Nonna’s Sicilian Christmas Cookies: A Sweet Taste of Nostalgia

The holidays wouldn’t be complete without these Italian Chocolate Ball Cookies, a recipe straight from my Nonna’s kitchen. As a child, I remember sneaking these cookies off the tray before dinner on Christmas Eve—soft, spiced, and completely irresistible. Nonna would bake hundreds of them to share with family and friends, and every bite feels like a warm hug.

While Nonna’s original recipe called for lard and butter (a classic in her day), I’ve modernized it with coconut oil and vegan butter, making them a little lighter while keeping all the flavor and nostalgia intact. These cookies aren’t the healthiest treat in my collection, but they are festive, decadent, and filled with love.

Why You’ll Love Them

These Italian Chocolate Ball Cookies are more than just a treat—they’re a tradition. With warm spices, rich cocoa, and a touch of brandy, they’re perfect for sharing with friends and family or enjoying with a cup of tea on a quiet winter evening.

If you make these, I’d love to see your creations! Tag me on Instagram and let me know how they turned out. Here’s to keeping Nonna’s legacy alive, one cookie at a time.

Italian Chocolate Ball Cookies

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This is a recipe that my Sicilian grandmother would make every Christmas she would make literally hundreds of these cookies and give them out to friends and family. As a young child, I remember stealing these cookies Christmas Eve and eating them before dinner.  These cookies are so irresistible and delicious! Nonna used lard and butter in her recipe, that’s just what they did in those days. I’ve swapped out the lard for coconut oil and the butter for vegan butter. Otherwise I have left this recipe as is. Warning so it is not the healthiest recipe in my collection, but it’s certainly is festive, nostalgic, and a wonderful holiday treat. I hope this recipe brings you and your family as much joy as it has brought ours!

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Course Dessert

Cuisine Italian

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Equipment

• Baking Sheet
• 2 mixing bowls
• hand mixer or stand mixer
• small offset spatula

Ingredients

  

• ½ cup coconut oil room temp
• ½ cup vegan butter room temp
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup organic sugar
• ½ cup organic brown sugar
• ¼ cup brandy
• 1 tsp allspice
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ cup dark cocoa powder
• 3 cups flour plus 1 cup to work with dough
• 1 cup walnuts chopped

Frosting

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• ¼ cup water or plant-based milk

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Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 325℉
• Cream together the sugars, coconut oil and butter. Next, mix in eggs and brandy
  ½ cup coconut oil, ½ cup vegan butter, 3 eggs, 1 cup organic sugar, ½ cup organic brown sugar, ¼ cup brandy
• In a separate bowl, combine allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, dark cocoa powder, and flour.
  1 tsp allspice, 1 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp salt, 2 tsp baking powder, ½ cup dark cocoa powder, 3 cups flour
• Working with your hands, add one cup of dry mixture at a time to the wet mixture. Keep adding dry mixture until the dough is firm.
• Next, using your hands gently work in chopped walnuts.
  1 cup walnuts
• Next shape the dough into 1 inch long and 1 inch thick strips, cut strips into 1 inch pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and place them 3/4 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake at 325℉ for 15 minutes.
• Cookies should be just firm on the outside and the center should be moist.
• Frost with a simple frosting, 2 cups powdered sugar and ¼ cup water or plant-based milk.
  2 cups powdered sugar, ¼ cup water or plant-based milk
• For a fun, festive flare, you can add candied sprinkles of any color.

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More About This Recipe

Tips for Making the Perfect Italian Chocolate Ball Cookies

• Chill the Dough: If you want to make the dough ahead of time, wrap it in wax paper and refrigerate overnight. Chilling makes the dough easier to work with and enhances the flavor.
• Shape with Care: Use your hands to gently roll the dough into small balls for even baking. A consistent size ensures they bake perfectly soft on the inside and firm on the outside.
• Customize Your Frosting: Add a drop of almond or vanilla extract to the frosting for extra flavor. Finish with festive sprinkles for a pop of holiday color!
• Use High-Quality Cocoa: A good dark cocoa powder makes all the difference in flavor. Look for one with no added sugars or fillers.

Tools You’ll Need

1. Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer: For creaming the butter, coconut oil, and sugars together seamlessly.
2. Baking Sheets: Non-stick or lined with parchment paper to ensure even baking and easy cleanup.
3. Cooling Racks: Allow the cookies to cool completely before frosting for the best texture.
   Small Offset Spatula: Perfect for spreading frosting evenly.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

The Benefits Behind the Ingredients

These cookies are a special indulgence, but they also include a few ingredients that offer some surprising benefits. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Walnuts: A Brain-Boosting Ingredient
   Walnuts are packed with omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants that support brain health and reduce inflammation. They’re also great for heart health and may help improve memory and focus.
2. Cinnamon: A Natural Metabolism Booster
   Cinnamon adds warm, festive flavor and has been linked to improved blood sugar regulation and metabolism support. It’s a holiday spice with a healthy kick!.
3. Cocoa Powder: Antioxidant-Rich Goodness
   Dark cocoa powder brings a rich, chocolatey depth to these cookies while providing flavonoids, which are powerful antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and support heart health.
4. Coconut Oil: A Plant-Based Fat Alternative
   Coconut oil is a healthier swap for lard, providing medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which may help boost energy and metabolism when used in moderation.