Italian Cookies

Macaroons are traditional small cookies originating from Italy. They're usually made from granulated sugar, egg whites, chopped almonds or almond paste, and shredded coconut, while flavorings such as vanilla, spices, and honey are sometimes also a... READ MORE

These delicious almond-flavored biscotti have an ancient history, as they were supposedly first made during the Middle Ages. Their name is derived from the Italian amaro, meaning bitter, in reference to the sharp flavor of bitter... READ MORE

Baci di dama, meaning lady's kisses, are traditional hazelnut butter cookies with a layer of chocolate-hazelnut spread sandwiched between them. They originated in pastry shops in Tortona, Piedmont (famous for its hazelnuts), in the second... READ MORE

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 sup... READ MORE

A typical dessert of Sienese cuisine, ricciarelli di Siena are soft almond biscuits whose origins date back to the 14th century. According to a popular legend, they were named after a Sienese nobleman Ricciardetto Della Gherardesca, who brought si... READ MORE

Canestrelli are simple, yet delicious Italian butter cookies of ancient origin – they have been prepared since the Middle Ages, often used as a gift on festive occasions such as weddings or religious feasts. The origin of the name is unclear... READ MORE

Legend says that these crispy bittersweet cookies were invented some three centuries ago when the Cardinal of Milan visited the town of Saronno in Italy. Two young lovers, Giuseppe and Osolina, presented him with sweets made from a mixture of suga... READ MORE

These traditional Italian Christmas cookies were originally invented in Siena. They have a soft texture and consist of flour, nuts, candied fruit, and various spices. Originally, cavallucci were prepared without nuts or candied fruit – only ... READ MORE

Tozzetti are Italian double-baked cookies found in Lazio and Umbria. These dry cookies are prepared with hazelnuts but can also include whole pistachios, candied fruit, or even chocolate, which makes them go well with hot beverages like t... READ MORE

Krumiri are typical Piemontese cookies dating back to 1870, when they were invented by a confectioner named Domenico Rossi. These handmade cookies are made with a combination of fresh eggs, flour, sugar, butter, and vanilla. When the texture becom... READ MORE

This traditional Italian treat (that is quite similar to the Austrian linzer augen) consists of two classic shortbread butter cookies sandwiched with a delicious fruit jam filling—typically either apricot, strawberry, or cherry jam.... READ MORE

Biscotti di mandorla are soft almond biscuits or cookies that are prepared with a combination of finely crushed almonds, beaten egg whites, icing sugar, lemon zest, and almond flakes. The ingredients are combined into a thick almond paste which is... READ MORE

These crumbly, buttery cookies use coconut as the star ingredient. The dough is prepared with a combination of eggs, sugar, butter, and grated coconut, and when combined, it is usually rolled into balls or flat discs. Biscotti al cocco are baked u... READ MORE

Brutti ma buoni are crunchy and chewy Italian cookies believed to originate from Gavirate, a small city north of Milan. The first recipe was supposedly created in 1878 by Costantino Veniani, a pastry chef and owner of Pasticceria Veniani,... READ MORE

Rame di Napoli are soft, chocolate-covered cookies hailing from the Sicilian city of Catania. They are typically made with a combination of sugar, milk, flour, crumbled biscuits or cookies, eggs, cocoa powder, butter, baking powder, honey, orange ... READ MORE

Sometimes also called finocchini, anicini are popular anise-flavored biscotti prepared in many Italian regions, but they are especially beloved in Sardegna and Liguria. First, a loaf made with eggs, flour, sugar, orange blossom water, and... READ MORE

Baci di Alassio are decadent chocolate-hazelnut cookies from the small picturesque Ligurian town of Alassio. They are called baci, meaning kisses, because they consist of two small hazelnut cookies with a rich chocolate ganache s... READ MORE

Amaretti, the famous Italian almond cookies are so popular in their homeland that almost every region has their version of the recipe, using different proportions and combinations of the basic ingredients: sweet and bitter almonds, apricot kernels... READ MORE

Papassini are traditional cookies hailing from Sardinia. They were once mainly prepared for different festivities, particularly on All Saints Day and during Christmas, but they are now enjoyed and found all year round. The recipes vary across Sard... READ MORE

Roccoco are traditional Christmas cookies originating from Naples. They're made with a combination of flour, almonds, sugar, candied fruit, and pisto – a mixture of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and coriander. These cookies have been known for t... READ MORE

The name of these crunchy Italian biscuits literally translates to bones of the dead, in reference to their visual appearance. They are traditionally prepared across the country to honor and commemorate the loved ones who had passed away ... READ MORE

