Italian Christmas Cookies
Soft, rich, and packed with chocolate and pistachios, these Italian Christmas Cookies bring festive flavor with every bite like a cozy holiday hug from the oven.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup full-fat ricotta cheese drained
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp orange zest
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 10 oz mini chocolate chips divided
- 1 cup chopped pistachios
Instructions
- Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, then blend in ricotta, vanilla, cinnamon, and orange zest.
- In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually mix into the wet ingredients.
- Fold in most of the chocolate chips and pistachios, saving some for topping. Chill dough for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Scoop tablespoon-sized dough balls onto lined baking sheets.
- Bake for 8–11 minutes until edges are golden. Let cool completely.
- Drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with remaining pistachios.
Notes
Chilling the dough helps cookies stay thick and soft. You can swap pistachios with walnuts or almonds. Freeze undrizzled cookies for up to 3 months, and add toppings after thawing.