These best Roman cookie recipes will make your mouth water and bring a little bit of Rome into your day–bake and enjoy these sweet treats at home today!
When in Rome, they say, do as the Romans do.
Luckily, if you can’t make it to the city of seven hills, there is a delicious way of bringing the dessert culture of this majestic city right into your kitchen.
Roman cookies make a delicious treat for any sweets connoisseur.
These authentic cookies boast unique ingredients like pistachio nuts, almond slivers, and aniseed.
With the traditional elements of Italian baking and a more modern flair, these baked goods are the perfect way to bring a little bit of Rome into your day.
Sure, you can find some of these treats in Italian bakeries or gourmet shops.
But the best cookies are always the ones you make yourself—Roman cookies included.
And now, thanks to the internet and a few simple ingredients, you can now try your hand at making these classic desserts at home.
We’ve collected a few of the best Roman cookie recipes around to help you indulge in a baking spree.
So bookmark this page and easily get access to the best Roman cookie recipes.
Choose from classic favorites like Biscotti to more modern takes like Red Velvet Pizzelle.
#9 hits the spot with some delicious walnut and hazelnut cookies.
1. Biscotti
When almonds, butter, and sugar come together in a recipe, you know it will be delicious.
This classic recipe combines both elements in a crunchy, double-baked cookie.
And while biscotti is traditionally dipped in a dessert wine, I prefer a more kid-friendly pairing with a hot cup of cocoa.
Ingredients include: All-purpose flour, baking powder, butter, almond slivers, and eggs.
Such a name for a cookie doesn’t do justice to how good this classic Italian treat really is.
Sure, these cookies may be small, lumpy, and pale—some of the things you want to avoid when baking—but the flavor more than makes up for it.
These are basically meringue cookies that just happen to be some of the most delicious cookies you can make.
Ingredients include: Egg whites, vanilla extract, sugar, sea salt, and hazelnuts.
These cracked, seemingly dry cookies are a favorite of Italians.
They may look plain, but the flavor is just out of this world.
An almond-based cookie is also one of the easiest to make.
They’re crunchy outside and soft inside, making them a perfect snack or dessert.
Ingredients include: Almond flour, egg whites, almond extract, sugar, and lemon zest.
If you’re starting to see a pattern of cookies that taste so much better than they look, you’re right.
Pignoli cookies are perhaps one prime example of this.
But with a treat that’s wrapped in pine nuts, how can you not want to try it?
It has such a satisfying crispiness and a unique flavor that you just can’t find anywhere else.
Ingredients include: Almond flour, almond extract, pine nuts, granulated sugar, and egg whites.
5. Ricciarelli
These need some dedication to get them right, but boy, are they worth it.
I usually think of macaroons when eating Ricciarelli—with its soft center and hard coating.
It also has a slightly tangy taste thanks to the lemon juice and hints of orange zest to it.
Ingredients include: Almond flour, egg whites, orange zest, sugar, and lemon juice.
Anise can be such a divisive flavor.
But if you’re a fan of it, this anise-based cookie recipe is one for you.
These cookies have a nice crunch and licorice flavor of anise that makes them taste unique.
Ingredients include: All-purpose flour, milk, vegetable oil, anise extract, and sugar.
Here’s a simple cookie recipe with an amazing crunch.
Almond brittle, as some call it, is a thin cookie that has an incredibly crunchy texture and nutty flavor.
Just be a little mindful when heating the sugar, as this can easily burn if not done right.
Ingredients include: Almonds, granulated sugar, and lemon.
8. Sfogliatelle
This one’s just clam-shell-shaped perfection at every angle.
Sfogliatelle, with its golden-brown exterior, looks like a pastry rather than a cookie.
But once you bite into it, the layers of crunchy dough and sweet ricotta filling will have you coming back for more.
Ingredients include: Honey, ricotta, semolina flour, cinnamon, and candied orange peel.
A boozy dessert that adults can indulge in, these come with a subtly sweet taste and a hint of red wine.
The cookie itself is soft and thick, with a chewy texture.
Dunk them into a glass of red wine, and you can find yourself in dessert heaven.
Ingredients include: All-purpose flour, red wine, olive oil, baking powder, and sugar.
10. Taralli
This ring-shaped cookie is a timeless snack in Italian culture.
It’s crunchy and flavorful but not overly sweet in taste.
It only needs a few basic ingredients, and the dough can be stored in the freezer for when you get the craving for it.
Ingredients include: All-purpose flour, sugar, olive oil, milk, and salt.
These bright red-colored waffle cookies are like nothing else.
First of all, the presentation alone is enough to make you want to eat the whole plate.
And the taste?
Just imagine pressed waffles and red velvet cake combined into one.
Ingredients include: All-purpose flour, eggs, butter, vanilla, and cocoa powder.
12. Pizzicati
They’re also known as pinch cookies because they need to be pinched into the desired shape before baking.
With jam sandwiched in the middle and a crunchy exterior, Pizzicati has all the flavors and textures that you could want in a cookie.
Ingredients include: Butter, cornstarch, sugar, egg, and jam.
13. Baci Di Dama
These little sandwich cookies are made with two hazelnut-flavored rounds that are held together by a delicious chocolate center.
It’s a simple yet classic cookie that never fails to please those with a sweet tooth.
Ingredients include: Ground hazelnuts, butter, sugar, flour, and semisweet chocolate.
The bottom line
For a city that has so much to offer in terms of cuisine, it’s no surprise that Rome has such an incredible selection of cookies.
From Anisette to Pizzicati, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
So if you want a taste of true Italian flavor, make sure to try some of these classic cookies!
There’s a world of flavors just waiting to be discovered.
13 Best Roman Cookie Recipes
These best Roman cookie recipes will make your mouth water and bring a little bit of Rome into your day–bake and enjoy these sweet treats at home today!
Ingredients
- Biscotti
- Brutti Ma Buoni (Ugly But Good)
- Amaretti Cookies
- Pignoli Cookies
- Ricciarelli
- Anisette Cookies
- Almond Croccante
- Sfogliatelle
- Ciambelline Al Vino
- Taralli
- Red Velvet Pizelle
- Pizzicati
- Baci Di Dama
Instructions
- Find your favorite recipe from our Roman Cookie Recipes list.
- Gather all the ingredients needed.
- If you love it, don't forget to share where you got it!