Make your holiday special with these Italian Christmas cookies that taste like they came right out of Grandma's kitchen.
29 Nonna-Approved Italian Christmas Cookies
Italian Christmas Cookies
A single batch of these ricotta cheese cookies is never enough. I usually make one to give away and two more to keep at home. The ricotta cheese makes the morsels extra moist. —Doris Marshall, Strasburg, Pennsylvania
Italian Christmas cookies happen to be some of the most popular Christmas cookies in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.
1/29
2/29
Italian Horn Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My family has been making these delicate, fruit-filled Italian horn cookies for generations. They’re light and flaky, with the look of an elegant old-world pastry. —Gloria Siddiqui, Houston, Texas
4/29
Torcetti
Total Time
45 min
Servings
6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Our Sicilian grandmother often had my sister and me roll out the dough for these tasty torcetti. Their melt-in-your-mouth goodness is delicious without being overly sweet.—Joy Quici, Upland, California
5/29
Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
40 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
Chocolate, pistachios and cranberries make a dramatic, delicious trio. Introducing the cranberries to this recipe added tartness, texture and color, too. —Gilda Lester, Millsboro, Delaware
6/29
Anise Sugar Cookies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
As much as I love giving away my baking, a few goodies—like these anise sugar cookies—are keepers. The light anise flavor and buttery texture make them a perfect Christmas treat. —P. Marchesi, Rocky Point, Long Island, New York
7/29
Chocolate Amaretti
Total Time
35 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These classic almond paste cookies are like ones you'd find in an Italian bakery. My husband and children are always excited when I include these goodies in my holiday baking lineup. —Kathy Long, Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
8/29
Pizzelle Cookies
Total Time
20 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These lovely, golden brown anise pizzelle cookies have a crisp texture and delicate anise flavor. I create them using a pizzelle iron. —Barbara Colucci, Rockledge, Florida
9/29
Chocolate Fruit N Nut Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Filled with fruit, nuts, chocolate and loads of flavor, these traditional Italian treats hit the spot. We enjoy them at Christmas with a hot beverage.
Here are all of the best vintage Christmas cookies to make this year.
10/29
Cuccidati
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The compliments from family and friends make these Sicilian cookies worth the effort. It’s the best recipe I’ve found! —Carolyn Fafinski, Dunkirk, New York
11/29
Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Pizzelle
Total Time
20 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I've experimented with different varieties of pizzelle recipes, but this is definitely a favorite. My dad likes to help make them so that we don't run out!—Aimee McCullen, Youngwood, Pennsylvania
12/29
Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I recently found this old family recipe in my mom’s kitchen. I made a few adjustments to streamline the process, and the cookies turned out wonderfully. —Shawn Barto, Winter Garden, Florida
13/29
Italian Sesame Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
8 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These nontraditional European cookies aren’t overly sweet and have a wonderful crunch from sesame seeds. They’re the ideal accompaniment to a freshly brewed cup of coffee or tea.—Sarah Knoblock, Hyde Park, Indiana
14/29
Fruitcake Christmas Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
As holiday gifts, these rich fruit-and nut-filled cookies are pretty and practical. These are great make ahead Christmas cookies —the taste actually gets better over time! —Julia Funkhouser, Carson, Iowa
15/29
Almond Chocolate Biscotti
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My neighbors look forward to getting my gifts of these chocolate-covered cookies. I love that this chocolate biscotti recipe is such a cinch to make. —Ginger Chatfield, Muscatine, Iowa
16/29
Italian Cenci Cookies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother brought this special family recipe from Europe a century ago. Cenci can be “dressed up” for any holiday—at Easter, I sprinkle yellow, pink and lavender jelly beans over them, and for Christmas, red and green candy sprinkles give the cenci a festive look. Even without the garnish, they always disappear fast! —Anna Coduto, Fullerton, California
17/29
Tender Italian Sugar Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These traditional Italian cookies are moist and tender. —Weda Mosellie, Phillipsburg, New Jersey
18/29
Holiday Biscotti
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A twice-baked Italian cookie, biscotti makes a wonderful "dunker." A pretty way to present a batch is on a seasonal plate arranged in a wagon-wheel fashion. —Libia Foglesong, San Bruno, California
19/29
Pignoli Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Cookies are the crown jewels of Italian confections. I can’t let a holiday go by without baking these traditional almond cookies rolled in mild pine nuts. —Maria Regakis, Saugus, Massachusetts
20/29
Hazelnut Almond Biscotti
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Pour a cup of coffee and indulge! Crisp, crunchy biscotti cookies are perfect for dunking. Hazelnuts and almonds make my favorite version even better. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona
21/29
Citrus Almond Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These frosted goodies were a "must" every Christmas in my mother's family. I think the blend of milk chocolate, toasted almonds, lemon and orange is cookie perfection.
22/29
Italian Honey Clusters
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother made these treats, known as struffoli in Italian, for neighbors, teachers and anyone who stopped by. This is an Easter, Christmas and special-occasion classic, and many call them cookies even though these are honey-coated bits of deep-fried dough. —Sarah Knoblock, Hyde Park, Indiana
23/29
Gingerbread Amaretti Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The classic Italian cookie gets a new gingerbread twist! Don’t overbake—they should be slightly chewy. —Tina Zaccardi, Eastchester, New York
If you want to try more Italian recipes, learn to make these gluten-free amaretti cookies.
24/29
Almond-Ricotta Twists
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
about 6-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A very dear friend gave me this recipe so I make these to remind me of our time together. I like to drizzle melted white chocolate or chocolate chips on the baked cookies.—Paula Prechtl, Brockport, Pennsylvania
25/29
Italian Lemon Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Christmas wouldn't be the same without my grandmother's cookies. A plate full of these light and zesty cookies is divine! —Elisabeth Miller, Broadview Heights, Ohio
26/29
Italian Wedding Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 7 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Of all the Italian cookie recipes I make, this is my favorite. These sprinkle cookies take some time, but, believe me, they are well worth it! My husband and I used to operate an Italian American restaurant, and this recipe goes back generations. —Gloria Cracchiolo, Newburgh, New York
27/29
Hazelnut-Espresso Sandwich Cookies
Total Time
55 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The inspiration for this cute cookie came from my sister's description of a hazelnut cookie she tried in Italy. She declared my version to be a wonderful approximation. My family likes to help fill and trim them. —Cindy Beberman, Orland Park, Illinois
28/29
Italian Cornmeal Spritz Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
5-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A chef at a local culinary school gave me this recipe, and I've been using it for years. Italian cornmeal cookies are from the Piedmont region of northern Italy. They're not too sweet, and the glazed cherries add just the right touch. — Kristine Chayes, Smithtown, New York
29/29
Anise & Wine Cookies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
4-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandmother did not speak English very well, but she knew the language of great food. These wine cookies are crisp and best eaten after being dunked in even more wine.—Julia Meyers, Scottsdale, Arizona
