Home » Recipes » Cookies » Lilla’s Famous Peach Cookies

Lilla’s Famous Peach Cookies

A beloved family recipe for peach cookies that is often requested at parties and holidays! Here is Lilla’s recipe for her fabulous peach cookies! These are a very simple cookie, dipped in a peach flavored syrup and filled with a vanilla pastry cream. Simple but delicious! These can be made without alcohol so everyone can enjoy!

italian peach cookies in basket

This right here is an example of a beautiful Italian dessert. Something that I hope generations to come will keep making! Yes, it can be time consuming, but these are made typically only for holidays such as Christmas or special occasions such as bridal showers, baby showers, or even birthdays!

These can quickly become a lost art, as the influx of Italian immigrants has passed, and that generation has sadly been aging (most of the Italian immigrants from my childhood are now well into their 80s and 90s)

And so, lets all make sure to carry on the tradition and make these delicious and gorgeous cookies!

My mom makes her cookies without alcohol, but I have provided instructions to make them either way….we prefer the non-alcoholic version!

Other treasured recipes from my mom include her pignoli cookies (also called pine nut cookies or almond cookies), Italian wedding cookies, and ricotta cookies!

Jump to:

How to Make Italian Peach Cookies (Videos)

1. Make the dough, bake the cookies, and carve out the bottoms (VIDEO)

2. Make the filling (pastry cream) (VIDEO)

3. Make the dipping syrup (flavors the cookies and gives the color) (VIDEO)

4. Building the Cookies: Dipping, filling and decorating the cookies (VIDEO)

How to Make Peach Cookies (Step by Step in Photos)

  1. Add eggs to bowl of a standing mixer
  2. Add sugar to eggs
  3. Whip the egg/sugar mixture for 2 minutes until light and foamy
  4. Small bubbles will appear in the egg/sugar mixture
  5. Add remaining ingredients (not shown; oil, flour and baking powder)
  6. Combine until a very soft dough forms. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
  1. After 2 hours of chilling dough, line baking sheets with silicone baking mat or parchment paper and form the cookies.
  2. Roll the cookies into a round ball but then flatten them slightly so they are no longer in a ball shape. Dough will be very sticky so consider using cooking spray on hands to prevent sticking
  3. Bake for 25 to 28 minutes until they are slightly golden; the cookies are actually slightly overbaked so that they can absorb liquid in the next step without falling apart
  4. Carve the bottom of the cookie as shown using a sharp knife. Do this while the cookie is still warm as they are prone to breaking if carving when cooled.
  5. Extra cookie that can be discarded
  6. Store the carved cookies in a sealed container after they have cooled while you make the pastry cream and the flavored syrup. Cookies can be made a few days in advanced if stored properly (ie, sealed container)

Carving the cookies (video)

YouTube video

Make the pastry cream filling

  1. Add milk and part of the sugar to a sauce pan and heat over medium high heat until slightly boiling
  2. Prepare eggs by separating yolk from whites; we will only need the yolks (store egg whites for another use)
  3. Combine sugar and cornstarch in a separate bowl, and add egg yolks
  4. Whisk the eggs with the cornstarch and sugar.
  5. Add about 1/3 of the hot milk to the egg mixture while whisking vigorously.
  6. Return the egg mixture to the milk mixture that is on the stove.
  7. Continuously whisk for 2 minutes, ensuring to scrape the sides and bottom and bottom edge of pot to prevent scorching
  8. Remove from heat and add butter
  9. Whisk until butter has melted (optional but highly recommended, add Peach liquor). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate after it has cooled a bit to cool completely

Make the dipping syrup

  1. Add water (1 cups of it) with sugar and heat over medium heat
  2. Continue stirring until the sugar has dissolved
  3. Add flavorings, including lemon and orange peel (try to minimize the white part called pith as much as possible when peeling because that part is bitter! Add cinnamon stick if you have one
  4. Add jello packet
  5. Add vanilla extract
  6. Continue stirring and adjust color by adding red food coloring. Remove from heat and add extra cup of water to cool the mixture and dilute it a bit.
  7. Optional, flavor with peach liquor

Filling and Decorating (the fun part!)

  1. Find two matching cookie sizes
  2. Dip in flavoring syrup (I dunk them completely three times quickly) and shake off excess. (transfer the dipping syrup to a small and deeper bowl when you start running low so dipping is easier.)
  3. Fill each half of the cookie with pastry cream
  4. Sandwich the two filled cookies together
  5. After all the cookies have been dipped and filled let them dry in fridge for 1 or 2 hours (not shown). Then, sprinkle each cookie generously with sugar (we use a sugar shaker)
  6. Place cookies in cupcake cups and add leaves. Many use mint leaves, we simply cut some from our garden. You can also uses artificial leaves from the craft store.

