Everyone will enjoy these Italian baking recipes. No one can resist the taste of biscotti, amaretti cookies, focaccia and crispy grissini.
39 Italian Baking Recipes Straight from Nonna’s Kitchen
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Almond Biscotti
When it comes to Italian baking recipes, biscotti are a must! I’ve learned to bake a double batch of this crisp almond biscotti recipe because one batch goes too fast! —H. Michaelson, St. Charles, Illinois
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Cuccidati
The compliments make these Sicilian cookies worth the effort. It’s the best recipe for cuccidati I’ve found! —Carolyn Fafinski, Dunkirk, New York
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Torcetti
Our Sicilian grandmother often had my sister and me roll out the dough for these tasty torcetti. Their melt-in-your-mouth goodness is delicious without being overly sweet. These are one of my favorite Italian baking recipes. —Joy Quici, Upland, California
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Orange Ricotta Cake Roll
I come from a big Italian family. When I was growing up, my mom cooked and baked many delicious meals and desserts from scratch. Now I do the same for my family. This cake is my finale to our special-occasion dinners. —Cathy Banks, Encinitas, California
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Grandma Nardi's Italian Easter Bread
My Grandma Nardi’s bread with dyed Easter eggs represents family and tradition. I fondly remember how she taught me the recipe when I was a little girl. —Pat Merkovich, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Tender Italian Sugar Cookies
These traditional Italian cookies are moist and tender. —Weda Mosellie, Phillipsburg, New Jersey
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Mascarpone Cheesecake
This rich dessert is sure to delight with its creamy filling, whipped topping and sweet caramel drizzle. It makes an ideal ending to a special meal. —Deanna Polito-Laughinghouse, Raleigh, North Carolina
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Italian Bread
A basket of Italian bread complements any meal. Make your own loaves at home with our simple, straightforward recipe, then use them for sandwiches or just for sopping up some sauce.
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Italian Sesame Cookies
These nontraditional European cookies aren’t overly sweet and have a wonderful crunch from sesame seeds. They’re the ideal accompaniment to a freshly brewed cup of coffee or tea.—Sarah Knoblock, Hyde Park, Indiana
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Plum & Hazelnut Pie
My mom taught me about Italian prune plums and pie. Sprinkling the crust with ground hazelnuts gives it a luscious flavor and also keeps it from getting soggy. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
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Italian Cornmeal Spritz Cookies
A chef at a local culinary school gave me this recipe, and I've been using it for years. Italian cornmeal cookies are from the Piedmont region of northern Italy. They're not too sweet, and the glazed cherries add just the right touch. — Kristine Chayes, Smithtown, New York
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Cherry Tomato & Basil Focaccia
When I had 80 pounds of tomatoes, I got creative incorporating them into meals. Sometimes I slice this loaf into squares to make sandwiches with fresh mozzarella cheese and deli meats. —Katie Ferrier, Houston, Texas
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Italian Orange-Fig Cookies
This is one of the first holiday cookies I made when I found out I could no longer eat gluten. In those eight years, six of my family members and friends have also had to give up gluten, so these delicious Italian cookies have now become a treasured holiday tradition for all of us. By the way, no one will know they're gluten free unless you tell them! The cookies last for weeks if stored in a dry place. —Suzanne Banfield, Basking Ridge, New Jersey
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Sun-Dried Tomato Focaccia
This bread looks inviting and doesn’t disappoint when you take a bite. The sun-dried tomatoes and red onions give it an extra-special appearance, fit for any celebratory meal. —Kathy Katz, Ocala, Florida
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Chocolate Amaretti
These classic almond paste cookies are like ones you'd find in an Italian bakery. My husband and children are always excited when I include these goodies in my holiday baking lineup. —Kathy Long, Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
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Italian Chocolate-Hazelnut Cheesecake Pie
I first prepared an Italian-style cheese pie years ago. When I changed it up by adding a chocolate-hazelnut topping, it proved so popular that I had to give out copies of the recipe. —Steve Meredith, Streamwood, Illinois
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Chocolate Pistachio Biscotti
Chocolate, pistachios and cranberries make a dramatic, delicious trio. Introducing the cranberries to this recipe added tartness, texture and color, too. —Gilda Lester, Millsboro, Delaware
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Chocolate Fruit N Nut Cookies
Filled with fruit, nuts, chocolate and loads of flavor, these traditional Italian treats hit the spot. We enjoy them at Christmas with a hot beverage.
