These Italian Christmas cookies come in a wide variety of delicious flavors that are perfect for sharing with friends and family! They make a great addition to any cookie tray or holiday dessert spread. You can even gift these homemade Italian cookies to neighbors and coworkers to spread some Christmas cheer!

What better way to show your loved ones you care than by baking up some classic Italian Christmas cookies this holiday season? These traditional Italian recipes include everything from crisp biscottis to soft ricotta cookies!

Not only are these cookies great for snacking, but they make beautiful gifts as well as fantastic additions to any holiday dessert spread. Spread some holiday cheer this year with these unique and enjoyable Italian cookies!

These recipes include some of the most beloved holiday cookies from Italy. You may be familiar with some of these recipes and some may be totally new, but they are all delicious!

If you love holiday baking, take a look at my easy Christmas dessert recipes or try following my 25 days of Christmas cookies challenge!

1. Italian Ricotta Cookies

These Italian ricotta cookies are so soft due to the added moisture from the ricotta cheese. It also adds a slightly tangy flavor to the cookies that balances out their sweetness wonderfully!

Italian Ricotta Cookies (Italian Christmas Cookies)

Italian ricotta cookies are super soft, moist, and an incredibly easy-to-make classic holiday cookie that’s also amazingly delicious! Tender, sweet, yet slightly tangy cookies are covered with a bright lemon glaze and then topped with festive sprinkles! Moist, tender, and melt in your mouth – these cookies are going to be a new favorite!

Check out this recipe

2. Neapolitan Cookies

Neopolitan cookies don’t require any decorating because they are beautiful as-is! There are 3 layers: one layer is chocolate, one is loaded with walnuts, and one has a sweet almond flavor.

Italian ricotta cookies are super soft, moist, and an incredibly easy-to-make classic holiday cookie that’s also amazingly delicious! Tender, sweet, yet slightly tangy cookies are covered with a bright lemon glaze and then topped with festive sprinkles! Moist, tender, and melt in your mouth – these cookies are going to be a new favorite!

Neapolitan Cookies

My sister shared the recipe for these tricolor treats several years ago. The crisp cookies are fun to eat one section at a time or with all three in one bite. —Jan Mallo, White Pigeon, Michigan

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3. Pignoli Cookies

Pignoli cookies are a common confection throughout all of Italy, particularly in the south. These cookies are chewy with a lovely golden color and a crunchy pine nut coating!

My sister shared the recipe for these tricolor treats several years ago. The crisp cookies are fun to eat one section at a time or with all three in one bite. —Jan Mallo, White Pigeon, Michigan

Pignoli Cookies

These nutty pignoli cookies are easy to make with just almond paste, pine nuts, egg whites, and sugar for a deliciously chewy Italian treat!

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4. Torcetti

Torcetti are light and flaky Italian yeast cookies. The dough is twisted to give them their signature shape and just before baking they are rolled in sugar to give them a sweet crunch!

These nutty pignoli cookies are easy to make with just almond paste, pine nuts, egg whites, and sugar for a deliciously chewy Italian treat!

Torcetti

Our Sicilian grandmother often had my sister and me roll out the dough for these tasty torcetti. Their melt-in-your-mouth goodness is delicious without being overly sweet.—Joy Quici, Upland, California

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5. Italian Butter Cookies

These supremely buttery cookies can be found in cookie tins and grocery store bakeries, but they are often sandy and dry. Once you try them homemade you will never go back!

Our Sicilian grandmother often had my sister and me roll out the dough for these tasty torcetti. Their melt-in-your-mouth goodness is delicious without being overly sweet.—Joy Quici, Upland, California

Oftentimes, you will find jam sandwiched between two of these cookies. They also usually have rainbow sprinkles!

Italian Bakery Cookies

Get Italian Bakery Cookies Recipe from Food Network

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6. Biscotti

Biscotti are crisp Italian almond cookies that pair wonderfully with hot chocolate, tea, or coffee. They come in a wide assortment of flavors. These cranberry pistachio biscotti are perfect for Christmas!

Get Italian Bakery Cookies Recipe from Food Network

Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti

Crisp cranberry pistachio cookies are flavored with vanilla and almond and made with red cranberries and green pistachios for a festive holiday treat.

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7. Italian Fig Cookies (Cucidati)

Cucidati are traditionally made during Christmastime. The fillings vary in that some include nuts while others do not, some have chocolate added while many don’t, and some recipes even call for wine or coffee (and many call for brandy). At their core, they are cookies with a spiced fruit filling and a sweet citrus glaze.

Crisp cranberry pistachio cookies are flavored with vanilla and almond and made with red cranberries and green pistachios for a festive holiday treat.

