Italian Christmas Cookies, 15+ of the best Italian cookies! Perfect for Christma and some of the best cookie exchange cookies! A wide assortment of tasty cookies including traditional and authentic Italian cookies, and some creative gourmet cookies just for fun!
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15+ Italian Christmas Cookies, for all those cookie trays and Christmas desserts this year! I put together a list of some traditional and authentic Italian cookies, and some not so traditional Italian Christmas Cookies. Nonetheless, all these Italian cookies sound delicious!
I love cookies and have so many cookie recipes it’s kind of crazy. There’s also this great list of easy homemade Gourmet Cookies with lots of good ones for this time of year.
I should mention these Italian cookies aren’t necessarily served at Christmas in Italy. But they’re all Italian inspired and great for this time of year. Whether you’re having a holiday party, cookie exchange, or giving out cookie trays I think there’s something for everyone.
ITALIAN CHRISTMAS COOKIES
1. Cannoli Cookies (Snappy Gourmet) – These cookies are SO popular! I get nonstop emails and comments about this recipe. No, it’s not a very “authentic” Italian Christmas cookie, but a fun twist on the tasty cannoli, an Italian pastry. These Cannoli Cookies are full of flavor including ricotta cheese, cinnamon, orange, pistachios, and chocolate chips. These cookies have been going crazy on Pinterest, so check it out. If you’re a cannoli fan like me, you might want to check out all my other fun cannoli recipes like dip, cake, milkshake, brownies, pancakes, and more. I’m a little cannoli crazed around here!
2. Wine Cookies Ciambelle al Vino (An Italian In My Kitchen): Light and crunchy Italian cookies made with wine! Can’t beat that, right? For these cookies, you make short chubby ropes out of the dough, bring the ends together, dip them in sugar, and bake in the oven.
3. Florentine Cookies (Culinary Ginger): Lace cookies made from chopped almonds, orange, and vanilla with a chocolate filling. They are so pretty and I bet they would be great with a big cup of coffee. I need these in my life!
4. Pizzelles (Williams Sonoma): You’ll need a pizzelle maker to make these Italian cookies. A pizzelle maker would be a great holiday gift to yourself, right? These pizzelle are thin and crispy and flavored with a little lemon and vanilla. Or change out the flavoring with your favorite extracts.
5. Amaretto Tricolor Cookies (Karen’s Kitchen Stories): Also known as Neapolitan cookies or Italian Rainbow Cookies. The most common version is red, white, and green to represent the colors of the Italian flag, but check out this fun version with Amaretto, almond, and apricot jam.
6. Italian Lemon Cookies (Growing Up Gabel): These cute round lemon cookies, are frosted and covered in sprinkles. Such a fun Italian cookie! I have a similar Italian Lemon Cookie too and as well as an almond version, Italian Sprinkle Cookies, and an anise version, Italian Anise Cookie.
7. Double Chocolate Biscotti (Namely Marly): You can find biscotti all over now, but if you’ve never tried making it yourself, give it a try! They are a bit of work and need to be baked twice. There are all sorts of flavors and variations, but check out this chocolate version. Biscotti has always been one of my family’s favorite Italian Christmas cookies.
8. Amaretti Cookies (King Arthur Flour): Easy Italian almond flour cookies with egg whites and a little almond extract. Another great cookie to serve with a cup of coffee, espresso, cappuccino, or latte.
9. Italian Fig Cookies (Saving Room For Dessert): Also known as Cucidati in Italian,. These cookies are moist, tender, and have a sweet fig filling with a touch of lemon and orange. They have a simple lemon glaze and sprinkles.
10. Italian Anisette “S” Cookies (Wishes and Dishes): These “S” shaped cookies are flavored with anise extract (think black licorice) and topped with a simple sugar glaze and sprinkles.
11. Pignoli Cookies (Food Network): These Pignoli, or pine nut cookies, are made with almond paste, honey, cinnamon, egg whites, lemon zest, and of course pine nuts. Easy!