Variations for Peach Cookies

  • Some people fill the cookies with sweetened ricotta cream
  • Other people use jam with or without crushed nuts
  • The dipping liquid is traditionally aklermes liquor, which is very difficult to find in the USA. I think that a non-alcoholic cookie can be eaten by more people (ie, children too!)
  • A whole almond can be placed in the center of the cookie to simulate a peach pit (be careful of this if you are feeding young children or the elderly).

Top Tips for Making Peach Cookies

  • My mom insists on letting the cookie dough rest for a minimum of 2 to 3 hours. She feels that the cookies rise better.
  • The cookie dough is quite sticky! Use cooking spray on your hands to help handle the dough and prevent sticking.
  • Remember these cookies are baked in order to be dunked in the flavoring syrup and so they’re slightly dry and overbaked, intentionally! Otherwise, they would turn to mush when you dip them.
  • My mom likes to actually dip/dunk the cookies in the flavoring liquid rather than spraying on the syrup -she feels dunking the cookies imparts much more flavor and moisture.
  • After dipping, let the cookies dry uncovered in the refrigerator for a few hours before sprinkling with sugar; otherwise, the sugar will simply melt away.
  • Consider using small cupcake cups or liners so that more of the gorgeous peaches can be seen.

Suggested Schedule

  • Day 1: make, bake, and carve the cookies. Also, make the pastry cream
  • Day 2: make the dipping syrup, and then fill and decorate the cookies.

Storage and Make Ahead

  • Cookies can be made 3 or 4 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. They do not need to be covered as they should be quite moist and are not subject to drying out quickly.
  • Pastry cream can be made ahead and stored for 2 days
  • It is not recommended to freeze pastry cream (see explanation in link above); however, you may freeze cookies ahead of time and then fill and decorate a day before needed.

If you tried this recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below! SUBSCRIBE for more recipes.

📖 Recipe

Lilla’s Peach Cookies

My mom's recipe for making approximately 30 Italian peach cookies, which refers more to the shape than the flavor. These cookies are traditionally served during special occasions like weddings, bridal showers, and holidays such as Christmas. Recipe can be doubled
5 from 20 votes
Author: Marie
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Resting time for cookie dough and cooling of pastry cream 4 hours
Total Time 5 hours
Course Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Servings 30 pastries
Calories 320 kcal

Equipment

  • Standing mixer
  • wire whisk attachment
  • dough paddle attachment
  • cookie or baking sheets
  • parchment paper or silicone baking sheet
  • small knife with pointed tip to carve cookies
  • bowls for dunking cookies

Ingredients
 

To make the cookie dough

  • 4 large (4 large) eggs room temperature
  • 2 cups (400 g) sugar
  • 1 cup (218 g) vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup (122 g) milk
  • 6.5 cups (812.5 g) all purpose flour
  • 4 tsp (4 tsp) baking powder

To make the flavored syrup for dipping

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 cups water divided (1 cup and 1 cup)
  • 1 stick cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 medium orange peel only
  • 1 medium lemon peel only
  • 1 box peach flavored jello
  • 1/2 tsp red food coloring more as needed
  • peach liquor optional (I didn't use)

To make the vanilla pastry cream

  • 4 cups (976 g) milk
  • 3.5 tbsp (3.5 tbsp) sugar (sugar 1)
  • 12 large (12 large) egg yolks
  • 7 tbsp (7 tbsp) cornstarch
  • 3/4 cup (150 g) sugar (sugar 2)
  • 1/2 cup (113.5 g) butter
  • 1/3 cup (51.33 g) peach liquor optional but highly recommended

To construct the cookies and decorate them

  • 1 cup sugar I use regular ole granulated sugar, but may try colored sugar in the future
  • 30 leaves (real or artificial)

Instructions
 

To make the cookie dough

  • Optional but highly recommended to measure out all the ingredients first and set aside
  • In the bowl of a standing mixer, add eggs and sugar and beat with whisk attachment for about 2 minutes until light and fluffy
  • add the oil all at once and mix until blended
  • add the milk and mix until blended
  • Combine the baking powder with the flour and then add to the mixing bowl with egg mixture and combine until very soft dough forms (see photo)
  • Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and set into the refrigerator for at least 2 hours

