Cookie Recipes Made with Love – From Italian Classics to Family Favorites
Welcome! This is your go-to spot for homemade cookie recipes that warm the heart. You’ll find crisp Biscotti, chewy Amaretti, and festive treats for every season.
These recipes come from real kitchens and real traditions. Many have been passed down through generations. Each one brings just the right mix of sweetness, crunch, or chew.
Bake for the holidays, a party, or just because. Whatever the reason, these cookies bring smiles. They’re easy to make, full of flavor, and made to share.
Get ready to fill your kitchen with the smell of something amazing. Let’s bake!
Palmiers Elephant Ears
Sweet History of Palmiers Cookies, also known as elephant ears or palm leaves, are a classic French pastry that originated in France in the early 1900s. Made from delicate puff pastry and sugar, these light, crispy treats are shaped like palm leaves or butterfly wings and are loved around the world for their simple elegance and caramelized crunch. The name…
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Italian Butterhorn Cookies
Italian Butterhorn Cookies are more than just a delicious treat—they’re a heartfelt tribute to family tradition. Handcrafted from a beloved recipe passed down through generations, these buttery, cinnamon‑walnut–filled pastries were first made by Christine “CiCi” Frey’s grandmother, Nana Julie, in their Italian-American home in Utica, New York. Years later, Christine revived the nostalgic recipe and began sharing it with the…
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Nut Roll Cookies
Italian Nut Roll Cookies have their roots in the rich and diverse baking traditions of southern and central Italy, where nuts, honey, and dried fruits have long been treasured ingredients. Known by various names across regions, such as Cucidati in Sicily, Gubana in Friuli, or simply nut rolls in Italian-American households. These cookies evolved as festive treats, especially around Christmas…
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Uncinetti Easter Cookies
Uncinetti, also known as Italian Easter cookies, are a beloved treat rooted in Southern Italian tradition, especially in regions like Calabria and Sicily. These soft, cake-like cookies are traditionally made to celebrate Easter, symbolizing renewal and family unity. Passed down through generations, Uncinetti are often flavored with lemon or anise and topped with a simple sugar glaze and colorful sprinkles—an…
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Fiori di Sicilia Spritz
Though not a traditional Italian recipe, Fiori di Sicilia Spritz Cookies beautifully blend Italian flair with European cookie tradition. The name Fiori di Sicilia Spritz evokes Sicily’s vibrant citrus groves, thanks to the star ingredient—Fiori di Sicilia. A fragrant extract combining vanilla with floral orange and lemon notes. While spritz cookies originate from Northern Europe, particularly Germany, Italian-American bakers embraced…
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Nankhatai Shortbread Cookies
Nankhatai, the beloved Indian shortbread cookies recipe, has a rich history that dates back to 16th-century Surat, Gujarat. Originally introduced by Dutch and Portuguese traders who ran bakeries to cater to European tastes. The recipe later adapted by local bakers, including Iranian and Parsi communities, to suit Indian palates. The name “Nankhatai” comes from Persian words meaning “bread biscuit,” reflecting…
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Anzac Biscuits
Anzac biscuits originated during World War I and closely associated with both Australia and New Zealand. The name ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The biscuits have become a symbol of the two nations’ shared military history. Particularly in connection with Anzac Day (April 25), which commemorates the soldiers who served and died in wars, conflicts, and…
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Alfajores Argentinean
These classic Argentine alfajores de maicena are soft, sweet sandwich cookie filled with creamy dulce de leche. But its roots stretch far beyond South America, tracing back to the Moorish influence in Spain. The name “alfajor” comes from the Arabic word al-fakhor, meaning “luxury,” and early versions were spiced confections made with nuts and honey. Spanish colonizers brought the recipe…
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Speculaas
Speculaas (also spelled Speculoos in Belgium) is a spiced shortcrust biscuit that originated in the Low Countries, specifically the Netherlands and Belgium. Its roots are shared between these two nations, and the exact “origin” can be attributed to the broader cultural and culinary traditions of the Dutch-speaking regions of Northwestern Europe during the 17th century, when the Dutch East India…
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Pepernoten Kruidnoten
Pepernoten and kruidnoten are traditional Dutch treats associated with the Sinterklaas holiday, celebrated in the Netherlands and parts of Belgium. The origin of these spiced cookies dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries. During the Dutch Golden Age, when exotic spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and anise became more accessible through trade. These spices were incorporated into baked…
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