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    Home » Classic Italian Recipes » 12 Traditional Italian Christmas Cookies Recipes

    12 Traditional Italian Christmas Cookies Recipes

    Published: Dec 2, 2021 · Modified: Sep 16, 2022 by Jessica Montanelli · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    There's nothing better than a tray full of Christmas cookies, or baking cookies with your kids to gift in nice cookie boxes to friends and family. If you enjoy baking and making Christmas cookie boxes, this list of traditional Italian Christmas Cookies will be perfect for this year's holiday baking!

    Soft, crunchy, chewy, sticky. We love all kinds of Christmas cookies! And if you're tired of the same old cookies and want to change it up this year to surprise your friends and family, you need to try these traditional Italian cookies!

    From north to south, each region has its own traditions, especially around the holidays. While some recipes are now spread and common all throughout Italy, some are still very bound to its regional traditions and each family has its own secret recipe.

    These recipes travel from family to family, to bring the Italian flavors and Christmas cheers to your home too.

    If instead, you want to try worldwide, check also these 15 Christmas Cookies from around the World.

    italian christmas cookies roundup

    Traditional Italian Christmas Cookies

    Jump to:
    • Traditional Italian Christmas Cookies
    • "Ricciarelli" Tuscan Almond Cookies
    • Italian Simple Sugar Cookies
    • "Struffoli" Honey Balls
    • "Canestrelli" Egg Yolk Cookies
    • "Cuccidati" Fig Cookies
    • Anisette Cookies
    • Pignoli Cookies
    • Ricotta Cookies
    • Pizzelle
    • Glazed Italian Christmas Cookies
    • Amaretti Cookies
    • Mostaccioli
    • Bonus Recipe - Chocolate Orange Biscotti
    • Useful tools you may need to make Christmas Cookies

    "Ricciarelli" Tuscan Almond Cookies

    "Ricciarelli di Siena" Italian Almond Cookies
    A soft sugary cookie similar to a macaron, with chewy almond and orange center. These traditional Tuscan cookies are a perfect Christmas treat.
    Check out this recipe
    italian almond cookies on a plate
    italian almond cookies on a plate

    Italian Simple Sugar Cookies

    Italian Christmas Sugar Cookies
    Crumbly and buttery sugar cookies cut out in all your favorite Christmas shapes. They're simple and classic, like most Italian recipes.
    Check out this recipe
    overhead of a cookie box full of christmas vanilla and chocolate sugar cookies
    hand taking a vanilla christmas sugar cookie from a cookie box

    "Struffoli" Honey Balls

    Struffoli - Italian Honey Balls
    Struffoli or Italian Honey Balls are tiny balls of fried dough tossed in a sticky honey sauce and decorated with festive sprinkles.
    Check out this recipe
    platter of struffoli, italian christmas honey balls
    platter of struffoli, italian christmas honey balls

    "Canestrelli" Egg Yolk Cookies

    Canestrelli (Italian Egg Yolk Cookies)
    These melt-in-your mouth Canestrelli cookies are a tender, buttery shortbread cookie flavored with a hint of lemon zest and vanilla bean.
    Check out this recipe
    flower shaped cookies italian canestrelli on a blue table dusted with powder sugar
    flower shaped cookies italian canestrelli on a blue table dusted with powder sugar

    "Cuccidati" Fig Cookies

    Cuccidati {Italian Christmas classic}
    Italian Fig Cookies known as Cuccidati are perfect for Christmas, filled with dried fruits and nuts and deeply scented with spices and liqueurs.
    Check out this recipe
    Rows of cuccidati fig cookies on a cookie sheet, decorated with glaze and sprinkles

    Anisette Cookies

    Italian Anisette Cookies
    These anisette cookies will have all your guests swooning. These classic Italian goodies are a holiday favorite, make a batch for your next gathering!
    Check out this recipe
    plate full of anisette cookies

    Pignoli Cookies

    Pignoli Cookies - With or Without Almond Paste
    These pignoli cookies are incredibly quick and easy to make and are a typical Italian cookie with a crisp exterior and chewy interior. They can…
    Check out this recipe
    stack of pignoli cookies on a plate

    Ricotta Cookies

    Italian Ricotta Cookies
    These Italian Ricotta Cookies are super soft and absolutely delicious. Topped with an almond glaze and sprinkles! They are sure to become a family favorite!
    Check out this recipe
    stack of frosted ricotta cookies in front of a green milk bottle

    Pizzelle

    Pizzelle Recipe
    This pizzelle recipe is flat crispy vanilla flavored cookies that are baked in an iron, then finished with a dusting of powdered sugar.
    Check out this recipe
    pizzelle layed on top of each other on a plate

    Glazed Italian Christmas Cookies

    Best Italian Christmas Cookies
    Best Italian Christmas Cookies - lemony cookies with a sweetened glaze and colorful sprinkles. My mother’s recipe perfect for entertaining.
    Check out this recipe

    Amaretti Cookies

    Amaretti Cookies - Italian Almond Cookies
    Soft amaretti (amaretti morbidi) are popular gluten-free Italian almond cookies made with just 3 ingredients.
    Check out this recipe

    Mostaccioli

    Mostaccioli di Mamma
    These traditional Italian Mostaccioli are almond based, soft,chocolaty, spicy, honey-flavored cookies-a must for your Christmas cookie platter.
    Check out this recipe

    Bonus Recipe - Chocolate Orange Biscotti

    Chocolate Orange Biscotti
    A delicious orange-flavored crunchy Biscotti with dark chocolate chips. The perfect end-of-meal dessert or afternoon snack.
    Check out this recipe
    closeup of orange chocolate biscotti
    tray full of orange and chocolate biscotti

    Useful tools you may need to make Christmas Cookies

    Cookies come in all shapes and form but below list of tools may come useful to make your cookies quicker and easier and be able prepare double batches in no time to gift to your friends, neighbors, and family.

    • A reusable silicone baking mat. If you plan on baking lots of cookies, the best way is to have these silicone baking mats which can be reused many times and can be easily cleaned.
    • Christmas cookie cutters. It's not Christmas without some sugar cookies. You can make them with your kids, decorate, frost or leave them as they are. These cookie cutters have an easy grip perfect for kids and all the fun Christmas shapes.
    • Cookie baking sheets. The best way to make double batches of cookies, is to have double of everything so you can get your cookies ready on multiple sheets while the first batch is baking.
    • Cooling racks. And of course, to ensure soft and chewy cookies, you must have cooling racks ready! This amazing 3 tier cooling rack is collapsible and takes no space when you don't need it.
    • Christmas cookie boxes. If you plan on gifting cookies to your loved ones, the best way is to present them in these adorable Christmas themed cookie boxes!

    Have you tried one of these cookie recipes and loved it? Then share this post with your friends and family!

    Happy Holidays and Happy Baking!

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    Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm an Italian who moved to the Netherlands with a true passion for food, travel, and everything handmade. I love to experiment, learn new skills, and share my knowledge about everything I do!

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