12. Mostaccioli Cookies (Giada de Laurentiis): Chocolate cookies with cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon, orange, and rum. Topped with a simple chocolate frosting. Delicious and perfect for chocolate lovers.
13. Ugly But Good Cookies (Food and Wine): Or known as Biscotti Brutti ma Buoni, the name says it all for these Italian cookies made primarily of hazelnuts. They’re not the prettiest of cookies but still tasty.
14. Lady Kisses (David Lebovitz): Or also known as Baci di Dama, these hazelnut cookie sandwiches have a chocolate filling. Can’t beat chocolate and hazelnut together. One of my favorite combos.
15. Strufoli (Epicurious): Small pieces of fried dough coated in honey and sprinkles. I personally would consider this more of a pastry, but many call it an Italian cookie so thought I’d include them since they can be quite popular and perfect for Christmas time.
16. Tiramisu Cookies (Snappy Gourmet): Not traditional, but a fun creative cookie inspired by the popular Italian dessert.
What are your favorite Italian Christmas Cookies? Would love to hear about all your favorite Italian cookies in the comments below!
Want some fun cocktails to serve with these cookies? Check out my
- Cranberry Limoncello Spritzer – A light and refreshing cocktail with cranberry juice and limoncello.
- Tiramisu Martini – Inspired by the popular Italian dessert.
- Mississippi Mudtin – Lots of chocolate in this one!
- Cannoli Martini – Another fun cocktail inspired by the popular Italian dessert.
Still Christmas shopping? Check out my Easy Stocking Stuffer Ideas with 100+ great ideas to choose from for everyone on your list.
This post was originally published in November 2017, but updated in December 2020 with additional information.
Clorinda says
I make Italian and many kinds of cookies for the Holidays.Just added more from your site….THANK YOU !
Lisa Huff says
Great, hope you like them!
Angela Sciurca says
You can’t do an Italian Cookie Tray and not include Biscotti Regina, the sesame seed cookies. They also are a little time consuming, but they make so many, it’s worth the time spent. My family looks forward to this display every year. We are having a cookie exchange in a few weeks and I can’t wait to see what the family comes up with. Thanks for the memories.
joan cox says
I haven’t done much baking this summer because of the heat but I really love doing cookies of any sort and am ready to experiment
Lisa Huff says
I love experimenting. :) Hope you find a recipe you like here.
Sarah says
Oh my gosh….I’m so glad I came across this post! I was given a recipe years ago by a friend who got it from an Italian friend. I never knew what to call them except “Italian S Cookies” but I always wanted the proper name. My recipe, however, falls between the Wine Cookie and the Anissette Cookie recipes… It’s more similar to the anissette recipe but it calls for rum instead of anise extract, or instead of wine. They are an absolute Christmastime staple, they offset some of the rich chocolate cookies. Have you heard of this? What would this recipe be called?
Lisa Huff says
Thanks! I have seen a lot of recipes for S cookies but unfortunately, I don’t remember seeing any with rum. I think I’d just experiment and try to recreate on your own. :)
AMY Castronova says
my mother and her sisters (my aunts) WOULD MAKE THE MOST WONDERFUL COOKIES CALLED WANDES .VERY TIME CONSUMING BUT SO WORTH IT.THE ARE A FRIED COOKIE. WHILE HOT SPRINKLE WHITH POWERED SUGER YUM!!
Lisa Huff says
Oh sounds fabulous! Thanks for sharing!
Lucy @ Supergoldenbakes says
They all sound like great Italian cookies. Good it’s not quite December yet – there’s still plenty of time to bake a few of them.
chris says
Oh wow, cookie heaven! I can see me eating my way through that entire list without stopping for air! Thanks for sharing :)
Monica | Nourish & Fete says
I am always amazed at the huge variety of Christmas cookies out there. So many of these look fantastic – what a festive and delicious holiday spread!
Suzy | The Mediterranean Dish says
Calling my name! Which to start with?!!
Ben Myhre says
I don’t know what my favorite is, but I tell you what… I will eat all the cannolis