A well-rounded Traditional Italian Christmas Cookies That Taste Like an Italian Bakery tray starts with Italian Anisette Drop Cookies, then adds the contrasting flavor of Italian Pizzelle (Vanilla & Anise). This collection gathers 21 recipes, including Italian Ricotta Ciambelline, so you can mix textures and flavors for cookie swaps, gift tins, or a festive dessert table. Open each linked recipe for its full method.
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Italian Anisette Drop Cookies
Italian Anisette Drop Cookies with measured ingredients, drop shaping and clear oven cues for a holiday cookie box.
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Italian Pizzelle (Vanilla & Anise)
Italian Pizzelle (Vanilla & Anise) with measured ingredients, pizzelle shaping and clear oven cues for a holiday cookie box.
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Italian Ricotta Ciambelline
Italian Ricotta Ciambelline with measured ingredients, drop shaping and clear oven cues for a holiday cookie box.
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Soft Almond Amaretti
Soft Almond Amaretti with measured ingredients, amaretti shaping and clear oven cues for a holiday cookie box.
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Abruzzo Ferratelle
Lemon-scented Abruzzo-style wafer cookies cooked individually in a patterned ferratelle or pizzelle iron.
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Almond Cantucci
Twice-baked almond cookies with a crisp bite and a little orange zest.
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Baci di Alassio
Ridged cocoa-hazelnut kisses joined with a dark-chocolate ganache, inspired by Alassio.
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Baci di Dama
Tiny hazelnut butter cookies joined with a neat layer of dark chocolate.
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Brutti ma Buoni
Rough-edged hazelnut meringue cookies with a crisp shell and a chewy middle.
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Bussolai Buranelli
Golden yolk-rich butter rings inspired by the traditional cookies of Burano, scented with lemon and vanilla.
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Canestrelli
Delicate flower-shaped butter cookies with a center hole and a snowy sugar finish.
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Cavallucci
Pale, rustic Siena-style cookies with walnuts, candied citrus and anise, adapted for a gently chewy home-baked finish.
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Chocolate Mostaccioli
Diamond-shaped cocoa and orange spice cookies finished with dark chocolate.
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Italian Rainbow Cookies
An Italian-American home version of red, ivory and green almond cake cookies, layered with apricot jam and dark chocolate.
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Italian Ricotta Cookies
Soft vanilla cookies with ricotta, a light lemon glaze and festive sprinkles.
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Krumiri-Style Cookies
Ridged, gently curved butter cookies with a rich vanilla and egg-yolk dough.
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Neapolitan Roccocò
Rustic almond rings with citrus and pisto spices, made as a smaller, less-hard home interpretation of Neapolitan roccocò.
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Ricciarelli
Orange-scented almond cookies inspired by the soft, snowy sweets of Siena.
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Sardinian Papassini
Sardinian-style raisin and almond diamonds with a white sugar cap and colorful sprinkles, using a simple egg-free glaze.
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Sicilian Cuccidati
Tender pastry wrapped around a rich fig, walnut and orange filling.
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Venetian Zaletti
Golden cornmeal cookies with raisins and lemon zest, inspired by Venetian zaletti.
Save these ideas for a cookie exchange, a holiday dessert table or a homemade gift box.