Step 1

If you prefer, dough can be made the day before which makes it nice and chilled to work with, or you can start scooping them right after you make the dough but probably you will have to chill it for a while as you're making the cookies and the dough stays out. I sometimes stick it in the freezer for a few minutes to get it to firm up again.

Step 2

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until fluffy, add eggs one at a time, then the extract and zest.

Step 3

In a smaller bowl whisk the flour, salt and baking powder, then slowly add to the creamed mixture alternately with the milk, you might not have to use all the milk.

Step 4

When everything is incorporated, let the dough rest for 5 minutes or wrap and chill overnight.

Step 5

Heat oven to 350 degrees. and place cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Step 6

To form the knots I like to use a cookie scoop so all will be similar in size, then take the scoop of dough and roll it into a log about 5 or 6 inches, it's the length of a bench scraper, that's how I measure mine.

Step 7

Then take one side of the log and spiral it into a circle, you can tuck the other end down or up, it doesn't matter.

Step 8

Bake for 12 to 15 minutes according to your oven, mine took exactly 12 minutes, you want the underneath to be golden brown, not dark brown.

Step 9

Cool on racks.

Step 10

LIMONCELLO ICING

Step 11

One and one half cups of powdered sugar

Step 12

Five tablespoons of limoncello Liqueur

Step 13

zest of 1 lemon

Step 14

TRADITIONAL LEMON ICING

Step 15

One and one half cups of powdered sugar

Step 16

zest of 1 lemon

Step 17

One half teaspoon of lemon extract

Step 18

and lemon juice to get the right consistency.

Step 19

I always taste my icing to make sure it has the right amount of lemon, you can always add more, and I also like to brush my icing on instead of dipping., personal preference.

Step 20

After frosting immediately put your sprinkles on and then let the whole cookie dry for about an hour.

Step 21

You can keep them in tins with wax paper in between, or you can freeze them in an airtight container right after they bake and cool down, then frost them a day or two ahead before you'll be eating them.