These hard almond biscuits visually resemble tiny slices of bread, or cantellus in Latin, which is how they gained the name cantuccini, though they are also known as biscotti, meaning twice-baked.

Cantuccini supposedly originated in the Tuscan city of Prato in the 16th century, and they were even served at the Medici court. However, according to some historical records, they did not contain any almonds, being similar to the already famed biscuits from Pisa and Genova.

Almonds were added to the recipe towards the end of the 19th century, after which Tuscan bakers started using butter and leavening agents to give the cantuccini a longer shelf life and make them suitable for export. Cantuccini are an excellent after-meal snack, and they are typically accompanied by a glass of Vin Santo, a popular Italian dessert wine, though they are also often enjoyed for breakfast, dipped in milk, coffee, or tea.