Italian Christmas Cookies Recipe

Oxmoor House Recipe:Biscotti With Lavender and OrangeBiscotti are traditionally Italian almond cookies. What is special about them is that they are baked twice: first whole, when the dough is shaped into a log; then, once it is sliced into cookies, it is baked again. In this delicious recipe, fresh lavender, combined with freshly grated orange rind, gives these crunchy cookies an aromatic appeal that's better than any bakery fare. This combination blends well with the delicate taste of toasted almonds and the light flavor of vanilla. You will love the fresh crunch of these Biscotti with Lavender and Orange. Twice baked it is.

If you're looking for a good recipe for the best Italian Christmas Cookies, these seven should hit your sweet spot.

Pizzelles.

The name pizzelle comes from the Italian word "pizze" for round and flat. These cookies are a winter holiday staple in every Italian family, because they are shaped like snowflakes and are dusted in powdered sugar. The traditional (and best) kind should be crisp and paper-thin. You must have a pizzelle iron to make them.

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Rainbow cookies.

Though they're a bit labor-intensive, it isn't Christmas without these festive holiday colored (or Italian flag-colored) cookies. Made by stacking three separate thin cakes with a layer of raspberry jam, rainbow cookies get their distinct taste and texture from dough that's made with flour and almond paste.

Almond horns.

These horseshoe-shaped cookies are delicious and naturally gluten free -- they are made from marzipan, almond meal, and sugar, rolled in sliced almond and the ends are dipped in chocolate. Bonus: They're one of the easiest cookies to make. Once you see how easy these are to make, you'll never want to buy them out again.

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Butter balls.

These doable cookies are one of our all-time favorites. With a stick of butter mixed into the flour (hence the name), and rolled in powdered sugar, they have a distinct toothiness that makes it impossible to eat just one.

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Biscotti.

Whether you like them with pistachios, chocolate chips, or just plain -- is there any cookie more quintessentially Italian than a biscotto? Try this version with lavender and orange for a twist on the classic.

Pignoli.

Pignoli (pine nut) cookies -- a macaroon typical of Sicily -- are one of our favorites. Slightly more moist than biscotti, with a similar buttery and nutty taste, pignoli are at their prime alongside a hot cup of espresso.

Anisette cookies.

These cake-like confections come in two forms: balls dipped in icing and sprinkles, and a long, curved version, affectionately called "S" cookies. Anise extract gives them a distinct, not overpowering, taste (even those who don't like licorice usually like these).