10 Best Italian Cookie Brands to Buy

Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Daniel Globe

Italian cookies range from simple breakfast biscuits to almond-rich amaretti, crisp Tuscan cantuccini, delicate ladyfingers, and gift-ready pastry assortments. The right brand depends on how you plan to serve them, which textures you enjoy, and whether you need a clearly labeled gluten-free option. This guide compares 10 established Italian brands and explains what each one does best.

Why Choose Italian Cookie Brands

Italian cookie brands give you more than one style of sweet biscuit. You can choose crisp cookies made for dipping in coffee, firm savoiardi that hold their shape in tiramisu, almond-based amaretti, buttery pastry assortments, or regional specialties such as Tuscan cantuccini.

Many of the brands below have long histories, but age alone does not prove that every product will suit you. Look at the specific cookie, ingredient list, texture, package size, and intended use. A delicate ladyfinger may be excellent in dessert but disappointing when you want a crunchy snack. A firm cantuccino may be ideal with coffee or dessert wine but too hard for someone who prefers soft cookies.

10 Best Italian Cookie Brands at a Glance

Mulino Bianco for Everyday Variety

Mulino Bianco is a practical first choice when you want a broad range of Italian breakfast cookies. The brand’s first biscuit packages appeared in October 1975, not 1974. Its early lineup included Galletti, Tarallucci, Molinetti, Campagnole, and Pale.

Today, shoppers commonly look for Macine with fresh cream, sugar-topped Galletti, cocoa Pan di Stelle, filled Baiocchi, and other shortbread-style biscuits. The textures and ingredients differ widely, so choose by product rather than assuming the full range tastes the same.

Mulino Bianco is best for households that like variety and want several flavors for breakfast, coffee breaks, or a mixed cookie tray. Some products are sold in gluten-free versions, but only packages that clearly carry that claim should be treated as gluten-free.

Lazzaroni Amaretti for Almond Lovers

Chiostro di Saronno by Paolo Lazzaroni & Figli is a strong choice when amaretti are your priority. The company describes an eight-generation family tradition. Its modern confectionery history includes the merger of two Lazzaroni family businesses in 1927 and the later relaunch of the Chiostro di Saronno line.

Almond Flavor Profile

Amaretti usually have a concentrated almond or marzipan-like flavor, a sweet aroma, and either a crisp or soft texture. Current Chiostro di Saronno recipes vary by product. Some official product pages list almonds, sugar, and egg white, while other descriptions refer to apricot kernels. Read the exact package if you need to avoid a specific nut, seed, or kernel ingredient.

Crisp amaretti pair well with espresso, tea, dessert wine, ice cream, or fruit. Soft amaretti give you a chewier center and work well on a dessert plate or in a gift box.

Traditional Amaretti Craft

The brand sells both crunchy and soft amaretti, including individually wrapped cookies and decorated tins. That makes it useful for two different needs: a small after-dinner cookie or a present that looks finished without extra wrapping.

Do not assume every amaretto-flavored product contains the same recipe as the cookies. The company also makes Amaretto Lazzaroni liqueur, but the biscuit and liqueur ingredient lists are not interchangeable.

Matilde Vicenzi for Elegant Treats

Matilde Vicenzi began in 1905 in San Giovanni Lupatoto near Verona. The company’s early pastry line included ladyfingers, amaretti, and puff pastries. It remains a useful brand when you want a polished assortment rather than a basic breakfast biscuit.

Elegant Pastries and Cookies

• Puff-pastry rolls and layered pastry cookies for a light, flaky texture
• Amaretti for an almond-forward option
• Assorted pastry boxes for serving guests
• Individually portioned products for coffee or tea
• Decorative packaging that works well for gifting

Ladyfingers for Tiramisu

Vicenzovo ladyfingers are designed for desserts such as tiramisu, charlotte, and trifle. A good ladyfinger should absorb coffee or syrup while keeping enough structure to support the layers. Dip each cookie quickly rather than soaking it until soft. The cream and resting time will continue to add moisture.

Galbusera’s Specialty and Better-For-You Cookies

Galbusera began in 1938 in Morbegno in Italy’s Valtellina region. The brand now offers regular biscuits as well as products aimed at specific preferences, including gluten-free, high-fiber, and no-added-sugar lines.