To bake the cookies and carve the cookies

  • preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line baking sheets with silicone baking sheet or parchment paper
  • Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, portion dough into approximately 60 to 64 cookies. The shape should be round with a slightly flattened top (see photo)
  • please note that this is a sticky dough! use cooking spray to help prevent dough from sticking to hands when forming cookies
  • bake in oven for about 25 to 28 minutes. Note that these cookies are intentionally overbaked so that they can withstand the dipping step and not fall apart. That said, do not burn the cookies! They should have a golden color.
  • After cookies are baked, carve them while they are still warm.
  • The cookies should be cool enough to handle but still warm enough to allow carving. If they are cool, the cookies will be more likely to break when you try to carve the bottom out
  • Using a small knife with a pointed tip, carve out the bottom (see photo) so that they can be filled with pastry cream.
  • After all cookies have been carved, store them in a sealed container until ready to fill and decorate

To make the cream filling

  • Note that this recipe makes a little more cream than needed; the extra pastry cream is delicious enjoyed alone!
  • Also note that the sugar is divided, so please use sugar number 1 in first part of recipe and sugar number 2 in second part as described below
  • Combine milk and sugar number 1 in a medium sized sauce pan/pot and heat until slightly boiling over medium high heat
  • In the meantime, combine the cornstarch with sugar number 2 and then add to the eggs and mix well but do not introduce too much air
  • After milk come to slight boil, pour about 1/3 of it into the egg/sugar/cornstarch mixture while whisking vigorously
  • Return this egg mixture back to the pot containing the remaining milk/sugar mixture and heat over medium high heat for 2 minutes while whisking constantly. Mixture will become very thick. Whisk well continuously and make sure to stir the bottom of pot and bottom edges of pot to avoid scorching
  • Remove pot from stove, add butter, and stir well until all butter is melted
  • If using liquor, add to finished cream and combine well.
  • Cover with plastic wrap (ensure the top of the cream is in direct contact with plastic wrap or film will develop)
  • Cool and then store in the refrigerator until ready to use

To make the flavored dipping syrup

  • Add 1 cup of water, sugar, lemon and orange peels, cinnamon stick, peach jello, and vanilla extract to a pan and set over the stove. Heat and stir over medium flame for about 5 minutes
  • Add a bit of the red food coloring (one drop at a time), and stir until desired color is achieved.
  • Remove mixture/pan from flame and add remaining cup of water to dilute the mixture and cool it down a bit.
  • Optional, add peach liquor to taste (add 2 tablespoons at a time and taste as you go)

To fill and decorate the cookies

  • Organize an area for decorating cookies
  • Set out everything you'll need: the carved cookies, the dipping syrup for dipping, and the pastry cream to fill the cookies. You may also need some paper towels to wipe up if the syrup drips. You will also need a baking tray lined with parchment or aluminum foil.
  • We typically dip, fill, and put together one cookie at a time.
  • Although most cookies should be similar in size, it might help to match up 2 cookies before proceeding to the dip, fill stage
  • Dip 2 cookies (I dunk them three times), let excess syrup drip off, then fill each half with pastry cream and join the cookies together like a sandwich. Wipe excess cream that may ooze out with finger and place on nonstick paper lined baking sheet. Note that you should use a small and deep container to dip the cookies as the syrup starts to run low to make things easier.
  • Continue until all the cookies are dipped, filled and joined together
  • place the tray of cookies in the refrigerator for about 2 hours or so until they have dried slightly and then sprinkle with sugar (NOT powdered sugar but regular granulated sugar) and insert leaves to decorate. We use a sugar shaker but you can sprinkle with tablespoon.

Storage instructions

  • Cookies can be made 3 or 4 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. They do not need to be covered as they should be quite moist and are not subject to drying out quickly.
  • Pastry cream can be made ahead and stored for 2 days
  • More tips on making pastry cream here
  • It is not recommended to freeze pastry cream (see explanation in link above); however, you may freeze cookies ahead of time and then fill and decorate a day before needed.

Video

Notes

  • I like to make this recipe over 2 days
  • Suggested schedule:
    • Day 1: make, bake, and carve the cookies. Also, make the pastry cream
    • Day 2: make the dipping syrup, and then fill and decorate the cookies.
  • You will have some left over pastry cream, which can be eaten like pudding. (I had about 1 lb left)
  • Dough is sticky! Have cooking spray onhand and spray hands if needed to prevent sticking when you are forming the cookies
  • The cookies are intentionally a bit overbaked so that they can absorb the dipping syrup and so that they don’t fall apart when doing so.
  • Carve out the bottom of the cookie while it is still warm so that you reduce the chance of breaking the cookies
  • Before the final step of sprinkling sugar on the finished cookies, you should let them dry a bit in the refrigerator or else the sugar will simply melt away. Let dry for about 1 to 2 hours and then sprinkle with sugar. A sugar shaker really helps but is not necessary
Make Ahead and Storage
    • Cookies can be made 3 or 4 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. They do not need to be covered as they should be quite moist and are not subject to drying out quickly.
    • Pastry cream can be made ahead and stored for two days
  •  
    • It is not recommended to freeze pastry cream (see explanation in link above); however, you may freeze cookies ahead of time and then fill and decorate a day before needed.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pastryCalories: 320kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 6gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 114mgSodium: 73mgPotassium: 163mgFiber: 1gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 303IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 87mgIron: 2mg
Want More Recipes? Subscribe Today

30 Comments

  1. i am going to try these with gluten free flower. You say you can freeze the fully assembled cookies but not to freeze the pastry cream, so that confuses me a bit. The pastry cream will not break down if frozen after assembly?

