17 Best Italian Christmas Cookies: Recipes for Joy

In Italy, the custom of baking and sharing cookies during the Christmas season is a cherished family activity. It is seen as a way to pass down traditional recipes and techniques from generation to generation. 

Although we lived in the United States, my Italian family participated in this tradition. Every year we baked Italian Christmas cookies and desserts that were shared with family and friends throughout the holidays.

At this time of year, the house always smelled like fresh baked cookies and a plethora of Italian Christmas desserts. It was the best air freshener ever!

If you’d like that Italian Christmas cookie aroma in your own kitchen, I have some great recipes that you will love!

Italian Christmas Cookies

Grab your cookie sheets, wire rack, parchment paper, and mixing bowl, and let’s get started!

If you’re not a big baker, the general rule is to mix your dry ingredients (small bowl) and wet ingredients (large bowl) separately. Then slowly add your dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.

But don’t worry, detailed recipes for each cookie are provided!

1. Italian Ricotta Cookies

Italian Ricotta Cookies are always popular during the holiday season.

Main Ingredients: All-purpose flour, whole milk ricotta cheese, sugar, eggs, unsalted butter, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla extract, and almond extract.

If you hear someone generically mention Italian Christmas cookies, they most likely will be talking about Italian Ricotta Cookies.

One of the classic Italian sprinkle cookies, these beauties use one of the most popular Italian cheeses, ricotta, as the base.

Ricotta cheese is a staple in many Italian dishes, both sweet and savory. It gives Ricotta Cookies a subtle sweetness and soft, cake-like texture that is almost creamy. If you want authentic Italian cookies, do not substitute cottage cheese!

The tops of the cookies are drizzled with a sweet sugar glaze and then decorated with colorful sprinkles. In addition to their deliciousness, their festive appearance makes them one of the most popular Italian cookies for Christmas.
Italian Ricotta Cookies Recipe

2. Amaretti Cookies

Italian Amaretti cookies — Amaretti Cookies, one of the most traditional Italian cookies for Christmas. Photo by Organically Addison

Main Ingredients: Almond flour, almond extract or Amaretto, sugar, egg whites, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar.

Amaretti Cookies are one of the most traditional Italian Christmas cookies. There are, however, two different types of Amaretti Cookies: crispy and soft. Both are naturally gluten-free.

The soft cookie has a more chewy consistency with an almost marzipan center. It looks like a squashed dough ball (in a good way) that’s dusted with powdered sugar. To me, the soft cookies are the preferred version for taste and presentation, especially for Christmastime.

Fun fact: The name “Amaretti” may sound like it means almonds, but it means “bitter,” which comes from the old-fashioned version of these cookies, in which bitter almonds were used. When I say “old-fashioned,” think Venice during the late Renaissance period.
Amaretti Cookies Recipe

3. Italian Wedding Cookies 

Main Ingredients: Whole almonds, all-purpose flour, salted butter, sugar, brandy, and powdered sugar.

Italian Wedding Cookies date back to medieval Arabic cuisine. Wait . . . Arabic cuisine? Yup, culinary historians say these cookies were brought to Europe by Arabs, and today, many countries have similar cookies with different names.

Russian Tea Cookies, Swedish Wedding Cookies, Mexican Wedding Cookies, and Snowball Cookies (they really do look like snowballs) all share the same origin.

Obviously, they are pretty special to be revered in so many countries and to be wedding worthy! Picture 1-inch balls of buttery, nutty, melt-in-your-mouth cookie covered in confectioners sugar. YUM!

During the holidays, when I see these balls of buttery goodness on a cookie tray, I cannot resist popping one in my mouth. Truth be told, I cannot resist them no matter what time of year it is!
Italian Wedding Cookies Recipe

4. Italian Rainbow Cookies

Main Ingredients: All-purpose flour, almond paste, large eggs, sugar, unsalted butter, food coloring, apricot jam, and chocolate chips.

