Easy Parmesan Cookies Recipe

Our Italian Parmesan cookies are savory, buttery, cheesy with a satisfyingly light crunch. Perfect to pair with a glass of wine and cheese or dip into your favorite soup! You only need 7 ingredients, one of them being water and they’re incredibly easy to make. Cookies don’t always have to be a dessert!

This recipe is incredibly versatile too. You can add dried dill and lemon zest to create something bright and fresh. Or add oregano, dried onion and garlic seasoning for a new take on croutons. Make a Cajun inspired cookie with smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and thyme. You’ll have fun thinking of all the yummy flavor combinations to pair with wine, soups, jams and dips! These Parmesan cookies will be the big hit side dish at your next cheese and wine night!

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Can a cookie be savory?

Of course! While most cookies are sweet; savory cookies can be flavorful and satisfying!  The main difference between this cookie recipe and a sugar cookie is we use zero sugar. You can incorporate ingredients like herbs, cheeses, and spices instead of sweet flavors. Or you can go sweet and savory, which is my preferred flavor combination. Our cookies include unsalted butter, all purpose flour, salt and pepper. We add shredded Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning as a savory element. My favorite part about these cookies, besides the taste, is the texture. Its so light, crispy and slightly addictive. But its okay to treat yourself every once in a while!

Gather the Ingredients for the Parmesan cookies

• Cold unsalted butter
• Parmesan cheese
• All-purpose flour
• Italian seasoning
• Black pepper
• Salt
• Warm water

Parmesan substitutions

Don’t have any Parmesan at home? No problem! There are a few delicious substitutions you can do. Gruyere is a great alternative as it has a mild, nutty, slightly buttery taste. Gruyere and Parmesan are my top favorite cheese’s; along with Cotswold. You could use Pecorino Romano or Manchego cheese. If you prefer to go cheese-less, bake them without it and serve the cookies with a fruit jam or dip. I love adding a layer of strawberry compote on top with a piece of brie cheese. The sweet and savor combo is just incredible.

Italian Seasoning Substitutions

No Italian seasoning at home? Not a problem! I love how versatile this recipe can be as you truly can create so many flavor combos with this recipe. You can add dried dill and lemon zest to create something fresh and zesty. Or add oregano, dried onion and garlic seasoning for a new take on croutons. Make a Cajun inspired cookie with smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and thyme. They sell a ranch seasoning, I could see that being delicious, especially in a Caesar salad. Keep it simple and replace the Italian seasoning with rosemary for a easy shortbread cookie!

Step 1: How to make the cookie dough

In a mixing large bowl, add cold unsalted butter that has been cut into small cubes. Pour in the all purpose flour and shredded Parmesan cheese. Using clean hands, crumble everything together until it’s a sandy, crumbly texture. Add in the Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper. Mix using your hands until its completely combined. Then knead the mixture until you form a dough ball, about 6 to 8 minutes.

Step 2: How to Form the Parmesan cookies

Lightly flour a cutting board or clean surface to roll out the dough. Use your hands to gently roll out a log shape about 1.25 inch wide and about 10-12 inches long. Wrap the log with cling wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. While the dough is refrigerating, preheat your oven to 350°F with the oven rack adjusted to the middle top position. Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper. When the dough is ready, add it to a cutting board and cut the log into 1 cm thick circles. Arrange the cookies on the prepared large baking tray about 1 inch apart. You should have enough dough for about 28 cookies.

Step 3: How to bake the Parmesan cookies

Using your fingers or a pastry brush, top of each cookie with a little bit of warm water. Using a cheese grater, evenly grate some Parmesan cheese on top of each cookie. Add the cookies to the oven and bake for 10 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden. Remove the cookies from the oven and add them to a baking rack. Let them cool completely and enjoy!

Ways to enjoy these savory cookies

There are many ways to enjoy this delicious snack. Serve the Parmesan cookies with a bowl of ground turkey chili or to dip into your favorite soup recipes. Crumble it on top of a salad or pasta for a unique style crouton. Or dip them into hummus or your favorite dip! You can make a Lunchables by adding sliced salami and cheese for a simple lunch! I love to eat these cookies with a dollop of fruit jam and a soft brie cheese. Along with a glass of wine to pair with it. Which ever way you choose to eat these crispy cookies, you will love them!

Tools to help you make this cookie recipe

• Large baking tray
• Parchment paper or a baking mat
• Large mixing bowl
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Cling wrap
• Baking rack

Every home cook needs a variety of tools in their kitchen to make cooking both easy and fun. Every kitchen should have a few essentials. Some of these essentials are a good knife and a sturdy cutting board. Mixing bowls in multiple sizes, measuring cups and spoons, and a variety of pots and pans are also important. While you can always purchase new tools, thrifting your kitchen equipment is a great option! I’ve found countless high-quality cooking skillets and cast iron pans at my local Goodwill and thrift stores. Plus, buying secondhand is eco-friendly and sustainable. I suggest avoiding wooden cutting boards from thrift stores. They may be susceptible to bacteria contamination from previous owners. Wood is porous and can trap bacteria, even after cleaning. Hand-me-downs are also a fantastic way to start building your kitchen tool collection. My parents and grandparents have gifted me many kitchen tools over the years!

Baking this recipe is very easy. Having the correct equipment makes the experience more enjoyable. Especially with baking bread, cakes, cookies, and other baked goods, precision in your measurements is needed. This precision is necessary to achieve your desired results. That’s where having measuring spoons and cups are essential. Versus cooking, where ingredients can be adapted as you go more easily.

