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    Home » Cookies

    Italian Chocolate Cookies

    Published: Apr 20, 2021 by Marcellina

    1.8K shares
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    image with text. text reads "the best italian chocolate cookies". image is three chocolate cookies with white frosting and sprinkles stacked with extra cookies around all on a wire rack.

    These Italian Chocolate Cookies are so easy to make and your kitchen will be filled with wonderful baking smells!

    Blending TWO types of chocolate with the crunchiness of walnuts, these cookies are a must for lovers of chocolate. And a surprising ingredient ensures moist cookies!!

    three chocolate cookies with white frosting and sprinkles stacked with extra cookies around all on a wire rack.

    Why you'll love this recipe

    Italian chocolate cookies are rich, lightly spiced and perfect for gift giving. Moist and almost cake-like, these cookies are prettily decorated with white icing and colored sprinkles.

    Just like other Italian cookies (think baci di dama, cuccidati, pignoli cookies or Italian peach cookies), these cookies are super flavorful and fun to make and eat!!

    Packed with crunchy walnuts and lots of chocolate chips, these Italian chocolate cookies are popular during the holidays but also ideal year round. Make a batch to share today!

    For complete ingredient quantities and full instructions, please scroll to the printable recipe card bottom of the page.

    Ingredient notes

    Here's what you'll need.

    • all purpose plain flour - nothing fancy here
    • superfine (castor) sugar - dissolves much more easily
    • cocoa powder - dutch processed for extra dark chocolateyness
    • baking powder - to give just the correct amount of rise
    • spices - cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg
    • eggs, milk and vanilla extract
    • walnuts - you'll want some texture so don't chop these too fine
    • mini dark chocolate chips - or use regular chocolate chips in dark, milk or white
    • extra virgin olive oil - the surprising ingredient that add so much moisture and flavor

    Plus powdered (icing) sugar with a little bit of milk for the icing. Colored sprinkles are a must!

    ingredient for italian chocolate cookies as shown in the recipe card.

    Instructions

    Preheat the oven to 350ºF/160ºC and line two large baking trays with non stick baking paper.

    6-step photo collage showing how to make italian chocolate cookies.
    1. Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, spices and salt.
    2. Beat eggs. Add sugar and beat until pale then drizzle in olive oil, milk and vanilla.
    3. Stir in flour mixture in two lots.
    4. Then add walnuts and mini chocolate chips and mix to combine.
    5. After resting, form balls and place on lined baking sheet. Bake and cool.
    6. Combine icing ingredients. Spread a little icing on each cookie and decorate with colored sprinkles.

    Tips for success and FAQ's

    white frosting covered chocolate cookies on wire rack with retro knife.

    To make really good Italian Chocolate Cookies it's really important not to over-bake otherwise they will be dry. These cookies should be soft and moist.

    Use large or extra large eggs and fresh walnuts for best results. And don't omit the resting - it's essential for this recipe.

    How do I store these cookies?

    Store at room temperature in an airtight container with non stick or wax paper between the layers for 5 days.

    Can Italian Chocolate Cookies be frozen?

    Yes! Freeze in an airtight container for up to one month (possibly longer). When thawing, don't remove instead thaw cookies completely in the container.

    More recipes like this

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    Made this recipe?
    Let me know if you liked it by leaving a ★★★★★ star rating and a review below. Please share a photo of your creation by tagging me on Instagram @marcellina.in.cucina!

    This updated recipe was first published on June 25, 2012.

    Recipe

    white frosting covered chocolate cookies on wire rack.