Italian Rainbow Cookies are another cookie with many names. Tricolore, Venetians, Neapolitans, and 7-Layer cookies are all the same cookie. The funny thing is, I think they resemble layered petit fours more than cookies!

The red, green, and white layers are said to represent the Italian flag. These hues also make this the Christmas cookie recipe for the perfect color-coordinated holiday treat.

Heads-up: This recipe is best made in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
Italian Rainbow Cookies Recipe  

5. Italian Anise Cookies

Main Ingredients: All-purpose flour, unsalted butter, shortening, sugar, large eggs, anise extract, baking powder, and confectioners sugar.

Italian Anise Cookies (sometimes called Anisette Cookies) may look similar to the Italian sprinkle Christmas cookies made with ricotta—similar shape, a sweet glaze, and festive sprinkles. But one bite of an Italian Anise Cookie will let you know it’s way different.

Anise Cookies are almost as popular at Italian holiday celebrations as the Italian Ricotta Cookies, and they make a great addition to Christmas dessert tables. The biggest difference is the anise extract added to the cookie dough.

Originating from ancient Rome, this sweet, cake-like cookie was cherished not only for its distinctive licorice flavor, but also for its believed medicinal properties.

So, if you’re in need of a cookie cure, I’ve got the perfect Italian cookie recipe for you!
Italian Anise Cookies Recipe

6. Pignoli Cookies

Main Ingredients: Almond paste, sugar, egg whites, almond extract, and pine nuts.

Pignoli Cookies, aka Pine Nut Cookies, are a beloved Italian tradition of southern Italy, particularly Sicily and Calabria.

Have you noticed that many Italian Christmas cookie recipes incorporate almonds? This one does too. Although the star ingredient is unquestionably pine nuts, which are on top, the dough is mostly almonds. There is no all-purpose flour here either, so these cookies are always gluten-free.

They are often part of Italian Christmas celebrations, but my family loved them so much, I grew up eating them year-round on special occasions.

In New York, we could buy amazing Pignoli cookies at Italian bakeries. In California, we needed to make our own. And now I use this new recipe. 
Pignoli Cookies Recipe

7. Pizzelle

Pizzelle Cookies — Pizzelle, a waffle-like cookie from Italy. Photo by The Fresh Cooky

Main Ingredients: Flour, sugar, eggs, butter, vanilla extract, baking powder, and powdered sugar.

Pizzelle, a traditional waffle cookie from Italy, boasts a rich history that dates back to the 8th century in the Abruzzo region.

Initially, Pizzelle were crafted using irons heated over open flames. Over centuries, the design of Pizzelle irons evolved to include intricate patterns such as family crests.

This deep-rooted tradition has been passed down through generations, with each family often cherishing their own secret recipe and unique iron designs.

Today, Pizzelle are enjoyed during the Christmas season, other holidays, and weddings, cementing their place in Italian culinary heritage.

For this recipe, you will need a Pizzelle iron, but once you make these sweet treats once, you’ll make them again and again.

You can easily switch out vanilla for anise extract or lemon extract, or feel free to add your favorite flavors to make your own recipe. I have so many Italian Christmas cookies recipes, and at least a quarter of them are for Pizzelle!
Pizzelle Recipe

8. Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies

Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies, or Tutú. Photo by Enza’s Quail Hollow Kitchen

Main Ingredients: Flour, sugar, eggs, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins, and walnuts.

Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies, or Tutú as they are called in Sicily, were originally prepared to celebrate All Saints Day, essentially the Italian version of the Mexican Day of the Dead.

Tutú cookies can trace their origin back to ancient times, when the spice trade routes greatly influenced Italian cuisine. The combination of warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves with rich chocolate showcases Italy's historical connections to the Middle East and Mediterranean cuisines.

During the Dolce Natale (Sweet Christmas) period, these chocolate cookies with a simple glaze are commonly enjoyed with an espresso or sweet wine.
Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies

9. Ricciarelli di Siena

Ricciarelli di Sienna Cookies — Ricciarelli, an Italian Christmas cookie similar to a macaron

Main Ingredients: Almond flour, egg whites, orange or lemon zest, vanilla extract, almond extract, and powdered sugar.

