Indulge in the festive flavors of Traditional Italian Christmas Cookies that bring back cherished memories of holiday baking with family.
This delicious collection of Christmas Cookies features timeless favorites like crispy pizzelle, chewy amaretti, rich fig cookies, and classic biscotti. The kinds of treats that make you feel like you’ve stepped right into Nonna’s kitchen.
This post has been updated since it first appeared in 2023 with new information, improved details, and helpful tips to give you the best experience.
At-a-Glance: Traditional Italian Christmas Cookies
What You’ll Find: A delicious collection of authentic Italian Christmas cookie recipes including classics like pizzelle, amaretti, fig cookies, biscotti, and iced Italian holiday cookies.
Why You’ll Love It: These cookies are full of nostalgic flavor, simple ingredients, and old-world charm, bringing the cozy warmth of Nonna’s kitchen right into your home. Each recipe is approachable, family-friendly, and perfect for bakers of any skill level.
Perfect For: Holiday baking, Christmas dessert trays, cookie exchanges, gifting, and creating meaningful family traditions.
Time-Saver Tip: Many of these cookies can be made ahead, frozen, or baked in batches, making holiday baking easier, less stressful, and much more enjoyable.
Looking for more Easy Cookie Recipes for the holidays? Try my Candy Cane Sugar Cookies, Peppermint Christmas Cookies or my favorite Shortbread Christmas Cookies.
Table of Contents
Christmas Cookie Baking Tips for Success
- Chill the dough whenever recommended. Even 30 minutes (or overnight for some recipes) helps cookies hold their shape and makes the dough easier to handle. Always follow the directions of each specific recipe.
- Line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking, encourage even baking, and make cleanup easier.
- Rotate baking sheets halfway through baking to help cookies brown evenly, especially if your oven has hot spots.
- Give cookies space on the baking sheet so air can circulate properly. Overcrowding can cause spreading and uneven baking.
What cookies are in an Italian cookie tray?
Here are some of the most common and beloved cookies you’ll often find in an authentic Italian cookie tray:
Almond Cookies – Often made with almond paste or almond flour, these cookies have a rich, nutty flavor and soft, chewy texture.
Butter Cookies – Tender, melt-in-your-mouth cookies that can be piped, twisted, or shaped into beautiful designs.
Amaretti Cookies – Small round cookies made with almond flour, featuring a lightly crisp exterior and chewy center.
Italian Biscotti – Classic twice-baked cookies known for their crunchy texture. They come in flavors like almond, chocolate, or cranberry and are perfect for dunking in coffee.
Rainbow Cookies – Layered almond sponge cake filled with raspberry jam and coated in chocolate. Colorful, nostalgic, and always a showstopper on any cookie tray!
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Your Questions About Italian Christmas Cookies, Answered
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
Italian cookies are known for simple, elegant flavors rather than overly sweet ingredients. You’ll often find bright citrus notes like lemon or orange zest, along with almond flavor, vanilla, and sometimes anise for a hint of licorice. Honey, cocoa, espresso, and warm spices also appear in many traditional recipes.
Most Italian cookie recipes use simple, pantry-friendly ingredients like flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and baking powder. Many also include almond extract, anise extract, citrus zest, or almond flour to create classic Italian flavors. You don’t usually need anything complicated or hard to find, and most ingredients are available at regular grocery stores.
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