Our Favorite Traditional Italian Christmas Cookie Recipes

I'll begin with my essential cookie for the holidays! The filling for these classic Sicilian fig cookies is so fragrant and tasty, I could eat it on it's own! Made with a dried fig; almonds; orange marmalade; cinnamon filling, topped with a simple glaze and decorated with sprinkles, it's the perfect Christmas cookie. Although this recipe is a little more labor intensive than most other cookies on my list, it is worth all the effort, you'll see!

From a labor intensive cookie we move on to this easy classic one bowl cookie recipe; amaretti! So pretty with their crinkly powdered sugar finish. Leave them as is or top with a maraschino cherry or almond for a festive look. You can't go wrong with these on your cookie platters! Classic almond amaretti are a must but why not also try these delicious variations: pistachio amaretti or chocolate espresso amaretti!

Another favorite that my mom prepared all the time, a simple rolled cookie with an orange flavored dough wrapped around a crunchy, nutty filling sweetened with jam! These cookies are twice baked for extra crunch. You can also vary the nuts and jam you add according to your taste.

Biscotti, or twice baked cookies, are one of the more popular Italian cookies! This is the perfect cookie for dunking in your coffee. The add-ins can be infinitely varied. Aside from the classic almond that my mom always made, why not try pistachio-cranberry; hazelnut-chocolate chip; anise biscotti or how about these easy sheet pan almond biscotti!

Another classic and popular Sicilian cookie also known as Sicilian chocolate spice cookies or even meatball cookies! This chewy cookie is a wonderful blend of flavorful ingredients such as spices (cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves) as well as walnuts, cocoa powder and orange zest, topped with a sweet glaze!

A crunchy buttery dough infused with orange flavor and covered with sesame seeds. These are the perfect bite sized cookies that are impossible to stop eating after only one!

Pizzelle are a must on cookie trays for all kinds of festive events from weddings to birthdays and of course Christmas! These crisp, flat cookies are easy to make, as long as you have a pizzelle iron of course! And no, unfortunately your waffle iron will not to do. There are many possible variations from these classic vanilla and lemon flavored to chocolate pizzelle. And if you're short on time and are craving cannoli, try rolling them hot off the iron and filling them with ricotta cream to make pizzelle cannoli!

My mom's lemon glazed cookies were always requested by her grandchildren! With a soft, cake-like texture and topped with a sweet lemon glaze, this cookie is always a crowd pleaser and it freezes well.

Another classic Italian cookie flavored with orange juice and has a soft, cake-like texture. Orange juice cookies are traditionally topped with a maraschino cherry or as my mom did, an almond.

Although not necessarily considered a traditional Christmas cookie, these Genovesi Ericine are definitely festive looking with their dusting of powdered sugar and are a must try! A buttery short bread crust filled with lemon infused pastry cream, this elegant treat is a classic Sicilian pastry originating from the town of Erice in the province of Trapani.

A cookie platter is not complete without a festive looking thumbprint cookie! I made these with almond flour which adds not only flavor to the cookie but a satisfying chewy texture. Top with flavored jam of your choice!

And lastly if you're short on time and need at least one gluten free cookie on your list, here's an easy last minute cookie recipe made with only 3 ingredients! These hazelnut cookies have a satisfying chewy texture that's perfect for enjoying with your cup of coffee.