There’s nothing more magical than the aroma of Italian Christmas cookies filling the kitchen during the holiday season! 🍪✨
In Italy, Biscotti di Natale are more than just a treat—they’re a cherished tradition, passed down through generations. Every region has its own unique recipe, from Tuscan cantucci to Neapolitan struffoli, each reflecting local ingredients and flavors.
This traditional Biscotti di Natale recipe will transport you straight to an Italian Christmas, with its warm, comforting flavors and festive aroma. And if you love learning about Italian culture through food, don’t miss our article Learn Italian While Cooking, where we explore how food can be a delicious way to master the language!
With Valentina’s recipe, you can create different types of cookies from a single dough: classic shortcrust pastry 🍪, cocoa-flavored 🍫, and even butter-free options! 💚🎄✨
📺 Watch the full video recipe here:
▶️ Watch Valentina’s Italian Christmas Cookies Recipe
🎄 Traditional Italian Christmas Cookies Recipe
Ready to bake your own Biscotti di Natale? This recipe is simple, authentic, and perfect for the holiday season!
🛒 Ingredients:
- 250g (2 cups) all-purpose flour
- 100g (½ cup) sugar
- 100g (½ cup) butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon (optional, for a festive touch!)
- Powdered sugar for dusting
👨🍳 Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, mix the flour and baking powder.
- In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar until creamy.
- Add eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract and cinnamon.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms.
- Roll out the dough and cut into festive shapes.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let cool and dust with powdered sugar before serving.
🍽️ Tip: Enjoy these cookies with a cup of espresso or Vin Santo, a traditional Italian dessert wine!
🇮🇹 Learn Italian Through Food
Did you know that cooking is one of the best ways to learn Italian? By preparing traditional recipes, you naturally absorb new vocabulary and cultural expressions!
At Il Centro, we offer immersive experiences where language and cuisine come together thanks to collaborations with many well-known Italian cooking schools in Milan. Our Cooking & Enogastronomy Course is designed for food lovers who want to learn Italian while exploring the country’s rich culinary heritage.
📚 Essential Italian Phrases for Baking
To make your Biscotti di Natale experience even more authentic, here are some useful Italian phrases used in baking:
- 🍪 Mettere in forno a 180 gradi → *Bake at 180 degrees*
- 🥄 Setacciare la farina → *Sift the flour*
- 🧈 Montare gli albumi a neve → *Whip the egg whites until stiff*
- ❄️ Lasciare raffreddare → *Let it cool*
- 🎅 Spolverare con lo zucchero a velo → *Dust with powdered sugar*
💡 Practice these phrases while baking, and you’ll be learning Italian without even realizing it!
🍷 Discover Italian Culture Through Cooking!
Want to dive deeper into Italian culture, language, and gastronomy? A Cooking & Enogastronomy Course in Milan is perfect for those who want to:
- ✅ Learn Italian naturally while cooking traditional dishes
- ✅ Discover regional food traditions from pasta to pastries
- ✅ Improve communication skills in an interactive, hands-on environment
✨ Join us at Il Centro in Milan and experience Italian language and cuisine in an immersive way! 🇮🇹🍷
📌 Final Thoughts
This Biscotti di Natale recipe is more than just a Christmas treat—it’s a way to connect with Italian culture, traditions, and language.
- ✅ Try this recipe and share it with family and friends.
- ✅ Practice the Italian phrases while baking.
- ✅ Explore our courses for a deeper dive into Italy’s food and language.
🎄 Buon Natale e buon appetito! 🍪✨