Cucidati (Italian Fig Cookies) Recipe - Food.com

This is my favorite Cucidati recipe!!! These cookies are a little time consuming, but well worth the effort! It wouldn’t be Christmas in our house wit

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8. Chocolate Amaretti

Amaretti cookies are soft and chewy without being overly sweet. They combine rich chocolate and almond flavors for a delightfully well-balanced cookie! It’s hard to believe these amaretti cookies are dairy and gluten-free!

This is my favorite Cucidati recipe!!! These cookies are a little time consuming, but well worth the effort! It wouldn’t be Christmas in our house wit

Chocolate Amaretti Cookies

This recipe for chewy Italian Chocolate Amaretti Cookies combines almond flour with a few simple ingredients for delicious dairy and gluten-free chocolate cookies.

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9. Pizzelle

Pizzelle are beautifully ornate waffle cookies that make a wonderful addition to any cookie tray. A sprinkle of powdered sugar over the top makes them look like giant snowflakes!

This recipe for chewy Italian Chocolate Amaretti Cookies combines almond flour with a few simple ingredients for delicious dairy and gluten-free chocolate cookies.

Pizzelle

This pizzelle recipe makes a deliciously tender, classic waffle cookie that is pressed and baked on a special iron. Easy to make and customize.

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10. Pizzicati Pinch Cookies

Pizzicati cookies are buttery and crunchy with a sweet filling inside. ‘Pinch’ cookies get their name because you simply pinch the dough closed!

This pizzelle recipe makes a deliciously tender, classic waffle cookie that is pressed and baked on a special iron. Easy to make and customize.

Pizzicati filling is usually jam, though chocolate or Nutella can also be used.

Pizzicati Italian Pinch Cookies + 30 Cookie Recipes

Pizzicati Italian Pinch Cookies, a delicious crunchy Cookie Recipe. Traditionally filled with your favourite Jam or why not a little Nutella? These simple, buttery cookies make the perfect snack or even dessert. A little while ago I received a message from a reader telling me about this Italian Cook…

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11. Italian Lemon Cookies

There is no shortage of flavor in these Italian lemon cookies! First, lemon zest is mixed into the cookie dough.

Pizzicati Italian Pinch Cookies, a delicious crunchy Cookie Recipe. Traditionally filled with your favourite Jam or why not a little Nutella? These simple, buttery cookies make the perfect snack or even dessert. A little while ago I received a message from a reader telling me about this Italian Cook…

Then, the baked cookies are dipped into a sweet lemon glaze. Finally, you top them off with even more lemon zest! Talk about a lemon-flavored cookie!

You’ll Win The Christmas Cookie Exchange With Italian Lemon Cookies

These are knot your average cookie.

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12. Italian Rainbow Cookies

These amaretto cookies have 3 colored layers like Neapolitans. The difference is that these cookies are more like amaretto sponge cake than they are traditional cookies. The bottom 2 layers are coated with apricot preserves and the top is coated in chocolate!

These are knot your average cookie.

Rainbow Cookies

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13. Florentine Cookies

Crisp cookies made with chopped almonds, candied oranges, and vanilla. They are crunchy with a flavor similar to toffee that pairs well with coffee or tea.

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Florentine Cookies

Florentine cookies are lace cookies made from chopped almonds with orange & vanilla that are sandwiched with chocolate.

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14. Befanini

Befanini cookies are cut-out cookies that originated in Tuscany. These simple cookies are made with butter, flour, sugar, eggs, and just a pinch of salt. Sprinkle some colored sugar crystals or nonpareils on top for color and enjoy!

Florentine cookies are lace cookies made from chopped almonds with orange & vanilla that are sandwiched with chocolate.

Befanini Cookies with rainbow sprinkles - My Travel in Tuscany

Colored and delicious, Befanini cookies are one of the sweets of the Christmas tradition of Tuscany. Dedicated to La Befana, Kids love them.

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15. Cenci Cookies

Cenci, or Italian bowties, are basically sweet, crispy ribbons of dough. The dough is rolled out nice and thin, cut into these wavy ribbons, and deep-fried. Finally, they are topped off with a dusting of powdered sugar. Be careful, because nobody can eat just one!

Colored and delicious, Befanini cookies are one of the sweets of the Christmas tradition of Tuscany. Dedicated to La Befana, Kids love them.

Italian Cenci Cookies

My mother brought this special family recipe from Europe a century ago. Cenci can be “dressed up” for any holiday—at Easter, I sprinkle yellow, pink and lavender jelly beans over them, and for Christmas, red and green candy sprinkles give the cenci a festive look. Even without the garnish, they alwa…

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16. Italian Sugar Cookies

Italian sugar cookies are soft cake-like cookies with a smooth buttery flavor. A touch of anise is added to give the cookies a lightly spiced element. Top them off with an easy glaze and some nonpareil sprinkles for color!

