29 Nonna-Approved Italian Christmas Cookies

Read Time: 9 mins

29 Nonna-Approved Italian Christmas Cookies2/29 Italian Horn Cookies 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 40 min Servings about 5 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My family has been making these delicate, fruit-filled Italian horn cookies for generations. They’re light and flaky, with the look of an elegant old-world pastry. —Gloria Siddiqui, Houston, Texas Try all 150 of our best Christmas cookies ever. 3/29 Italian Rainbow Cookies 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Italian Rainbow Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings about 11 dozen Go to Recipe 4/29 Torcetti 3 Reviews Test

—Gilda Lester,

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. Their melt-in-your-mouth goodness is delicious without being overly sweet.—Joy Quici, Upland, California 5/29 Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti 15 Reviews Contest Winner 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,

The light anise flavor and buttery texture make them a perfect Christmas treat

Millsboro, Delaware 6/29 Anise Sugar Cookies 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved 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 7/29 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

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 8/29 Pizzelle Cookies 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Pizzelle Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings about 2 dozen 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 9/29 Chocolate Fruit N Nut Cookies 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved

We enjoy them at Christmas with a hot beverage

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. Here are all of the best vintage Christmas cookies to make this year. 10/29 Cuccidati 17 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Cuccidati Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings about 5 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: The compliments from family and

friends make these Sicilian cookies worth the effort

friends make these Sicilian cookies worth the effort. It’s the best recipe I’ve found! —Carolyn Fafinski, Dunkirk, New York 11/29 Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Pizzelle 3 Reviews Hazelnut Chocolate Chip Pizzelle Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I’ve experimented with different varieties of pizzelle recipes, but this is definitely a favorite. My dad likes to help make them so that we don’t run out!—Aimee McCullen, Youngwood, Pennsylvania 12/29 Italian Chocolate Spice Cookies 10 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 5 dozen

Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I recently found this old family recipe in my mom’s kitchen. I made a few adjustments to streamline the process, and the cookies turned out wonderfully. —Shawn Barto, Winter Garden, Florida 13/29 Italian Sesame Cookies 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 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 14/29 Fruitcake Christmas Cookies

18 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Fruitcake cookies for Christmas Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 4 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: As holiday gifts, these rich fruit-and nut-filled cookies are pretty and practical. These are great make ahead Christmas cookies —the taste actually gets better over time! —Julia Funkhouser, Carson, Iowa 15/29 Almond Chocolate Biscotti 14 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chocolate Biscotti Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 3-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My neighbors look forward to getting my gifts of these

chocolate-covered cookies

chocolate-covered cookies. I love that this chocolate biscotti recipe is such a cinch to make. —Ginger Chatfield, Muscatine, Iowa 16/29 Italian Cenci Cookies 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings about 4 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My mother brought this special family recipe from Europe a century ago. Cenci can be “dressed up” for any holiday—at Easter, I sprinkle yellow, pink and lavender jelly beans over them, and for Christmas, red and green candy sprinkles give the cenci a festive look. Even without the garnish, they always disappear fast! —Anna

A twice-baked Italian cookie, biscotti makes a wonderful “dunker.”

Coduto, Fullerton, California 17/29 Tender Italian Sugar Cookies 32 Reviews Tender Italian Sugar Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These traditional Italian cookies are moist and tender. —Weda Mosellie, Phillipsburg, New Jersey 18/29 Holiday Biscotti 13 Reviews Holiday Biscotti Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A twice-baked Italian cookie, biscotti makes a wonderful “dunker.” A pretty way to present a batch is on a seasonal plate arranged in a

wagon-wheel fashion

wagon-wheel fashion. —Libia Foglesong, San Bruno, California 19/29 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 20/29 Hazelnut Almond Biscotti 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings about 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Pour a cup of coffee and

Crisp, crunchy biscotti cookies are perfect for dunking

indulge! Crisp, crunchy biscotti cookies are perfect for dunking. Hazelnuts and almonds make my favorite version even better. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona 21/29 Citrus Almond Cookies 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Citrus Almond Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home 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. 22/29 Italian Honey Clusters 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 50 min Servings about 2 dozen Go to

The classic Italian cookie gets a new gingerbread twist!

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 23/29 Gingerbread Amaretti Cookies 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 30 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: The classic Italian cookie gets a new gingerbread twist! Don’t overbake—they should be slightly chewy. —Tina Zaccardi, Eastchester, New York If you want to try more Italian

recipes, learn to make these gluten-free amaretti cookies

recipes, learn to make these gluten-free amaretti cookies. 24/29 Almond-Ricotta Twists Test Kitchen Approved Almond-Ricotta Twists Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings about 6-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A very dear friend gave me this recipe so I make these to remind me of our time together. I like to drizzle melted white chocolate or chocolate chips on the baked cookies.—Paula Prechtl, Brockport, Pennsylvania 25/29 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

A plate full of these light and zesty cookies is divine!

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! —Elisabeth Miller, Broadview Heights, Ohio 26/29 Italian Wedding Cookies 54 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Italian Wedding Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings about 7 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Of all the Italian cookie recipes I make, this is my favorite. These sprinkle cookies take some time, but, believe me, they are well worth it! My husband and I used to operate an Italian

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