1Affogato
Will Dickey
Hot espresso meets cold gelato in this zippy Italian treat. You can get creative with the different flavors and toppings, including chopped pistachios, chocolate shavings, rolled wafer cookies, or even red and green sprinkles.
Get the Affogato recipe.
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2Pizzelle
Caitlin Bensel
For many Italian families, it wouldn’t be Christmas without these pretty wafer cookies. They’re light and crisp, so they’re perfect for serving up with a scoop of gelato.
Get the Pizzelle recipe.
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3Tiramisu Cake
Danielle Daly
This over-the-top cake is a fun twist on tiramisu! Each of the espresso-drenched layers is perfectly balanced with the fluffy mascarpone frosting.
Get the Tiramisu Cake recipe.
4Struffoli
Will Dickey
This fun dessert is made up of lots of little deep-fried dough balls all stuck together with a honey glaze. Shaping them into a wreath and adding red and green sprinkles makes it even more festive for the holidays.
Get the Struffoli recipe.
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5Cannoli
Will Dickey
This Sicilian specialty has a crisp pastry shell and a lusciously smooth sweetened ricotta filling. You can dress them up with different garnishes like chopped toasted pistachios or mini chocolate chips.
Get the Cannoli recipe.
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6Almond Layer Cookies
Ryan Liebe
These cake-like cookies are inspired by the classic Italian rainbow cookie. Instead of red, green, and white layers, they have a bold red and white look instead.
Get the Almond Layer Cookies recipe.
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7Espresso Biscotti
Will Dickey
Golden brown and crunchy, these Italian cookies are even better when dipped in a cup of hot coffee. They also make for a beautiful DIY gift during the holiday season.
Get the Espresso Biscotti recipe.
8Olive Oil Cake
Danielle Daly
Show off one of Italy’s best ingredients: olive oil! Its unique flavor when used in desserts like this simple citrusy cake.
Get the Olive Oil Cake recipe.
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9Italian Peach Cookies
Will Dickey
These cookies, known as pesche dolci, are as tasty as they are pretty! The pastel colors and peach buttercream in the center make them a sweet delight.
Get the Italian Peach Cookies recipe.
10Italian Christmas Cookies
Danielle Daly
Almond extract gives these sugar cookies a unique flavor, but it’s their vanilla glaze and red and green sprinkles that really make them stand out. They’ll look so pretty on a Christmas cookie plate.
Get the Italian Christmas Cookies recipe.
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11Ricotta Cheesecake
Will Dickey
Unlike New York-style cheesecake, which is made with cream cheese, this Italian-style cheesecake is made with light and fluffy ricotta cheese. You can decorate the top with chopped pistachios, chocolate chips, whipped cream, or anything your heart desires.
Get the Ricotta Cheesecake recipe.
12Panna Cotta
Caitlin Bensel
More elegant than Jell-O, but just as easy to make—homemade panna cotta is a luscious custard treat. Top it with a raspberry sauce, caramel, or chocolate sauce, if desired.
Get the Panna Cotta recipe.
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13Rainbow Cookies
Caitlin Bensel
Making this Italian-American classic is such a fun baking project for the holiday season. The almond-flavored, cake-like cookies have layers of jam between each color and a chocolate topping that’s hard to resist.
Get the Rainbow Cookies recipe.
14Chocolate-Dipped Mocha Cannoli
Bridget Edwards / The Pioneer Woman
This recipe takes traditional cannoli to the next level by dipping the shells in chocolate and filling it with a mocha pastry cream. It’s easy to make thanks to store-bought cannoli shells!
Get the Chocolate-Dipped Mocha Cannoli recipe.
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15Biscotti
Bridget Edwards / The Pioneer Woman
The name biscotti comes from the word meaning “twice cooked.” You’ll bake them off twice to get that extra-crunchy texture that’s perfect for dunking in a cup of coffee.
Get the Biscotti recipe.
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16Tiramisu
The Pioneer Woman
This layered coffee-flavored dessert is light, creamy, and great for making ahead. Ree Drummond says that this life-changing treat is “enough to make your eyelids flutter.”
Get Ree’s Tiramisu recipe.
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17Panettone 
Preppy Kitchen18Zeppole
Immaculate Bites
These doughnut-like fritters are sometimes made for Saint Joseph’s Day in parts of Italy, but they’re also a great choice for Christmas if you’re serving a crowd. Fill up a platter with zeppole and top them with powdered sugar for a sweet treat.
Get the Zeppole recipe at Immaculate Bites.
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19Pizzicati
The Mediterranean Dish
Otherwise known as Italian pinch cookies, these jam-filled treats are like little gifts of their own! The shortbread dough isn’t too sweet and can easily pair with any flavor filling (strawberry, fig, or apricot).
Get the Pizzicati recipe at The Mediterranean Dish.
20Italian Hot Chocolate
Whisk It Real Gud
Kara Zauberman is the Senior Editor of Content Strategy at The Pioneer Woman, covering stories ranging from food, lifestyle, news, and more. When she’s not writing and editing, you can find her seeking out new restaurants or cooking for friends and family.
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