Amaretti, the famous Italian almond cookies are so popular in their homeland that almost every region has their version of the recipe, using different proportions and combinations of the basic ingredients: sweet and bitter almonds, apricot kernels... READ MORE

Canestrelli liguri are ancient Ligurian flower-shaped butter cookies with a hole in the center, allegedly named after canestro, a straw basket in which they were left to cool down after baking. Although they are quite simple, made only wi... READ MORE

These rustic cornmeal cookies get their name from the word zálo, which means "yellow" in the Venetian dialect. They are typically flavored with lemon zest, studded with rum-soaked raisins, and traditionally made without sugar, whil... READ MORE

Cornmeal is widely used in northern Italian cuisine, in dishes which can be either savory or sweet. The region of Piedmont is renowned for their paste di meliga (meliga is a local name for polenta), crunchy cornmeal shortbread-st... READ MORE

These chocolate-glazed cookies are a Christmas staple in Naples and throughout Campania, but similar varieties can be found in other parts of southern Italy. Mustacciuoli are usually prepared with a combination of honey, sugar, flour, citrus zest,... READ MORE

Tiliccas di sapa are traditional Sardinian cookies consisting of a thin cookie shell and a filling made with sapa (saba), which is a sweet, syrup-like grape must. The cookies have a curved, spiral, or horseshoe-like shape and are... READ MORE

Invented in the 18th century by a Venetian baker, baicoli are small, slightly sweet biscotti consisting of flour, butter, sugar, yeast, egg whites, milk, and a pinch of salt. The name baicoli, meaning sea bass, refers to the shap... READ MORE

Biscotti regina or the queen's cookies are crunchy, sesame seed coated biscuits that originated in Palermo, but nowadays can be found all over Sicily. Allegedly named after Queen Margherita of Savoia, these tasty treats are both sweet and... READ MORE

Sospiri di Ozieri are traditional sweets from the Sardinian city of Ozieri. Made with both sweet and bitter almonds, powdered sugar, milefiori honey, grated lemon zest, and water, these baked cookies are topped with white sugary glaze. Th... READ MORE

Mpanatigghi are small crescent-shaped, thin-crusted cookies filled with a mixture of sugar, chocolate, almonds, lemon peel, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla, and one slightly unusual ingredient – ground beef. The name mpanatigghi is probably... READ MORE

This variety of Italian biscotti is prepared with cinnamon, along with standard ingredients such as flour, lemon zest, beaten eggs, sugar, and baking powder. Instead of butter, biscotti alla cannella are usually made with olive oil. When baked, th... READ MORE

Nzuddi are traditional Italian cookies hailing from Catania and Messina. The cookies are made with a combination of flour, almonds, sugar, egg whites, cinnamon, ammonia, orange zest, and a bit of lemon juice. They are spherical-shaped and slightly... READ MORE

Pesche dolci (literally "sweet peaches") are a traditional Italian pastry designed to mimic the appearance of ripe peaches. These delightful treats are popular across Italy, particularly in Sardinia and Tuscany, and are often prepared for festive ... READ MORE

Cuccidati are traditional Sicilian cookies stuffed with figs. Flaky, rich, and delicious, they consist of flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and milk, while the filling is a combination of dried figs, raisins, dates, honey, chocolate, walnuts, and select... READ MORE

Susamielli are traditional Neapolitan Christmas cookies. They're made with a combination of flour, sugar, butter, honey, and spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. The dough is shaped into sticks which are then twisted into the letter S<... READ MORE

Biscotti della monaca are traditional Sicilian cookies originating from Catania. These S-shaped cookies were originally invented by the nuns of the Convent of Santa Chiara, who’d made them according to a secret recipe. The cookies are nowada... READ MORE

Biscottini di Novara are traditional Italian cookies originating from Novara. The cookies are usually made with a combination of flour, sugar, eggs, salt, and corn starch. The ingredients are kneaded into a dough, and the dough is then formed into... READ MORE

Amaretti, the famous Italian almond cookies are so popular in their homeland that almost every region has their version of the recipe, using different proportions and combinations of the basic ingredients: sweet and bitter almonds, apricot kernels... READ MORE

Categorized somewhere between a cookie and a rusk, biscotti del Lagaccio are named after a Genovese quarter where they were allegedly invented around 1593. In the beginning, they were simple double-baked biscuits made only with flour, butter, yeas... READ MORE

Amaretti, the famous Italian almond cookies are so popular in their homeland that almost every region has their version of the recipe, using different proportions and combinations of the basic ingredients: sweet and bitter almonds, apricot kernels... READ MORE

Esse di Raveo are traditional Italian cookies hailing from the Carnian town of Raveo. They're made with a combination of butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder, and baking soda. The cookie dough is shaped in the form of S letters, and it's then... READ MORE