10+ Italian Food Stocking Stuffers

Last updated on November 18th, 2024

Are you in charge of being Babbo Natale (Santa Claus) this year and filling everyone’s stockings?

Maybe you’re missing a couple of items to top off this season’s Christmas stockings and need some inspiration.

For more than a decade, I’ve been putting on my Santa hat in Italy for my four kids and husband. I’m always looking to add new food items that will satisfy everyone including my little ones who adore sweets, my husband who loves chocolate and my first born who loves gardening (and let’s be honest, I am doing my own stocking too so I am always looking for useful Italian cooking tools).

These are my top 10 Italian food stocking stuffers to consider this holiday season. I will briefly describe each one and share with you what I love about it. I’ll also include some runner ups at the end.

All of these items are either items I have purchased in Italy and brought back as souvenirs and gifts specifically for stocking stuffers or are items I am able to buy in the USA.

Are you ready to stuff those stockings? Andiamo!

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Mini Panettone

What would an Italian Christmas be without panettone (or pandoro for that matter)? You can now find small, individually wrapped panettoni for sale and add them to any stocking. Add it to the top of the stocking, making sure it’s one of the first things opened so he or she can get a Christmas morning nibble in right away before the Christmas festivities start!

Find it here -> mini panettone

Truffle Olive Oil

A small bottle of truffle oil is a great Italian food stocking stuffer for gourmet food lovers. A little bit goes a long way so it will last quite some time. It can be used on eggs, pasta dishes, rice or with cheeses or even on sandwiches.

Find it here -> truffle olive oil

Italian Chocolate

top view of 4 packages of ferrare rocher gold chocolates.

Nothing says the holidays more than chocolate and Italian chocolate is particularly good! Opt for Baci, Ferrero or Kinder chocolates. Whether you like dark or milk chocolate, Italy has something for you.

For more gourmet chocolate lovers, choose Modica chocolate or select based on The Most Popular Italian Chocolate – (Our Favorite Brands & Products).

Find it here -> Italian chocolate

Italian Herb Seeds

top view of two white seed packets fanned out for dill and lavender.

So much of Italian cooking incorporates the use of seasonal herbs so why not plant your own and have them available right outside your kitchen window? Herbs are easy to grow and can be grown even on a windowsill or a terrace in a pot (and you don’t need a green thumb to see results!)

Find them here -> Italian herb seeds

Italian Candies

top view of galatine candy in a white backage held in a hand on a white tile background.

What would a Christmas stocking be without candy? Italian candies are particularly fun for children as they are likely to be new to them. Torrone, Rosana, Sperlari and Galatine are good choices but before choosing, read up on them in The Most Popular Italian Candy – Five “Made in Italy” Brands That We Eat and Love!

Find it here -> Italian candy

Italian Cookies

close up of box of amaretti cookies in a red box.

Italian cookies are lightweight and delicious. Opt for amaretti cookies that are already individually wrapped, making it easy to pop them into a stocking, choosing the right number based on how large or small the stocking is.

Find them here -> Italian cookies

Gnocchi Board

A gnocchi board is a small cooking tool that anyone who likes to make homemade pasta would love unwrapping in their stocking. It’s used to create perfectly shaped gnocchi every time.

Find it here -> gnocchi board

Amarena Cherries

side view of blue and white cherry jar held in a hand on a wooden board

Amarena cherries are a classic Italian canned sweet that can be used to garnish cocktails, in Italian desserts or other baking projects. Once used up, the jar is cute and can be repurposed to hold other goods or for decoration in your kitchen. Add them to the bottom of the stocking as it’s heavy.

Find them here -> amarena cherries

Aperol or Campari Nips

side view of a hand holding a nip size small bottle of campari on a light orange surface.

I recently saw that you can now buy Aperol and Campari mono portions called “nips” at large liquor and wine stores. They are usually at the checkout or in a section with other small mono-portions. These are fun to open and then used to make any number of Italian cocktails such as a Campari Spritz, Spritz or Negroni.

Dried Porcini Mushrooms

Lightweight and versatile, this Italian food stocking stuffer won’t weigh it down. This essential Italian ingredient can be used in countless classic Italian recipe dinner ideas xx such as soups, stews, and risotti for tons of added flavor. This is an ingredient that anyone who loves to cook will appreciate.

Find them here -> dried porcini mushrooms

Mini Nutella

Layers of mini packages of Nutella chocolate and hazelnut spread.

Tiny containers of Nutella with a spoon is the perfect pocket treat to pop into any stocking. These are always greatly appreciated by my friends and loved ones. I often hear that they are perfect for your purse, to stash in your car or in your bedside table drawer but my feeling is they are gone before the New Year!

Find it here -> mini Nutella

Other Italian Food Stocking Stuffers

a hand holding an aluminum tin of illy coffee with white tile background.

Below is a short list of runner ups to this list of my top 10 Italian food stocking stuffers. These are items more geared to adults who love Italian food.