    1. Yes, it’s confusing because, according to guidelines, you’re not supposed to freeze cornstarch-based pastry cream, but we have frozen these with no problems. To be on the safe side, for an event, I might freeze the cookies without assembling them and then assemble them closer to the date.

  2. Hello! First off these are gorgeous…!!
    I have a question, that is I’m going to be making these to bring to an Italian event at my church on Sunday and since I am making multiple desserts which are pretty time consuming, I was wondering if there was any chance the cookies would still be good if I was to make them tonight, Friday, and then decorate them tomorrow? (i.e. dipping them and rolling in sugar. Also could the dip be made today?)
    Thank you 😊

    1. Yes, absolutely! That’s what my mom does too – definitely done in stages and the cookies are better if a little dry so they absorb more of the syrup. Hope you love them

      1. Would the Jello mixture jell if made the day before and not dip the cookies until the day after?

    1. My mom has used instant drink powders in the past – the color is important – opt for orange or red (fruit punch would work well). There is not much peach flavor in this cookie so don’t worry about that part. It’s more a description of its appearance.

  3. Hi Marie
    I have my Mom’s recipe for the peach cookies but them crack on top when
    they bake, her recipe doesn’t have the milk,
    do you think that is why they crack?
    Do your cookies crack on the top?

    1. Yes, it’s correct. Italians in America are notorious for baking large quantities to share and also for special events. There is a slider on the recipe so that you can approximately quantities for making 1/2 the recipe. Hope that helps

  4. 5 stars
    HI MARIE AFTER I MAKE THE COOKIE AND CARVE OUT THE BOTTOMS SHOULD I DIP THEM AND LET DRY OUT FOR I WANT TO FREEZE THE COOKIE AND THEN FILL THEM THE DAY BEFORE IN ABOUT A WEEK?…OR SHOULD I FREEZE THE COOKIES AND THEN DIP AFTER TAKING THEM OUT OF THE FREEZER.? IF AFTER TAKING OUT OF THE FREEZER WILL I BE ABLE TO DIP THEM OR SHOULD I WAIT FOR THEM TO THAW…..I APPRECIATE ANY TIPS ON THIS METOD THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR REPLY….CELESTE IADEROSA

    1. I would carve and freeze them but you can try to freeze one or 2 finished ones to see what you think for next time you make them. Remember not to cover the cookies after the are ready to go/decorated.

  5. 5 stars
    Dear friends helped me make these for the cookie table at my daughters wedding. HUGE hit! We made them 5 days early, kept in an airtight container and they were perfect!

  6. 5 stars
    Delicious cookies… I made them last week for the “Pittsburgh Cookie Table” at my nephews wedding. Cookies were a big hit and they were beautiful!

    1. Hi Pat- there is a video (see the post where is says “Video tutorials” (there is a video for each step in the process, you have to click on the text for each part and it will take you to the video). Also, the recipe above for the peach syrup is shown:
      1 cup sugar
      ▢2 cups water divided (1 cup and 1 cup)
      ▢1 stick cinnamon
      ▢2 tbsp vanilla extract
      ▢1 medium orange peel only
      ▢1 medium lemon peel only
      ▢1 box peach flavored jello
      ▢½ tsp red food coloring more as needed
      ▢peach liquor optional (I didn’t use)

      1. Thank you for replying. 30 cookies are too much for 12 people.
        If I cut recipe in half, is there anything I should know? Need to make them this week. Thanks in advance.

      2. I don’t think so? you can always just freeze the other half as well (another option) I even eat them straight from the freezer 🙂 Airtight container

    1. They do freeze beautifully! Just make sure that they are loose when you freeze them. If you have the Freezer space, you can place the filled and decorated cookies on a cookie sheet, freeze them, and then move into a freezer bag once they are frozen. I would not put the leaves in the cookies prior to freezing them – that’s the only change I would make.

  7. After assembling the cookies and putting sugar and mint on top do I have to keep them refrigerated in an airtight container?

    1. Yes, they must’ve kept refrigerated unlik serving and you shouldn’t cover them ….they are quite moist and they won’t dry out.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating