Italian cookies are a perfect spring and summer treat that aren't too sweet and are great with fruit or ice cream. Of course, they’re also great plain, especially when served with dessert wines as they are in Italy. DolceItalia.com is a great place to find the perfect pairings of cookies and dessert wines. Below, I picked five of my favorite Italian cookies that you should definitely try:

Almond Cookies
Italian almonds are prized around the world, and there are hundreds of different kinds of cookies made with this sweet nut. One of my all-time favorites, by the renowned Sicilian company Falanga, has a soft almond center topped with crunchy almond slivers. It’s fabulous with a glass of icy cold Asti Spumante docg, Italy’s premier sparkling dessert wine.

Amaretti
Amaretti, or "little bitters," are small, round almond cookies. A speciality of northern Italy, amaretti are made of sugar, almonds, and egg white.

Amaretti can be either hard (classici) or soft (morbidi). However, both types are made according to a regulated recipe, which defines the ingredients and baking process. 

Amaretti morbidi are wonderful paired with coffee, espresso, hot chocolate or with dessert wines such as Asti Spumante docg.

Hard amaretti are eaten at the end of a meal with espresso. They are also used in many traditional Italian recipes, in everything from savory dishes to desserts. In desserts they are a base for custard, semifreddo, and cake decorations.

Cantucci
Cantucci, also called “biscotti di Prato,” are a crunchy almond cookie created in the Tuscan town of Prato centuries ago. One of our favorites is made by Corsini.

Cantucci are traditionally dipped in Vinsanto, a sweet, fortified Tuscan wine.