Enjoy our Parmesan cookies with these recipes

• Summer Squash and Tomato Soup
• Chili’s Cajun Chicken Pasta
• Garbanzo Bean Soup Recipe
• Ground Turkey Chili using Trader Joe’s Canned Vegetarian Chili
• Chive Dumpling Soup (Vegetarian Recipe)

Parmesan Cookies Recipe

Yield: about 28 cookies

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, fresh & finely grated (plus extra for topping)
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (plus extra for dusting)
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp warm water

Instructions

• Prepare your ingredients. Cube the cold unsalted butter into smaller pieces and finely grate the Parmesan cheese using a cheese grater.
• In a large bowl add the cold cubed butter, flour and finely shredded Parmesan cheese. Using your hands, crumble everything together until it’s a sandy, crumbly texture.
• Add in the Italian seasoning, salt and black pepper. Mix together until completely combined. Then keep kneading, using clean hands, until you form a dough ball.
• Lightly flour a flat clean surface. Roll the dough out into a log about 1.25 inch wide. Wrap the log tightly with cling wrap, twisting the ends to completely seal the dough and refrigerate for 30 minutes. 
• Preheat the oven to 350°F with the baking rack adjusted to the middle top position.
• Cut the log into 1 cm thick circles. Arrange the cookies on a large baking tray lined with parchment paper or a baking sheet. Place them about 1 inch apart. You should have enough dough for about 28 cookies.
• Using your finger or a pastry brush, brush the top of each cookie with a little bit of warm water. Grate some extra Parmesan evenly on top of each cookie.
• Add the cookies to the oven on the middle top rack. Bake them for 10 minutes. The cookies are ready when they are lightly golden. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool completely on a baking wire rack. Enjoy with your favorite wine, soups, jams and dips!

How to store these savory Parmesan cookies

Cookie dough and baked cookies can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. For cookie dough, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then place it in an airtight container or freezer bag. Baked cookies should be cooled completely, layered between with parchment paper, and then stored in an airtight container. Both can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. For short-term storage (up to 4 days), refrigerate the dough in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap. To store baked cookies at room temperature, put them in an airtight container. This will keep them fresh by preventing them from drying out. (Paraphrased from ChatGPT, June 19, 2025). 

Why use Parmesan cheese in this recipe?

Parmesan, or Parmigiano Reggiano, is a deliciously versatile cheese that will enhance almost any dish you add it to. “Parmesan is a hard, dry Italian cheese, made from unpasteurized skimmed, or partially skimmed, cow’s milk”(Paraphrased from Simple Home Edit, June 23, 2025). The flavor is salty, slightly fruity with a nutty, buttery taste. Because Parmesan is aged for at least 12 months, all of the water has evaporated. This makes It a nice source of protein, calcium, and probiotics! Its umami flavor makes it perfect for grating on top pasta, adding to soups and salads. plus, Its also lactose-free! Parmesan cheese is also available in most countries around the world. (Paraphrased from ChatGPT, June 19, 2025). 

Serve these Parmesan cookies with this strawberry compote recipe

This easy, 3 ingredient strawberry compote has a delicious burst of sweetness! Its perfect for topping desserts, cocktails, breakfast pastries and so much more! Compote is French for “mixture” and is a fruit cooked in a sugary syrup. It basically is a sweet, chunky fruit sauce made with whole or chopped fresh or frozen fruit. In this recipe you only need 3 ingredients; 1 lb strawberries, 1 lemon and sugar. There are endless possibilities for how and when to enjoy a strawberry compote. My favorite way is on top of desserts of course — but I do love the sweet and savory combo. I’ll pour this sauce on top of these Parmesan cookies. I also add them to a breakfast sandwich, on pancakes or waffles. For brunch or special occasions, add a spoonful of compote to a glass. Then add champagne. You now have a fancy mimosa! My recipe yields about 12 servings. This makes it perfect for a cheese and wine night. It is also great for a brunch party or as a dessert topping for a birthday party! One of my favorite ways recently to enjoy this strawberry compote recipe has been on top of a Creme Brûlée!

Ingredients

• 1 lb stemless strawberries fresh or frozen (clean fresh strawberries)
• 1/3- 1/2 cup granulated sugar(depending on sweetness preference)
• Juice from 1 lemon

Instructions

• Simmer all the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat until they are soft, about 8-10 minutes. I use a potato masher to mash up the strawberries halfway through. If you like a more textured sauce you can leave it as is! Let cool completely before refrigerating.
• Enjoy on your favorite dessert, brunch pastry or in a fancy cocktail

Note: Store the strawberry compote in a airtight glass container with a lid. It will last in the fridge for 3-5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Try these easy recipes next

• Crispy Tofu with a Peanut Sauce
• Easy Pork Chop Bulgogi
• Oven Baked Potato Wedges
• Zesty Stove top Lemon Rice

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My name is Hannah and I’m a home cook who loves to share my favorite recipes! My dad is from Pakistan and my mom from Utah. Both are extremely amazing home cooks and have taught me how to create delicious recipes they had growing up. I believe sharing recipes or cooking food at home creates a beautiful community AND helps to keep you creative! It allows for personal expression through your combination of flavors, textures, and how you present the dish.

Share your favorite way to make cookies or what you’re making for dinner tonight in the comments below! Make sure to subscribe to my blog Staycreative.blog for more easy recipes. If I can cook it, you can make it!