My mother brought this special family recipe from Europe a century ago. Cenci can be “dressed up” for any holiday—at Easter, I sprinkle yellow, pink and lavender jelly beans over them, and for Christmas, red and green candy sprinkles give the cenci a festive look. Even without the garnish, they alwa…

The Best Italian Christmas Cookies

This lightly flavored anise Italian Christmas Cookies recipe is the best we’ve ever tasted. The buttery caky cookie melts in your mouth. The glaze and nonpareil sprinkles give the biscotti an elegant and festive look. They’re so colorful on your cookie tray and a real welcome at any cookie excange.…

Check out this recipe

17. Italian Honey Balls (Struffoli)

Struffoli are small deep-fried balls of dough that are about the size of a marble. The outside is crispy and the inside is somewhat soft. They are coated with warm honey before being topped off with sprinkles and sometimes nuts (hazelnuts in this case). Yum!

This lightly flavored anise Italian Christmas Cookies recipe is the best we’ve ever tasted. The buttery caky cookie melts in your mouth. The glaze and nonpareil sprinkles give the biscotti an elegant and festive look. They’re so colorful on your cookie tray and a real welcome at any cookie excange.…

Struffoli

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Check out this recipe

Was one of your favorite Italian Christmas cookies missing from this list? Let me know in the comments below so I can give them a try!

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🎄 More Holiday Baking

  • Pumpkin Pecan Tart - Now you don’t have to choose between pumpkin and pecan pie, you can have both!Chocolate Peppermint Blossoms - Rich chocolate cookies with a peppermint Hershey’s Kiss in the center. Polar Bear Paw Print Cookies - Adorable chocolate polar bear paws made with shredded coconut, M&Ms, and Peppermint Patties!Gumdrop Cookies - Delightfully soft cookies that are loaded with chewy gumdrop candies!Chocolate Pumpkin Pie - Your family and friends will enjoy the rich chocolate twist on this creamy pumpkin pie!Melting Moments - Soft and buttery shortbread cookies that will practically melt in your mouth!

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

📋 Recipe

Print Recipe Leave A Comment Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It! 5 from 6 reviews

Best Italian Christmas Cookies: Italian Ricotta Cookies (+More Great Recipes To Bake!)

These Italian Christmas cookies come in a wide variety of delicious flavors that are perfect for sharing with friends and family! They make a great addition to any cookie tray or holiday dessert spread. You can even gift these homemade Italian cookies to neighbors and coworkers to spread some Christmas cheer!

Author | Angela

Servings: 48 servings Calories: 136kcal Prep 20 minutes Cooking 15 minutes Chilling Time 2 hours Total Time 2 hours 35 minutes

Pin Recipe Share on Facebook Ingredients US CustomaryMetric1x2x3xItalian Ricotta Cookies▢ 1 cup butter (softened, at room temperature)▢ 1 ¾ cups sugar▢ 1 large lemon (zested and juiced, reserve the juice for icing)▢ 1 ¾ cups ricotta (15 ounces of fresh whole milk ricotta)▢ 1 tablespoon vanilla extract▢ 2 large eggs▢ 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder▢ ½ teaspoon salt (or use ¾ teaspoon with unsalted butter)▢ 3 ½ cups all-purpose flourLemon Icing▢ 2 cups confectioners’ sugar▢ 2 tablespoon lemon juice (reserved after zesting your lemon above)▢ 2 tablespoon milk (or more, as needed)▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

InstructionsItalian Ricotta CookiesIn a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer cream together the butter, sugar, and lemon zest until light and the butter pales in color. Add in the ricotta and vanilla extract and mix until smooth.1 cup butter, 1 ¾ cups sugar, 1 large lemon, 1 ¾ cups ricotta, 1 tablespoon vanilla extractMix the eggs into the dough one at a time, then add the salt and baking powder. Gradually add the flour and mix until fully combined.2 large eggs, 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, 3 ½ cups all-purpose flourUse plastic cling film to cover the mixing bowl and chill the dough for at least 2 hours, or up to 2 days at most.Preheat your oven once the dough is chilled. Set the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet(s) with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.Drop the chilled dough in 1-inch balls onto your prepared baking sheet leaving 2 inches of spacing between cookies. *These were portioned using a melon baller and dropped directly onto the baking sheet (rather than hand-rolled).Bake for 12-15 minutes until the top no longer looks raw and the cookie bottoms are just turning a light golden color. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.Lemon IcingOnce the cookies have fully cooled, mix the icing ingredients in a small bowl until smooth. Add liquid or more confectioners’ sugar as needed to reach your desired consistency. You want the icing to cling to your spoon with a slow drizzle (that way it stays on your cookies!).2 cups confectioners’ sugar, 2 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoon milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extractDip each of the cookies into the bowl of icing, allow the icing to run off until the drizzle slows, then turn and set onto the wire cooling rack. Add sprinkles after every few cookies are glazed, if using.Allow the icing to set at room temperature before serving or storing. Equipment You May NeedMeasuring CupsMixing BowlBaking Sheet Notes If you want to store these cookies or freeze them (in more than a single layer) hold off on the icing until you are ready to serve the cookies. Flash freeze the dry cookies (without icing) in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them into a freezer storage container. The cookies should be fully frozen within 2-3 hours.

