Italy Proves That, Yes, We Can Eat Cookies For Breakfast (2024)

Italy Proves That, Yes, We Can Eat Cookies For Breakfast (1)

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It’s hard to beat Americans at the breakfast game. We know how to throw down when it comes this meal. There are pancakes, French toast and waffles; eggs Benedict, biscuits with sausage gravy and breakfast sandwiches; and then the classic diner options like the kitchen sink (every breakfast item piled on a plate) and the 2-2-2 (two eggs, two meats, two pancakes). If you like to eat, there’s no place better to be than the states in the morning.

Or so we thought.

It turns out that there’s one country that might do it better, because they’re breaking all the rules. They eat cookies for breakfast ― and not those health-nut breakfast cookies, either ― but real deal cookie cookies. The country that daringly does this is Italy, ovviamente.

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Italy Proves That, Yes, We Can Eat Cookies For Breakfast (2)

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Italy has long been a country revered for its gastronomy and this little bit of information is proving that it deserves that reputation. Italians don’t make a big deal out of breakfast. They don’t spend a lot of energy whisking eggs and flipping pancakes. The kids drink milk, the adults drink caffé latte, and they all grab a cookie (or more) to dunk in their beverage. It’s simple, but it’s grand.

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Many people will tell you that Italians eat croissants for breakfast. And they will, if eating out. But at home most Italians eat cookies. Mulino Bianco, one of Italy’s biggest cookie brands, claims on its website that Italians eat more cookies than Americans because so many eat them for breakfast.

Chiara Piotto of HuffPost Italy explained that the question for Italians isn’t whether one should eat a cookie for breakfast, but which type of cookie to eat.

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“Not all biscuits are created equal,” she explains. “To choose the correct cookie is a serious matter. With or without chocolate chips? With or without a hole in the middle? Low fat or whole wheat? Supermarkets sell them in family packs because we go through them so quickly.”

We always thought Italy was heaven on earth. Now, we know it is.

Here are a few of the cookies Italians choose (and so can you, because they’re all available for purchase online):

1

Mulino Bianco Baiocchi Biscuits

Italy Proves That, Yes, We Can Eat Cookies For Breakfast (3)

Mulino Bianco

Baiocchi is a classic sandwich cookie with hazelnut and chocolate filling.

Get the Mulino Bianco Baiocchi Biscuits

Stella D'oro Breakfast Cookie

Italy Proves That, Yes, We Can Eat Cookies For Breakfast (4)

Stella Doro

Stella D'oro makes a classic, no frills S-shaped cookie made for dunking.

Get the Stella D'oro cookie

3

Mulino Bianco Galletti

Italy Proves That, Yes, We Can Eat Cookies For Breakfast (5)

Mulino Bianco

Galletti is a shortbread biscuit topped with sugar crystals.

Get the Mulino Bianco Galletti

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4

Pan di Stelle Il Biscotto

Italy Proves That, Yes, We Can Eat Cookies For Breakfast (6)

Pan di Stelle

This chocolate hazelnut cookie is famous in Italy.

Get the Pan di Stelle Il Biscotto

5

Mulino Bianco Cuoricini Biscuits

Italy Proves That, Yes, We Can Eat Cookies For Breakfast (7)

Mulino Bianco

Cuoricini are heart-shaped biscuits loaded with chocolate chips.

Get the Mulino Bianco Cuoricini Biscuits

Italy Proves That, Yes, We Can Eat Cookies For Breakfast (2024)

FAQs

Do Italians really eat cookies for breakfast? ›

Many people will tell you that Italians eat croissants for breakfast. And they will, if eating out. But at home most Italians eat cookies. Mulino Bianco, one of Italy's biggest cookie brands, claims on its website that Italians eat more cookies than Americans because so many eat them for breakfast.

What country eats cookies for breakfast? ›

They are indulgence in Italy. They are the way a license to break the rules, the feeling of briefly being somewhere else. Eating cookies for breakfast is a reminder that everything can be strange and new again—and that the order of things can, and should, sometimes be reversed.

What does Italy eat for breakfast? ›

These include a range of pastries, including cornetti, which is like a filled croissant, and sfogliatelle, a thin pastry with ricotta that's popular in Naples. Other sweet options include maritozzi, the famous Italian sweet bread often found in Rome, or biscotti to go with your coffee.

Why do Italians eat sweets for breakfast? ›

Eating so late at night means Italians don't wake up hungry in the morning, therefore a light breakfast of coffee and cake is enjoyed as a “morning snack” and is preferred to protein-packed heavy American or English breakfast options.

Is it OK to eat cookie for breakfast? ›

Still, breakfast cookies are usually a healthier option than sugary breakfast cereals or granola bars, she says. There are other reasons why breakfast cookies can be a good idea. For instance, fruits like banana, dried cherries, and raisins add natural sweetness while offering nutrients to boot.

What do they actually eat in Italy? ›

The most common foods in the Italian diet include pasta, cheese, vegetables, olive oil, meats, and wine.

Is it okay to eat a cookie every day? ›

While one cookie a day isn't going to completely derail your diet goals, it's often easy to eat more than one at a time, and soon enough, downing quite a few cookies throughout the day could lead to unwanted pounds.

How do Italians eat eggs? ›

Lots of Italian recipes use raw eggs, especially egg yolks. Pasta carbonara is probably the best known. In this recipe raw eggs are mixed with freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino Romano cheese, and freshly grated black pepper. Once the pasta is cooked and drained it's tossed with the egg mixture.

What is the biggest meal of the day in Italy? ›

Lunch is the day's main meal, lasting up to two hours! If you plan to eat lunch with locals, block out time. A typical Italian lunch consists of a primo (pasta, soup or risotto dish), a secondo (meat or fish-based dish) and a contorno (side dish).

What time is breakfast in Italy? ›

As in most places, breakfast can be most any time in the morning. Restaurants will usually serve between 7-11am. Italians will usually get cappuccino with a light choice like a croissant or yogurt. Fruit is also a popular Italian breakfast food.

Do Italians have cookies for breakfast? ›

These Breakfast Cookies are a traditional cookie served in Italy, a fast and easy way to have your cookie and eat it at breakfast. Crunchy on the outside and soft inside. These Italian Cookies are perfect anytime!

What time do Italians go to bed? ›

11:00pm – Midnight. Snuggle in bed with either the sounds of the countryside or the sounds of the noisy city (ahem… ROME) lulling you to sleep. What do you think of the Italian kind of day?

What do Chinese eat for breakfast? ›

Congee (rice porridge), rice noodles (mixian), and rice cakes (nian gao) are staples. Dim sum, such as steamed dumplings (xiaolongbao) and dumplings (jiaozi), are also popular. Western China: In the West, breakfast is influenced by the diverse ethnic groups in the region.

What countries eat the most cookies? ›

Argentina led the list with the highest consumption, with individuals averaging 12.44 kilograms annually. Following closely behind was the United Kingdom, where per capita consumption stood at 10.02 kilograms. Italy and the United States recorded consumption rates of 7.37 kilograms and 6.91 kilograms respectively.

What is the difference between American breakfast and Italian breakfast? ›

Italians prefer a sweet breakfast, like a cornetto (croissant), or fette biscottate (like crunchy pre-toasted bread :D) with jam. The traditional American breakfast is usually eggs, bacon or sausage, and pancakes or waffles. It's a bit heavy, but we don't eat this everyday!

Do Italians eat cannoli for breakfast? ›

Pastries, biscuits, cannoli and crepes

For most Italians a sweet pastry, biscuit, or some form of crepes is consumed for breakfast. The Sicilian cannolo is also enjoyed throughout the country.

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