Go Back

Italian Christmas Cookies

A delightful assortment of Italian Christmas cookies featuring a variety of textures and flavors, perfect for your holiday baking tradition.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Holiday, Italian
Calories: 95
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For Soft Cookies
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour can be adjusted based on dough texture
  • 1 cup granulated sugar for sweetness in cookies
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened adds richness to the cookies
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese for softness and moisture
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract for flavor enhancement
  • 1 lemon zest adds fresh aroma
For Filled Cookies
  • 1 cup dried figs, chopped for cuccidati filling
  • 1/2 cup mixed nuts, chopped for a rich filling
  • 1/4 cup honey for sweetness in filling
For Glaze and Decoration
  • 2 cups powdered sugar for the icing glaze
  • 2 tablespoons milk to thin the glaze
  • 1 cup colorful sprinkles for decoration

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, and softened butter until well combined.
  3. In another bowl, blend ricotta cheese, vanilla extract, and lemon zest.
  4. Combine the wet and dry ingredients until a soft dough forms.
  5. For filled cookies, mix chopped figs, nuts, and honey to create filling.
Baking
  1. Scoop dough onto a baking sheet and use your finger to create a small indentation.
  2. Fill the indentation with the fig and nut mixture.
  3. Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly golden.
  4. Allow cookies to cool completely.
Decoration
  1. For the glaze, mix powdered sugar and milk until smooth.
  2. Drizzle the glaze over cooled cookies and sprinkle with colorful decorations.

Notes

Cookies can be prepared ahead of time and stored properly based on their texture. Soft cookies need airtight storage while crisp cookies should be kept dry.