Published: · Modified: by Jessica Montanelli · This post may contain affiliate links.
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
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
- ★ SAVE THIS RECIPE ★
"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.
Total Time to make: 30 minutes minutes
5 from 3 votes
Check out this recipe
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.
Total Time to make: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
5 from 2 votes
Check out this recipe
"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.
"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.
"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.
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!
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…
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!
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.
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.
Amaretti Cookies
Amaretti Cookies - Italian Almond Cookies
Soft amaretti (amaretti morbidi) are popular gluten-free Italian almond cookies made with just 3 ingredients.
Mostaccioli
Mostaccioli di Mamma
These traditional Italian Mostaccioli are almond based, soft,chocolaty, spicy, honey-flavored cookies-a must for your Christmas cookie platter.
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.
Total Time to make: 40 minutes minutes
5 from 2 votes
Check out this recipe
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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