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.
Traditional Italian Christmas Cookies
Soft, chewy, coated in powder sugar, and with an incredible flavor of almonds and orange zest. Ricciarelli are traditional Italian almond cookies from Siena in Tuscany, Italy. They're most common around the holidays and Christmas, but you can enjoy them all year long!
Sweet and crumbly, with a hint of salt and vanilla. These Christmas sugar cookies are super easy to make and are classic Italian Christmas cookies. They're not a regional recipe, they're simple and humble and that's why everybody loves them! A double dough of chocolate and vanilla to please everybody. They will make a beautiful cookie box to gift to your family and friends.
Struffoli or Italian Honey Balls are tiny balls of fried dough tossed in a delicious sticky honey sauce and decorated with festive sprinkles. It's such a fun and impressive Italian Christmas dessert that the whole family can get involved in making!
Canestrelli cookies are a tender cut-out shortbread cookie with an irresistible melt-in-your-mouth texture. Flavored with butter, lemon zest, and vanilla bean, these Italian Egg Yolk Cookies are the perfect shortbread for afternoon tea or holiday cookie trays.
These Cuccidati (Italian Fig Cookies) are appropriately festive with a snowy white glaze and colored sprinkles. Take a bite and you know it's Christmas time. Cuccidati are full of dried fruits, toasted nuts, spices, and a touch of liqueur.
Whether you choose to make these cookies with anise or without, they always seem to be a crowd-pleaser. Since this recipe makes a lot of cookies, they also make the perfect treats to bring along to a holiday gathering or family get-together.
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 be with or without almond paste and there’s even a paleo option. Regardless of which version you make, there are only five ingredients!
If the sound of putting ricotta cheese in cookies is bizarre to you, let me assure you that they do not taste like cheese! These cookies are like sugar cookies! They’re easy to make and absolutely delicious to eat!
Pizzelle are traditional from Southern Italy and are crunchy flat crispy vanilla cookies with a press-on design, then powder sugar on top. A classic Italian dessert that’s perfect for parties and gift-giving!
Lemony cookies topped with a sweetened glaze and fun colorful sprinkles. These are classic Italian cookies that you can serve all year-round but are very popular around the holidays.
Soft amaretti (amaretti morbidi) are popular gluten-free Italian almond cookies and you can make them with just 3 ingredients. They are deliciously crisp outside and soft and chewy inside, making them one of the most loved Italian desserts.
Mostaccioli are Christmas cookies which are extremely popular in southern Italy, particularly among Neapolitans. They are dense, spiced, and covered in chocolate. The perfect Christmas treat.
Bonus Recipe:
Biscotti are not a Christmas cookie per see as they are usually made all year-round, but this version with Orange and Chocolate brings a special Christmas vibe to the table!
Happy Holidays and Happy Baking!
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