Italy offers a dessert culture that rivals the best pastry shops in France or anywhere else in Europe. You might instantly dream of pizza when picturing the region, but my mind goes straight to sweet treats like crunchy pizzicati and classic biscotti.
Get your oven ready because I am sharing 24 Italian cookie recipes that are way better than standard macarons.
1. Struffoli (Italian Honey Ball Cookies)
You will see these traditional sweets all over the country during Christmas. People also call them honey balls because you roll deep-fried sweet dough in a heavenly vanilla and honey mixture.
They usually appear in a wreath shape, but you can skip that step since they taste so delicious regardless of form.
2. Italian Lemon Drop Cookies
These treats offer the perfect balance of butter, sweetness, and zest. The lemon flavor takes center stage without making your lips pucker.
I love how the glaze on top provides just the right amount of sugar while the cookie melts in your mouth.
3. Pizzicati (Italian Pinch Cookies)
The name clearly comes from the way you shape these treats. You essentially pinch discs of dough together around a sweet filling.
This recipe uses an enriched shortbread dough that includes eggs for extra richness, and I love filling them with raspberry jam or Nutella.
4. Chocolate Amaretti Cookies
Nutella lovers will adore these almond and chocolate cookies. The flavor profile offers a similar blend of nutty richness even though the spread uses hazelnuts.
This recipe is gluten and dairy free, so it will be a huge hit at your next cookie exchange.
5. Italian Spritz Cookies
A cookie press is a seriously impressive tool that turns one batch of dough into over a dozen distinct shapes in minutes. The dough must be soft enough to press like piping but firm enough to hold its form in the oven.
This recipe luckily gets that texture exactly right.
6. Classic Italian Pizzelles
Home bakers do not make these everyday even though they are just as recognizable as biscotti. You need a specific maker to achieve that signature shape.
I know you will make these constantly if you decide to spoil yourself and buy the machine because they work great as ice cream cones or cannoli shells.
7. Italian Almond-Orange Cookies
My favorite thing about these treats is the crackle on top. You can achieve this effect easily to make the cookies stand out with almost no effort.
The trick involves chilling the dough thoroughly so the outer shell breaks apart while the inside fluffs up during baking.
8. Classic Italian Pignoli Cookies
Pine nuts are expensive, but they are also beautifully sweet, buttery, and soft. You will not feel sorry if you splurge to make these.
The cookies are deliciously dense and crazy soft since they use a simple blend of egg whites, sugar, and almond paste.
9. Cinnamon Walnut Croissant Cookies
People also know these dangerously tasty treats as Italian Butterhorn or rugelach. You will not need hours to make them unlike with real croissants.
You roll the prepared dough into a circle and cut it like a pizza, and sour cream keeps everything very moist and light.
10. Italian Spumoni Cookies
New Yorkers likely got the idea for the classic rainbow cookie from these unique flavors and colors. I think these are easier to make since you start with a simple enriched shortbread dough split three ways.
I love pistachio flavor here, but pecans work as a close second.
11. Authentic Italian Anise Biscotti
Biscotti serves as one of my favorite breakfast foods and stands as probably the most recognizable Italian cookie. You need anise extract for this recipe, which is unfortunately not super easy to locate.
I suggest using your favorite anisette liqueur or grinding the seeds instead.
12. Reginelle Cookies (Classic Italian Sesame Cookies)
I am a massive fan of sesame and will put the seeds on everything from ice cream to fish. It has a lovely nuttiness and is lightly sweet.
Try mixing a teaspoon of black sesame seeds with regular ones if you really want those little pops of black to look amazing in your next post.
13. Italian Holiday Cookies
I make a bunch of thumbprint cookies every year and somehow wind up getting a whole slew as gifts too. They are super easy to make and delicious so I get it.
You have to try these crazy good coconut cookies if you want to wow everyone this year.
14. Cuccidati (Italian Fig Cookie)
You will see these classic holiday cookies at almost every Christmas gathering in Italy even though they originated in Sicily. You unusually make a simple shortcrust pastry instead of cookie dough for these.
I suggest using store bought pastry so you can focus on the filling of chocolate, nuts, Marsala wine, and dried figs.
15. Torcetti al Burro (Italian Twisted Butter Cookies)
These are a fantastic choice if you want something unique despite their rustic look. You do not see many cookies with yeast in the dough so you will need to plan ahead.
I bet the kids will love getting involved by twisting the dough strips and dipping them in sugar.
16. Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti
Those bright green pistachios look utterly fantastic against the sultry dark chocolate. I am practically drooling already just looking at them.
This recipe is packed with nuts for plenty of flavor, though you could swap the chocolate for dried cranberries.
17. Italian Ricotta Cookies
Italians almost always turn to ricotta or mascarpone where we might use cream cheese. You know cream cheese makes things beyond delicious and extra tender if you have ever baked with it.
Ricotta acts in the same way but it will not be quite as sweet.
18. Uncinetti (Italian Easter Cookies)
This recipe has a slight difference even though the cookies look similar to the sprinkle ones mentioned earlier. You roll the dough into strips and tie them into knots instead of making simple balls.
The kids will love that fun element.
19. Tetù (Sicilian Chocolate Spice Cookies)
These chocolatey treats might be perfect for you if you like warm spices but dislike anise. They are fragrant and beyond tasty.
You will find hints of orange zest, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon inside.
20. Chocolate Chip and Nut Fruitcake Cookies
These offer a twist on the classic Italian recipe. You usually have to coat the bottom of the original version in chocolate which gets very messy.
These include chips right in the dough so you get that great taste without sticky fingers.
21. Ricciarelli (Chewy Italian Almond Cookies)
You see almonds in so many Italian recipes because the country is a huge producer of the nut. You will use extract and almond flour to get a punch of flavor in these cookies.
A hint of orange balances it out so it does not become overpowering.
22. Lemon Amaretti Cookies
Amaretti is a type of biscuit or cookie flavored with almonds. You can leave them to harden over a couple of days or eat them soft on the day of baking.
Some people twice bake them for crunch, but these are made to be chewy and soft.
23. Italian Sprinkle Cookies
You are in luck if you feel like wedding cookies could use a makeover. This is the recipe for you if you need something nut free.
You can use the same base recipe but just add sprinkles and glaze.
24. Italian Sugar Cookies
Shortening appears rarely in European cookies, but it helps ensure the dough does not spread too much. It also makes the final result extra tender.
You will not miss the butter one bit since this is full of almond and vanilla extract.
