Cookie Recipes

Cookie Recipes

Cookie Recipes - ItlaianCookies.com

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!

Cookie Recipes

Paste di Mandorla

Paste di Mandorla, or almond paste cookies, have their origins in Sicily, Italy, where they have been cherished for centuries as a traditional sweet. These soft, chewy cookies are made primarily from ground almonds, sugar, and egg whites, often flavored with citrus zest or topped with whole almonds or candied fruit. The recipe is believed to have Arab influences, dating…
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Cookie Recipes

Anginetti (Italian Lemon)

Anginetti, also known as Italian lemon cookies, have their origins in Southern Italy, particularly in regions like Campania and Calabria, where lemons are abundant and prized in local cuisine. Traditionally made for weddings, baptisms, and festive holidays, these soft, cake-like cookies are flavored with lemon zest and juice, giving them a bright, refreshing taste. The name “Anginetti” is believed to…
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Cookie Recipes

Biscotti Regina (Sesame Cookies)

Biscotti Regina, also known as Regina Cookies or Queen’s Biscuits, have their origins in Sicily and are a classic example of the island’s rich culinary heritage influenced by Arab, Greek, and Spanish cultures. These distinctive cookies are coated in sesame seeds, giving them a nutty, toasty flavor and a satisfying crunch. The name “Regina,” meaning “queen” in Italian, suggests that…
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Cookie Recipes

Italian pistachio biscotti

Italian pistachio biscotti trace their origins to the traditional cantucci or biscotti di Prato from the Tuscany region, which were originally made with almonds. Over time, variations emerged across Italy, incorporating regional ingredients like pistachios, especially in Sicily, where pistachios are a prized local crop. Bronte, a small town in Sicily, is particularly famous for its high-quality pistachios, often called…
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Cookie Recipes

Pizzicati Pinch Cookies

Pizzicati, also known as Italian pinch cookies, originate from Central and Southern Italy and are cherished for their delicate texture and charming shape. Their name, “Pizzicati,” which means “pinched” in Italian, comes from the way the dough is gently pinched in the center to reveal a peek of the sweet filling—often jam, chocolate, or sweetened ricotta. These cookies are believed…
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Cookie Recipes

Paste di meliga

Paste di Meliga are traditional cornmeal cookies from the Piedmont region of northern Italy, particularly popular in the provinces of Cuneo and Turin. Their origins date back to rural times when wheat flour was scarce, and locals began incorporating finely ground cornmeal—meliga in the regional dialect—into their baking. This clever adaptation resulted in cookies with a unique crumbly texture and…
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Cookie Recipes

Florentine cookies

Florentine cookies, despite their name, are believed to have originated not in Florence, Italy, but likely in France, possibly created by pastry chefs working in the kitchens of the Medici family during their influence in French courts. These delicate, lacy cookies are made from a mixture of finely chopped nuts—often almonds or hazelnuts—candied fruit, and caramelized sugar or honey, then…
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Cookie Recipes

Fava dei morti

Fave dei Morti—literally “broad beans of the dead”—are small almond cookies traditionally baked across Italy around All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2). Their name and shape echo ancient rituals: roasted fava beans were offered to the dead in ancient Rome and believed to carry the souls of ancestors. Over centuries, the practice evolved into sweet, bean-shaped biscuits made with…
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Cookie Recipes

Macaroons

Macaroons have a long and layered history that dates back to 8th or 9th century Italy, with their origins commonly linked to Venetian monasteries. The word “macaroon” comes from the Italian maccarone or maccherone, meaning a paste—specifically referring to the almond paste used as the cookie’s base. These early Italian macaroons were simple confections made with ground almonds, sugar, and…
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Cookie Recipes

Ladyfingers

Ladyfingers, also known as boudoirs in French or savoiardi in Italian, have their origins in the late 15th century at the court of the Duchy of Savoy in what is now northwestern Italy. They were created to celebrate a visit from the French king, and their elegant, finger-like shape and delicate texture quickly made them a favorite among European aristocracy….
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