No list of Christmas cookies from Italy would be complete without Ricciarelli. As the name suggests, this Tuscan specialty hails from Siena, where Ricciarelli are so revered there’s a local consortium to ensure their authenticity.

Likened to the Parisian dessert macarons, these tender cookies have a light, chewy texture and almond flavor similar to that of the famous French culinary specialty.

Traditionally, Ricciarelli are shaped by hand into diamond or oval forms and dusted with powdered sugar.
Ricciarelli Recipe

10. Cuccidati

Main Ingredients: Dried figs, dates, raisins, orange marmalade, orange peel, brandy, flour, eggs, and shortening.

Confession time: I didn’t realize Cuccidati, Italian fig cookies, were a cookie and not an Italian pastry until I was an adult. My Italian family loved them so much, they made them extra large pastry sized.

Whether you call it a Christmas cookie recipe or a pastry recipe (guilty), the holiday season would not be the same at our house without baking Cuccidati.

The cookies are stuffed with the fig mixture by rolling out the dough, topping it with fig filling, and folding the dough over to make a long tube. The stuffed dough is then sliced into different shapes like diamonds, rectangles, or bracelets.

Once they’re baked, the cookies are dipped into a creamy glaze made from simple icing ingredients.
Cucciadati Recipe

11. Florentine Cookies

Main Ingredients: Almond flour, slivered almonds, orange zest, chocolate chips, sugar, heavy cream, and butter.

Florentine cookies also go by Biscotti Fiorentini, Chocolate Florentine Cookies, Chocolate Lace Cookies, Lace Cookies, and a few other names using the same words in different combinations.

Their origin can be traced back to the Medici family’s pastry chef in Florence during the mid-15th century. Legend has it these delicate cookies were created as an homage to the intricate craftsmanship and beauty of Florentine lace, hence, a few of the cookies’ names include the word “lace.”

If you prefer a cookie that’s more of a candy, these are the best Xmas cookies for you. Crispy, nutty, and chocolaty, they are so scrumptious! This is definitely one of my favorite Xmas cookie recipes to bake up for a cookie exchange!
Florentine Cookies Recipe

12. Biscotti

Maple Walnut Biscotti — Biscotti, the best Italian Christmas cookie for breakfast. Photo by Baked Abundance

Main Ingredients: All-purpose flour, maple extract, vanilla extract, butter, eggs, walnuts, turbinado sugar, and caramel chips.

These are the best cookies for Christmas morning!

The term biscotti comes from the Latin biscoctus, meaning "twice-cooked," highlighting the baking process that gives biscotti their distinctive crunch.

The twice-baked process not only makes an extra crunchy biscuit, it also makes biscotti very resistant to mold. That’s why Christopher Columbus brought biscotti on his voyage to the New World!

During the Renaissance, biscotti became popular among wealthy families across Italy and were often served with sweet wines. This Italian dessert custom still prevails today.

In the mornings, biscotti are one of the most typical Italian breakfast foods. At that time of day, however, they’re dunked in cappuccino or coffee instead of wine.

Today, Italians delight in many different flavors of biscotti, especially for the Christmas holidays. I like this Maple Walnut Biscotti for the season.
Maple Walnut Biscotti Recipe

13. Italian Chocolate Roll Cookies

Main Ingredients: Cream cheese, butter, all-purpose flour, chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, walnuts, vanilla extract, and cinnamon.

Granted, this is not one of the most traditional Italian Christmas cookie recipes, but I know Italian families that make them, and they are delicious.

Personally, I love cookie dough with cream cheese in the batter, and that’s reason enough for me to bake these addictive treats. They are also beautiful, and they make the perfect addition to any holiday table.

