Sure, there are fancier desserts out there, but few make your eyes open as wide with delight as a gigantic platter of Italian cookies. We rounded up our 14 favorites, from 20th century Italian-American classics to ancient Roman recipes that are hundreds of years older than Christmas itself. Everyone will find a favorite on this list, though, honestly, it's hard to pick just one — we tried.

These twice-baked cookies from Tuscany are made for dipping in a robust cup of espresso, though milk or hot chocolate wouldn't be a bad choice either. If you can't find shelled pistachios, or you balk at their hefty price tag, feel free to replace them with the nut of your choice (walnuts are a particularly lovely option).

These toasty sesame cookies from Sicily are the perfect example of the "not too sweet" sweet. Perfect for breakfast or a light snack, they taste like they are, as their name says, fit for a queen.

These glazed lemon knots hail from southern Italy, but they are beloved all over the world. Light and pillowy, they exist on the fine line between cake and cookie.