21 Italian Cookie Recipes That Would Definitely Make Nonna Proud

If Fig Newtons had a grown-up, glamorous sister, she would be cuccidati. Packed with a sticky-sweet, spiced fig filling and showered in rainbow sprinkles, these bite-sized Italian cookies are more than ready for a party. They’re traditionally made during the winter holidays, but to be honest, we think they’d be perfect for any celebration, any time of the year.

Get the Cuccidati recipe.

Italian rainbow cookies always catch our eye when we see them packaged at the store or behind the glass counter at bakeries. Now you can make them at home! They're technically more cake than cookie, but they'll still be welcome in any cookie exchange.

Get the Italian Rainbow Cookies recipe.

Most people who are familiar with pizzelles won’t associate them with the oven. But because not everyone is going to get their hands on a specialty pizzelle waffle iron—unless it was passed down from generations of grandparents—then how do you make them? Answer: cookie stamps!

Get the Oven Baked Pizzelles recipe.

Biscotti are Italian cookies that are initially baked in a large flat log, then cut and baked once more into toasted and crunchy treats. We love it simple with sliced almonds, but pistachios, pine nuts, raisins or dried cranberries, and chocolate chips are all great mix-ins. They're the perfect any day treat (particularly dipped in coffee or hot apple cider).

Get the Biscotti recipe.

These melt-in-your-mouth holiday cookies are an Italian classic, and a breeze to make. What’s more fun than frosting? Sprinkles! You can adorn these cookies with any combination of sprinkles, whether for a Christmas celebration or just another Tuesday.

Get the Italian Ricotta Cookies recipe.

If you love cannoli but making them from scratch seems daunting, let us introduce you to cannoli cookies. This cookie recipe has all of the flavors you love in a cannoli, like ricotta, orange zest, mini chocolate chips, and pistachios, but with a fraction of the effort. The result is a soft, cake-like cookie with flavors that are reminiscent of cannoli.

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Sesame’s nutty flavors can pack a bitter undertone, which is why these sesame cookies use licorice-like anise and bright citrus zest to neutralize the earthiness for a more balanced flavor. Have some for a simple breakfast with a cup of espresso for the full experience!

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Struffoli are a traditional Neapolitan dessert served at Christmas. To make struffoli, little balls of dough are flavored with citrus zest and a splash of wine, deep-fried until crispy and light, and tossed in honey to sweeten the deal. As if this isn’t already enough of a delight, the balls then get shaped into a wreath (the honey comes into play again, helping everything stick together) and covered in rainbow nonpareil sprinkles.

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If you like the flavor of French macarons, you'll love this take on Italian amaretti cookies. Soft, pillowy, moist, sweet, and lightly scented with amaretto liqueur as well as citrus zests, these cookies get made multiple times a season, year after year.

Get the Amaretti Cookies recipe.

Tiramisu is one of our favorite desserts, but the process of making it the traditional way requires a lot of work. This version takes out all the extra work without sacrificing flavor. Another perk: These cup-shaped cookies make it even easier to share and eat.

Get the Tiramisu Cookie Cups recipe.

To think a fluffy, enriched bread can somehow translate into a buttery cookie might seem preposterous. But don’t stop reading! These cookie are the perfect base for the orange peel, currants, dried apricots, chocolate, and almonds you love about the original, with half the work.

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The treat is studded with pignoli, Italian for pine nuts, and gets even more nutty flavor from a hefty amount of almond paste (one of our favorite secret weapons in baked goods for its rich, slightly sweet flavor). Egg whites help give the cookies a superbly chewy and airy texture, and also help make this cookie totally gluten-free—no flour required!

Get the Pignoli Cookies recipe.

What really sets this version apart from most other biscotti recipes is the use of whole wheat flour. Not only does it add a little nutritional bump, it also contributes a slight nutty-sweetness that pairs really well with the dark cocoa powder, subtle peppermint, and crunchy almonds.

Get the Nutty Peppermint Chocolate Biscotti recipe.

Originally served at weddings (to symbolize tying the knot), these Italian cookies now commonly found at holiday gatherings too. A soft but sturdy dough is flavored with lemon juice and zest, then rolled into a knot. After baking, it gets dipped in a lemon-y glaze and finished with even more zest.

Get the Italian Lemon Cookies recipe.

Tahini cookies are kind of like a more grown-up version of your favorite peanut butter cookie and so much better. They're soft with a slight chew, and sesame seeds on the outside add a slight crunch. The flavor is spot on and will make you start using tahini in all of your baking projects (like in this easy halva).

Get the Tahini Cookies recipe.

Jam thumbprints are one of the most classic Christmas cookies (and we hear they're one of Santa's favorites. 😉). With a buttery shortbread base and warm jam center, they're the ultimate indulgence. They're truly a treat fit for the jolly sleigh-rider in all of us.

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A lot of treats consider themselves coffee/tea companions, but none hold a candle to the crispy, crunchy goodness that is the humble biscotti. These have the classic flavor combination of cranberry and orange, and we dipped in white chocolate and coated in chopped pistachios to add a little extra indulgence.

Get the White Chocolate Cranberry Orange Biscotti recipe.

Think of your favorite chocolate chip cookie… Are they chewy? COVERED in giant chocolate chips? Vegan? Soft and fudgy? Whatever your favorite, we’re here to tell you, they can ALL be improved by the addition of one simple ingredient—ground pistachios. Pistachios add a slightly sweet, almost buttery nutty flavor that will make your cookies feel a little bit elevated, but still just as classic and comforting. These cookies are chewy in the center with crisp edges and get a beautiful crinkled top.

Get the Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.

Okay, so technically these aren't 100% Italian, but Pepperidge Farm did base these on an Italian-style cookie, and the rest is delicious history. Crisp and sweet, and sometimes minty, Milano cookies enjoy their perch atop the list of sophisticated cookies from our childhood (and adulthood, to be fair).

Get the Copycat Milano Cookies recipe.

These little guys might look simple, but they're dangerously good. There's a healthy dose of salt in the dough, making it easy to down four or five without overdosing on sugar. Make sure to serve them up with a cup of coffee for dipping!

Get the Butter Cookies recipe.

Since pumpkin puree adds extra moisture to the cookies, these won’t get quite as dry as traditional biscotti, but are still plenty sturdy. Serve these with a pumpkin spice latte for a double-dose of fall this year.

Get the Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Biscotti recipe.