There is, however, something you should know before you set out to make these homemade Italian Christmas cookies. The cookie dough needs to be chilled a long time. It’s best to make it a day ahead and let it sit in the refrigerator in an airtight container overnight.
Italian Chocolate Roll Cookies Recipe

14. Italian Butter Cookies

Main Ingredients: All-purpose flour, baking powder, unsalted butter, sugar, powdered sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract.

I usually prefer cookies over cake. I think I can trace that preference back to the hundreds of Italian Butter Cookies (Biscotti al Burro) I ate at my Nonna’s and every other Italian household we visited.

Most times they were not homemade cookies. But still, I was always happy when my mom walked out of the bakery with Italian Butter Cookies for dessert instead of a cake.

In fact, I think of Biscotti al Burro as Italian bakery cookies. They are in every bakery in Italy and Little Italy in America, from NY to Chicago, San Francisco, and San Diego.

The best part about making Italian Butter Cookies from scratch is that you can decorate them however you like: different shapes, colors, frostings, cherries, sprinkles—anything goes!
Italian Butter Cookies Recipe

15. Baci di Dama

Main Ingredients: room temperature unsalted butter, sugar, ground hazelnuts, all-purpose flour, and semisweet chocolate.

Baci di Dama, translating to "lady's kisses," are a traditional Italian cookie for Christmas in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy.

The cookies' unique design, two hazelnut cookies held together by a little bit of chocolate, resemble two lips gently pressed together in a kiss. Or so they say.

First created in the 19th century in the town of Tortona, the sweet treat quickly became a favorite among noble families, particularly catching the attention of the House of Savoy.

Today, Baci di Dama are one of the most popular holiday Christmas cookies of the Piedmontese.
Baci di Dama Recipe

16. lemon Knots

Lemon Knot Cookies — Lemon Knots with peppermint sprinkles remind me of the famous Maryland food Lemon Sticks.

Main Ingredients: All-purpose flour, eggs, sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice.

Lemon Knots (also known as Tarallucci al Limone or Anginetti) have roots in the rich culinary traditions of Southern Italy, especially in Campania.

From the Amalfi Coast to Naples and Salerno, lemons are lovingly grown, harvested, eaten, and drunk, and their images are used to decorate linen, tiles, pottery—really anything.

They are a key ingredient in the cuisine of Campania, and the region’s most famous cocktail is the Lemon Spritz. I’m honestly shocked Campania isn’t flooded with Christmas cookie recipes with lemon as a main ingredient.

The trickiest part of this recipe is forming the knot shape. But do not fret: They don’t need to be uniform. Besides, the top of each lemon knot is usually decorated with a lemon glaze.
Lemon Knots Recipe

17. Nutellotti

Nutellotti, a Christmas cookie that tastes as good as it looks. Photo by XOXO Bella

Main Ingredients: Nutella, all-purpose flour, eggs, vanilla extract, chopped hazelnuts, heavy cream, butter, and powdered sugar.

The first time I went to Italy, I brought Nutella home in my suitcase because we couldn’t get it in the States. Now it’s readily available, so there’s no excuse not to make these showstoppers!

It’s a little known French food fact that France eats more Nutella than any other country. If you love Nutella as much as the French, these are the best Christmas cookies for you!

Furthermore, with their festive look, these soft Nutella cookies steal the spotlight on Christmas cookie platters and dessert tables.

Nutellotti are a thumbprint cookie filled with a creamy Nutella frosting. The combination of the soft cookie and the smooth texture of the frosting is pure decadence that can be happily excused at Christmastime.
Nutellotti Recipe

Italian Christmas Cookie Names

Are you wondering why some Italian cookies have multiple names? Besides the obvious translations, Italian cookie names are most likely to vary in different regions of Italy.

A particular cookie has origins in one region and then migrates to another, where it is rechristened with an adapted name.

For this list of Italian Christmas Cookies, I used the name in the recipe provided. That is also why some names are in English, and some are in Italian. I also believe the names I used are the most commonly used names in the U.S. for each cookie.

The good news is that no matter what you call any of these cookies, they’re still delicious!

Buon Natale!