    Italian Chocolate Cookies Recipe

    Rich chocolate cookies packed with crunchy walnuts and lots of chocolate chips then topped with icing and sprinkles.
    5 from 96 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes
    Resting time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 57 minutes minutes
    Servings:36 cookies
    Author: Marcellina

    Ingredients

    • 2⅓ cups all (plain) purpose flour
    • ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
    • 2 large eggs
    • ¾ cup sugar
    • ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
    • ½ cup milk
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¾ cup walnuts chopped medium fine
    • 1 cup mini choc chips

    Icing

    • 1½ cups powdered (icing) sugar
    • 1 tablespoon milk more if necessary
    • sprinkles for decorating
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350ºF/160ºC and line two large baking trays with non stick baking paper.
    • Whisk (or sieve) together flour, cocoa, baking powder, spices and salt.
    • With  a whisk attachment on the an electric mixer beat together eggs until frothy then slowly add sugar. Beat until pale and thick.
    • Slowly drizzle in the olive oil followed by milk and vanilla.
    • Using a wooden spoon, add the flour mixture in two lots, stirring until smooth. Stir through the walnuts and mini choc chips. The dough will be soft and sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rest for 20 to 30 minutes.
    • Take rounded teaspoonsful of the dough and roll between your palms into a ball. Place the balls on the prepared trays allowing room for spreading and rising.
    • Bake for 10-12 minutes. Don't over bake - these are meant to be soft and moist. The cookies will rise and form a few cracks. Cool on the trays for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool.
    • Spread a small amount of icing on each cookie and decorate with coloured sprinkles. Allow icing to set before serving or storing.

    Icing

    • If the sugar has lumps, sieve before using.
    • Mix the powdered (icing) sugar and milk together to form a thick but spreadable icing. Add more milk if needed.

    Notes

    These cookies have be adapted from a recipe for Roman Chocolate Cookies in Greg Patent's cookbook "A Baker's Odyssey".
    Tips for success
    • it's really important not to over-bake otherwise they will be dry. These cookies should be soft and moist.
    • use large or extra large eggs
    • fresh walnuts for best results
    • be sure to rest the dough before forming cookies and baking
    How to store
    Store at room temperature in an airtight container with non stick or wax paper between the layers for 5 days.
    How to freeze
    Yes! Freeze in an airtight container for up to one month (possibly longer). When thawing, don't remove instead thaw cookies completely in the container.

    Nutritional Information Per Serving

    Calories: 5138kcal | Carbohydrates: 729g | Protein: 74g | Fat: 228g | Saturated Fat: 55g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 370mg | Sodium: 926mg | Potassium: 2499mg | Fiber: 29g | Sugar: 460g | Vitamin A: 1148IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 1049mg | Iron: 26mg

    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Nutritional information is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. For accurate results, it is recommended that the nutritional information be calculated based on the ingredients and brands you use.

    Tried this recipe? I'd love to see!Mention @marcellina.in.cucina or tag #marcellinaincucina

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Pat G.

      December 05, 2021 at 9:34 am

      5 stars
      I made these for the holidays, and they are delicious!!

      Reply
      • Marcellina

        December 05, 2021 at 5:22 pm

        Perfect for the holidays, Pat!

        Reply
    2. nancy

      November 23, 2021 at 10:43 am

      5 stars
      the birthday cake sprinkles and icing was a nice touch

      Reply
    3. Kayla DiMaggio

      November 22, 2021 at 10:39 pm

      5 stars
      Loving these italian chocolate cookies! They remind me of what my grandma used to make!

      Reply
    4. angiesrecipes

      April 20, 2021 at 9:47 pm

      I love chunky tall look of these chocolate cookies. The icing and sprinkles make them even more tempting.

      Reply
    5. Ciao Chow Linda

      June 30, 2012 at 12:43 am

      I always thought these cookies were Sicilian or from Calabria. I grew up eating something very similar and they're on my blog as Italian Christmas "brownies."

      Reply
    6. Cakelaw

      June 26, 2012 at 9:26 pm

      These cookies look marvellous.

      Reply
    7. Pam

      June 26, 2012 at 1:04 am

      Those would be very dangerous for me... they look amazing!

      Reply
    8. mireia badia

      June 25, 2012 at 5:19 pm

      Nice!!!! I had never heard of such cookies!!

      Reply
    9. Deeba PAB

      June 26, 2012 at 2:59 am

      These would disappear in a heartbeat. Love love love the icing.

      Reply
    10. simple baking

      June 25, 2012 at 2:36 pm

      OMG these are exquisite! Perfect companion to a hot mug of coffee.

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

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