• ZeroGrano products that are specifically labeled gluten-free
• Some gluten-free products that are also labeled lactose-free
• Whole-grain and high-fiber choices
• No-added-sugar products that use sweeteners
• Sweet and savory options within the wider brand range

The phrase “better for you” should not be treated as a medical or nutrition guarantee. Compare serving size, sugar, saturated fat, fiber, and ingredients on the label. Some no-added-sugar cookies contain sweeteners, and some gluten-free cookies still contain milk, eggs, soy, or nuts.

Forno Bonomi and Classic Ladyfingers

Forno Bonomi traces its roots to a small bakery opened in Velo Veronese in 1850. The brand is especially well known for Savoiardi, but it also makes amaretti, shortbread, and puff-pastry products.

Forno Bonomi Heritage

The company grew from a mountain bakery into a large producer in the Verona area. Its value for shoppers is not simply the age of the business. It is the focused range of Italian baking staples that can be eaten as cookies or used as dessert ingredients.

• Classic Savoiardi in several package sizes
• Firm texture suited to layered desserts
• Amaretti and shortbread for direct snacking
• Puff pastries for tea or coffee
• Clear product pages with ingredient and allergen details

Classic Savoiardi Uses

Forno Bonomi’s classic Savoiardi contain wheat flour, sugar, and eggs, along with leavening and other ingredients listed on the package. Their dry, airy structure makes them useful for tiramisu because they can take on moisture without immediately turning into paste.

You can also use savoiardi in trifles, charlottes, icebox cakes, or simple layered desserts with fruit and custard. Plain ladyfingers are lightly sweet, so they work best when the coffee, syrup, fruit, or cream provides most of the final flavor.

Doria’s Everyday Biscuit Classics

Doria traces its bakery roots to the 1800s, not 1920. Its best-known Bucaneve biscuit was launched in 1950 and became recognizable for its flower-like shape and small icing drops.

Bucaneve is a light shortbread-style biscuit for breakfast, tea, or coffee. The Doria range also includes Atene and several newer Bucaneve variations. Some lines are gluten-free, but the standard and specialty versions have different recipes and allergen statements.

• Bucaneve: crumbly, lightly sweet, and easy to pair with hot drinks
• Atene: a richer classic biscuit with a more distinct flavor
• Gluten-free range: separate products for shoppers who need a labeled option

Oro Saiwa for Simple Breakfast Cookies

Oro Saiwa grew from a Genoa pastry business that began in 1900. The S.A.I.W.A. company name appeared in 1922, while the Oro Saiwa brand launched in 1956. Today it is produced under Mondelez Italia.

The classic rectangular biscuit has a crisp texture and mild sweetness. It works well with milk, tea, coffee, or simple desserts that need a plain biscuit layer. The current range also includes whole-grain, chocolate, and gluten-free products.

Choose Oro Saiwa when you want a neutral biscuit that will not overpower another flavor. It is less suitable when you want a buttery pastry, a strong almond cookie, or a soft-centered treat.

Balocco’s Affordable Cookie Options

Balocco dates to 1927 and makes frollini, wafers, and traditional pastry products. Its cookie range includes Zuppole, Novellini, Bastoncini, whole-grain biscuits, and amaretti.

Balocco is a sensible option when you want familiar Italian biscuits in practical packages. Zuppole are made for dipping, Novellini have a classic milk-and-honey profile, and Bastoncini offer a crisp lemon-scented style.

Pan di Stelle is not a Balocco product. It originated in the Mulino Bianco range and later developed into its own related brand identity. When comparing labels or online listings, use the manufacturer name on the current package rather than a retailer’s category text.

Gentilini for Roman Biscuit Classics

Biscotti Gentilini began in Rome in 1890. Its best-known products include Osvego, Novellini, Margherite, Brasil cocoa biscuits, and decorative tins that draw on the company’s long Roman history.

Osvego is a useful starting point if you enjoy crisp malt-and-honey biscuits. Margherite add a light citrus note, while Brasil offers a deeper cocoa flavor. Gentilini is also one of the stronger choices on this list for a gift because many assortments come in reusable illustrated tins.

Sapori 1832 for Tuscan Cantuccini

Sapori 1832 is rooted in Tuscan pastry traditions. The company began with Virgilio Sapori’s work in 1832 and now produces panforte, ricciarelli, amaretti, and cantuccini.

