Cookies are an essential part of any Italian family’s Christmastime feast or celebration. Whether your family makes a delicate pizzelle or some comforting biscotti, each unique recipe evokes the heartwarming embrace of family traditions.
Crescent Cookies
Crescent cookies, or Vanillekipferl, are actually from Austria and Germany. The influence of the iconic powdered sugar and nut-filled crescent dates back to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The exact date that the cookie was introduced to Italy is unknown, however, we do know that this cookie is now a staple in many Italian-American households!
Sicilian Fig Cookies
Best known as cuccidati, Sicilian fig cookies have warranted an intense influence on the Italian-American community. After Arabs introduced raisins, figs, and dates to the Palermo region of Sicily hundreds of years ago, the cuccidati cookie was born. The cookie has even warranted its own annual festival in the city of Chicago.
Rainbow Cookies
Italian Americans have taken this cookie and made it their own. The colors are meant to represent the Italian flag’s famous green, white, and red. Their popularity arose in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The almond mixes well with dark chocolate, contributing to its continuous popularity.
Pizzelle Cookies
Would you believe that the pizzelle is the world’s oldest cookie? The beautifully adorned cookie is often a favorite around Christmastime. Dating back hundreds of years in the town of Abruzzo, small provinces claim ownership of the sweet and delicate treat. The cookie is recognized by the Festival of Snakes and the Feast Day of San Domenico, a monk who saved a town ridden by a snake infestation.
Amaretti Cookies
Dating back to the early 18th century, amaretti cookies were originally a secret recipe. Stories say that a bishop was given the cookies from a newlywed couple. In return, the bishop blessed the couple with a long and happy marriage. The almond cookies are now enjoyed with coffee and tea. Try them sprinkled on some of your favorite gelato!
Befanini Cookies
Though not necessarily a Christmas cookie, Befanini, or Empihany/La Befana cookies, originate during the biblical story of the Three Wise Men offering gifts to Jesus. The holiday is celebrated on January 6th of each year. La Befana is the story of a witch who grants children presents and befanini cookies in hopes of finding Jesus.
Biscotti Cookies
This Italian favorite has a rich history. Dating back to ancient Rome, the hard cookies were useful to soldiers who had trouble transporting food from place to place. The original recipe was simple, with flour water, and sometimes flavored with honey. Their popularity skyrocketed after local bakeries created their own adaptations of the cookie, which is now the biscotti we know and love today
Florentine Cookies
Though one may think that by the name alone the cookie originated in Florence, florentines may have actually originated in France. However, the nut-based cookie has become an Italian delicacy over the years. The are believed to be named florentine because the currency in Europe at the time was similarly shaped.
Sources
- Vanillekipferl (vanilla crescent cookies) [Caroline’s Cooking]
- Celebrating cuccidati, the Sicilian Christmas cookie that merits its own festival [Chicago Tribune]
- Get to Know the Italian Rainbow Cookie, an Italian Delicacy That’s Tough to Find in D.C. [Eater Washington DC]
- History of the Pizzelle-The World’s Oldest Cookie [Unique Dining]
- Amaretti Cookies [Alessi Foods]
- Italian Befanini Cookies For Epiphany and Le Befana [Posh in Progress]
- Biscotti, What Are They? The Italian Cookie with a Story to Tell [The Biscotti Company]
- Rainbow Cookie Photo
- https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rainbow_cookies.jpg
- sweetfixNYC, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
- What is a Florentine Biscuit, and How are These Delicate Cookies Made? [y!sports]
- Florentine Photo: https://flic.kr/p/6HNbG8
