31 Old-World Italian Cookie Recipes Your Grandmother Made

Read Time: 9 mins

31 Old-World Italian Cookie Recipes Your Grandmother Made2/30 Memorable Biscotti 13 Reviews Memorable Biscotti Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 15 min Servings 2-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: The enticing aroma of anise filled the kitchen and wafted through the house as Mom baked these crisp cookies when I was a girl. Mom always kept a big glass jar filled so we had a supply of these traditional cookies on hand. —Cookie Curci, San Jose, California 3/30 Anise Pizzelle 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 20 min Servings about 2 dozen

I create them using a pizzelle iron

Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These lovely, golden brown anise pizzelle cookies have a crisp texture and delicate anise flavor. I create them using a pizzelle iron. —Barbara Colucci, Rockledge, Florida 4/30 Lemon-Ricotta Cookies 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 30 min Servings 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I work for a Special Education school and our students run their own catering business. Every time they make these lemon-ricotta cookies for a catering event, they get raves. They are the yummiest and chewiest cookies ever! —Renee Phillips, Owosso, Michigan 5/30 Cinnamon Twirl Cookies

I think the blend of milk chocolate, toasted almonds, lemon and

11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour Servings 64 cookies Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These rolled cookies are tasty and fun to make with your family. The sugary mixture of walnuts and cinnamon is a light, sweet filling that will leave everyone wanting another bite. —Phyllis Cappuccio, Malden, Massachusetts 6/30 Citrus Almond Cookies 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 35 min Servings 6 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These frosted goodies were a “must” every Christmas in my mother’s family. I think the blend of milk chocolate, toasted almonds, lemon and

orange is cookie perfection

orange is cookie perfection. 7/30 Almond Biscotti 30 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Biscotti Recipe Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I’ve learned to bake a double batch of this crisp almond biscotti recipe, because one batch goes too fast! It’s one of those classic Italian cookie recipes! —H. Michaelson, St. Charles, Illinois. Looking for more? Check out our collection of the best biscotti recipes. 8/30 Spumoni Slices 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Spumoni Slices Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 7

dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These sweet rectangles get their name from the old-fashioned tricolored ice cream. My entire family loves them. —Mary Chupp, Chattanooga, Tennessee 9/30 Anise Sugar Cookies 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Anise Sugar Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 5 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: As much as I love giving away my baking, a few goodies—like these anise sugar cookies—are keepers. The light anise flavor and buttery texture make them a perfect Christmas treat. —P. Marchesi, Rocky Point, Long Island, New York 10/30

These cookies are melt-in-your-mouth good without being overly sweet

Torcetti 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Torcetti Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 6 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Our Sicilian grandmother often had my sister and me roll out the dough for these tasty torcetti. These cookies are melt-in-your-mouth good without being overly sweet. —Joy Quici, Upland, California 11/30 Chocolate Amaretti 8 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chocolate Amaretti Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 35 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These classic almond paste cookies are like ones you’d find in an Italian

bakery. My husband and children are always excited when I include these goodies in my holiday baking lineup. —Kathy Long, Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin 12/30 Pignoli Cookies 9 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Orly Catz for Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 2-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Cookies are the crown jewels of Italian confections. I can’t let a holiday go by without baking these traditional almond cookies rolled in mild pine nuts. —Maria Regakis, Saugus, Massachusetts 13/30 Chocolate Biscotti 14 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chocolate Biscotti Recipe photo by Alejandro Monfort for Taste

My neighbors always look forward to them!

of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 3-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These white chocolate-drizzled cookies are a cinch to make, so I’m happy to whip up a batch any time. My neighbors always look forward to them! —Ginger Chatfield, Muscatine, Iowa 14/30 Chocolate Fruit N Nut Cookies 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Chocolate Fruit N Nut Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 35 min Servings about 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Filled with fruit, nuts, chocolate and loads of flavor, these traditional Italian treats hit the spot. We

enjoy them at Christmas with a hot beverage

enjoy them at Christmas with a hot beverage. 15/30 Cuccidati 17 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 40 min Servings about 5 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: The compliments make these Sicilian cookies worth the effort. It’s one of the best Italian cookie recipes I’ve found! —Carolyn Fafinski, Dunkirk, New York 16/30 Italian Lemon Cookies 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Italian Lemon Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Christmas wouldn’t be the same without my grandmother’s cookies. A plate full

of these light and zesty cookies is divine!

of these light and zesty cookies is divine! —Elisabeth Miller, Broadview Heights, Ohio 17/30 Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti 15 Reviews Contest Winner Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 40 cookies Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Chocolate, pistachios and cranberries make a dramatic, delicious trio. Introducing the cranberries to this recipe added tartness, texture and color, too. —Gilda Lester, Millsboro, Delaware 18/30 Italian Orange-Fig Cookies 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 45 min Servings about 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is one of the first holiday

cookies I made when I found out I could no longer eat gluten

cookies I made when I found out I could no longer eat gluten. In those eight years, six of my family members and friends have also had to give up gluten, so these delicious Italian cookies have now become a treasured holiday tradition for all of us. By the way, no one will know they’re gluten free unless you tell them! The cookies last for weeks if stored in a dry place. —Suzanne Banfield, Basking Ridge, New Jersey 19/30 Sesame Cookies 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Italian Sesame Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings

They’re the ideal accompaniment to a freshly brewed cup of coffee or tea

8 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These nontraditional European cookies aren’t overly sweet and have a wonderful crunch from sesame seeds. They’re the ideal accompaniment to a freshly brewed cup of coffee or tea. —Sarah Knoblock, Hyde Park, Indiana 20/30 Italian Holiday Cookies 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Italian Holiday Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings about 15 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Many of our holiday traditions center around the foods my mother made while I was growing up. These cookies, which we called “strufoli,” bring back

wonderful memories

wonderful memories. —Sue Seymour, Valatie, New York 21/30 Italian Cornmeal Spritz Cookies Test Kitchen Approved Italian Cornmeal Spritz Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 5-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A chef at a local culinary school gave me this recipe, and I’ve been using it for years. Italian cornmeal cookies are from the Piedmont region of northern Italy. They’re not too sweet, and the glazed cherries add just the right touch. — Kristine Chayes, Smithtown, New York 22/30 Chocolate Almond Pizzelles 2 Reviews Chocolate Almond Pizzelles Recipe photo by Taste

They bake up golden brown in only a few minutes

of Home Total Time 25 min Servings about 4 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: If you love fun baking gadgets, you’ll enjoy making these crispy, almond-flavored cookies, which get their unique waffle design from a pizzelle maker. They bake up golden brown in only a few minutes. Feel free to double the chocolate drizzle if you’d like to cover the cookies more generously. —Hannah Riley, Norwalk, Ohio 23/30 Fig Cookies 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Fig Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings About 2-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe

Creator: Family and friends know I have a fondness for Christmas cookies

Creator: Family and friends know I have a fondness for Christmas cookies. Each year after Thanksgiving, they begin asking when the cookies will be ready! 24/30 Italian Honey Clusters 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 50 min Servings about 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My mother made these treats, known as struffoli in Italian, for neighbors, teachers and anyone who stopped by. This is an Easter, Christmas and special-occasion classic, and many call them cookies even though these are honey-coated bits of deep-fried dough. —Sarah Knoblock, Hyde Park, Indiana 25/30 Pizzelle 8 Reviews Pizzelle Recipe

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