds or sugar crystals if using.
- Bake until lightly golden and set, then allow to cool slightly.
- Dust with powdered sugar just before serving.
Notes
These snack pastries are lightly sweet and tender, ideal for everyday enjoyment. Avoid overmixing the batter and do not overbake to keep the texture soft. Store fully cooled pastries in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, or freeze and thaw at room temperature before serving.