Choose Sapori when you want a regional cookie rather than a general breakfast biscuit. Its almond cantuccini are cut diagonally and baked again for a dry, crisp texture. That double-baked structure makes them suitable for dipping in coffee, Vin Santo, or another dessert drink. The brand also makes chocolate cantuccini and soft almond-based ricciarelli.

For tiramisu, choose firm savoiardi. For dipping, choose cantuccini or a crisp breakfast biscuit. For gifting, choose amaretti or an assorted tin.

How to Choose the Right Brand

Start with the way you plan to use the cookies. A brand can be excellent in one category and only average in another. Use the table below to narrow your choice before comparing flavors and package sizes.

What to Check	Why It Matters	Good Starting Points
Intended use	Tiramisu, dipping, gifting, and daily breakfast need different textures.	Forno Bonomi, Sapori 1832, Chiostro di Saronno, Mulino Bianco
Texture	Crisp, crumbly, airy, flaky, and chewy cookies feel very different.	Doria, Matilde Vicenzi, Sapori 1832, Chiostro di Saronno
Ingredients and allergens	Italian cookies often contain wheat, eggs, milk, almonds, hazelnuts, or soy.	Check every current package
Dietary label	A brand may sell both regular and gluten-free products.	Galbusera ZeroGrano, labeled Doria or Oro Saiwa products
Availability	The range sold outside Italy may be smaller than the domestic range.	Compare local Italian grocers and official brand listings
Package condition	Crushed cookies and broken seals reduce quality.	Choose intact packs with a clear best-before date

Use reviews to learn about texture, breakage, and freshness, but treat them as a secondary signal. The current ingredient list and package condition matter more than a ranking. For imported products, also check the best-before date and whether the package was protected during shipping.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Italian cookie brand?

Mulino Bianco is the best all-around starting point for variety, but there is no single winner for every use. Choose Chiostro di Saronno for amaretti, Matilde Vicenzi or Forno Bonomi for ladyfingers, Gentilini for Roman classics, and Sapori 1832 for Tuscan cantuccini.

What cookies are famous in Italy?

Famous Italian cookies include cantuccini, amaretti, baci di dama, canestrelli, krumiri, savoiardi, and regional shortbread biscuits. Their textures range from hard and twice-baked to soft, airy, or crumbly.

What are 10 Italian cookie brands worth trying?

Ten established choices are Mulino Bianco, Chiostro di Saronno by Lazzaroni, Matilde Vicenzi, Galbusera, Forno Bonomi, Doria, Oro Saiwa, Balocco, Gentilini, and Sapori 1832.

What Italian cookies make a good souvenir?

Decorative tins of amaretti or Gentilini assortments travel well and look gift-ready. Tuscan cantuccini and ricciarelli are also distinctive choices. Check the seal, best-before date, and customs rules before packing food for an international trip.

Which Italian cookies are best for tiramisu?

Use dry, firm savoiardi from a brand such as Matilde Vicenzi or Forno Bonomi. Dip them quickly in coffee so they absorb flavor without collapsing before the dessert has chilled.

Which Italian brands sell gluten-free cookies?

Galbusera, Doria, Oro Saiwa, Mulino Bianco, and Chiostro di Saronno sell some products labeled gluten-free. The claim applies only to the specific package, so check the current label and allergen statement every time.

Conclusion

The best Italian cookie brand depends on what you want to eat or make. Mulino Bianco gives you broad everyday choice, Chiostro di Saronno specializes in amaretti, Matilde Vicenzi and Forno Bonomi make useful ladyfingers, and Sapori 1832 brings classic Tuscan flavors. Compare the specific product, not just the logo, and check ingredients, allergens, texture, and package condition before you buy.

Sources

1. Mulino Bianco: 1970s brand history: launch date and original biscuit range
2. Chiostro di Saronno: company history: Lazzaroni family and confectionery timeline
3. Matilde Vicenzi: group history: 1905 origin and early pastry products
4. Galbusera: company history: 1938 origin and brand approach
5. Forno Bonomi: company history: 1850 bakery roots and Savoiardi focus
6. U.S. Food and Drug Administration: food allergy labels: ingredient and allergen-checking guidance