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Italian Horn Cookies
My family has been making these delicate, fruit-filled Italian horn cookies for generations. They’re light and flaky, with the look of an elegant old-world pastry. —Gloria Siddiqui, Houston, Texas
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Italian Sweet Bread
This golden brown bread offers satisfying sweetness in every slice. The hearty round loaves rise well and cut beautifully. With an egg wash and a sprinkling of Italian seasoning, the bread looks pretty, too. —Kim Ooms, Cottage Grove, Minnesota
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Cranberry Swirl Biscotti
A friend of mine, who is known for her excellent cookies, shared this recipe with me. The mix of cranberries and cherry preserves is so refreshing. —Lisa Kilcup, Gig Harbor, Washington
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Nonni’s Fritole
My Italian grandmother was famous for her fritole and made these treats for her family and friends. Years later we found her recipe card, but we tried making them without success. We finally figured out the missing part of the recipe—the self-rising flour! Now we can have these as often as we like. They bring back so many wonderful memories of our grandmother. —Ann Marie Eberhart, Gig Harbor, Washington
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Olive Focaccia
When I add my own special touches to a basic focaccia recipe—including sun-dried tomatoes, olives and roasted sweet red peppers—the results were simply delectable. The flavorful, chewy loaf makes a wonderful accompaniment to nearly any meal. —Dee Froemel, Hayward, Wisconsin
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Hazelnut-Espresso Sandwich Cookies
The inspiration for this cute cookie came from my sister's description of a hazelnut cookie she tried in Italy. She declared my version to be a wonderful approximation. My family likes to help fill and trim them. —Cindy Beberman, Orland Park, Illinois
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Ricotta Cheesecake
When I was a nurse, my co-workers and I regularly swapped recipes during lunch breaks. This creamy cheesecake was one of the best I received—and it’s a great Italian baking recipe! —Georgiann Franklin, Canfield, Ohio
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Chocolate Cannoli
We made two Italian treats into one with beautiful pizzelle cookies wrapped around a rich, chocolaty cannoli filling. The chopped pistachios are a pretty added touch. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Italian Rainbow Cookies
Colorful, gorgeously layered and filled with yummy almond, raspberry and chocolate flavors, our Italian rainbow cookies will be a recurring presence on your annual holiday cookie tray.
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Grissini
These thin, crisp breadsticks created in our Test Kitchen add a bit of elegance to a holiday dinner. Each bite is perfectly seasoned with thyme and coarse salt.
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Orange Chocolate Ricotta Pie
The orange and chocolate flavors make a classic pairing in this traditional Italian dessert. I serve it during the holidays and for special occasions. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
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Fig & Almond Cookies
In our family, holiday cookies—like these nutty fig ones—are a big deal. I'm so proud to be passing on this Italian tradition to my two boys. —Angela Lemoine, Howell, New Jersey
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Italian Ricotta Easter Bread
I changed our family's traditional Easter bread by adding ricotta and a few other ingredients. The almond flavoring works wonders! — Tina Mirilovich, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
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Chocolate Biscotti
Easy chocolate biscotti comes together quickly thanks to boxed cake mix and chocolate syrup, and a drizzle of white chocolate finishes these twice-baked chocolaty treats.
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Italian Pignoli Cookies
Cookies are the crown jewels of Italian confections. I can’t let a holiday go by without baking these traditional almond cookies rolled in mild pine nuts.—Maria Regakis, Somerville, Massachusetts
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Hazelnut Almond Biscotti
Pour a cup of coffee and indulge! Crisp, crunchy biscotti cookies are perfect for dunking. Hazelnuts and almonds make my favorite version even better. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona
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Apricot Almond Torte
This pretty cake takes a bit of time, so I like to make the layers ahead of time and assemble the day of serving, making it an easier option for entertaining. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
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Sweet Italian Holiday Bread
This is authentic ciambellotto, a sweet loaf my great-grandmother used to bake in Italy. I still use her traditional recipe—the only update I made was for using modern appliances. —Denise Perrin, Vancouver, Washington
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Spumoni Slices
My sweet rectangles get their name from the old-fashioned tri-colored ice cream. Our whole family prefers them. —Mary Chupp, Chattanooga, Tennessee
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Anise Pizzelle
These lovely, golden brown anise pizzelle cookies have a crisp texture and delicate anise flavor. I create them using a pizzelle iron. —Barbara Colucci, Rockledge, Florida
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