NutritionCalories: 136kcal (7%) | Carbohydrates: 20g (7%) | Protein: 2g (4%) | Fat: 5g (8%) | Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 23mg (8%) | Sodium: 69mg (3%) | Potassium: 50mg (1%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 12g (13%) | Vitamin A: 171IU (3%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 33mg (3%) | Iron: 1mg (6%) Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love! baking ideas for Christmas cookies, best Italian cookies to bake for Christmas, Christmas Cookies, Italian christmas cookies, Italian Christmas cookies list, Italian cookies, Italian Ricotta Cookies Course Christmas, Christmas Cookies, cookies, Dessert RecipesCuisine Italian

Angela @ BakeItWithLove.comAngela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma’s kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love! bakeitwithlove.com/about/

Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Stay in touch with me through social media @ Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!

Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!

5 from 6 reviews

Best Italian Christmas Cookies: Italian Ricotta Cookies (+More Great Recipes To Bake!)

Author | Angela

Servings: 48 servings

Calories: 136kcal

Prep 20 minutes

Cooking 15 minutes

Chilling Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 35 minutes

Ingredients US CustomaryMetric1x2x3xItalian Ricotta Cookies▢ 1 cup butter (softened, at room temperature)▢ 1 ¾ cups sugar▢ 1 large lemon (zested and juiced, reserve the juice for icing)▢ 1 ¾ cups ricotta (15 ounces of fresh whole milk ricotta)▢ 1 tablespoon vanilla extract▢ 2 large eggs▢ 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder▢ ½ teaspoon salt (or use ¾ teaspoon with unsalted butter)▢ 3 ½ cups all-purpose flourLemon Icing▢ 2 cups confectioners’ sugar▢ 2 tablespoon lemon juice (reserved after zesting your lemon above)▢ 2 tablespoon milk (or more, as needed)▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

InstructionsItalian Ricotta CookiesIn a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer cream together the butter, sugar, and lemon zest until light and the butter pales in color. Add in the ricotta and vanilla extract and mix until smooth.1 cup butter, 1 ¾ cups sugar, 1 large lemon, 1 ¾ cups ricotta, 1 tablespoon vanilla extractMix the eggs into the dough one at a time, then add the salt and baking powder. Gradually add the flour and mix until fully combined.2 large eggs, 2 ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, 3 ½ cups all-purpose flourUse plastic cling film to cover the mixing bowl and chill the dough for at least 2 hours, or up to 2 days at most.Preheat your oven once the dough is chilled. Set the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet(s) with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.Drop the chilled dough in 1-inch balls onto your prepared baking sheet leaving 2 inches of spacing between cookies. *These were portioned using a melon baller and dropped directly onto the baking sheet (rather than hand-rolled).Bake for 12-15 minutes until the top no longer looks raw and the cookie bottoms are just turning a light golden color. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.Lemon IcingOnce the cookies have fully cooled, mix the icing ingredients in a small bowl until smooth. Add liquid or more confectioners’ sugar as needed to reach your desired consistency. You want the icing to cling to your spoon with a slow drizzle (that way it stays on your cookies!).2 cups confectioners’ sugar, 2 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoon milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extractDip each of the cookies into the bowl of icing, allow the icing to run off until the drizzle slows, then turn and set onto the wire cooling rack. Add sprinkles after every few cookies are glazed, if using.Allow the icing to set at room temperature before serving or storing.

Equipment You May NeedMeasuring CupsMixing BowlBaking Sheet

Notes If you want to store these cookies or freeze them (in more than a single layer) hold off on the icing until you are ready to serve the cookies. Flash freeze the dry cookies (without icing) in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them into a freezer storage container. The cookies should be fully frozen within 2-3 hours.

Nutrition

Calories: 136kcal (7%) | Carbohydrates: 20g (7%) | Protein: 2g (4%) | Fat: 5g (8%) | Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 23mg (8%) | Sodium: 69mg (3%) | Potassium: 50mg (1%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 12g (13%) | Vitamin A: 171IU (3%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 33mg (3%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)

Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!

Course Christmas, Christmas Cookies, cookies, Dessert RecipesCuisine Italian

US CustomaryMetric