Every Country has its own Christmas traditions and its own traditional Christmas cookies. Cookies that you can find only once a year, only once the Christmas lights adorn the streets, and the Christmas markets are fully operating.
Here's a collection of the best Christmas cookie recipes from Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, and many more!
Christmas is my favorite Holiday. Thousands of lights in all the streets, cheerful songs on every radio station, and among my favorite activities there are decorating the Christmas tree and baking Christmas cookies.
It's so wonderful how every Country has their own favorite Christmas cookie, the one they bake for their families every year. Some of them are full of spices, some of them are decorated and some of them are simple. The only thing they have in common is that they bring up memories of childhood and family, of Christmas and Holidays.
Every year I bake a traditional Christmas cookie from my hometown, to feel closer to home. But I also try to bake a new one, just to quietly share with another part of the World the same flavors and delight.
So here for you, I collected some of the best traditional Christmas Cookies recipes from around the World! Enjoy this journey and spread the joy!
ITALY
Photo credit: Cooking my Dreams
Cavallucci di Siena are traditional Christmas cookies from Siena, Tuscany. They're crunchy, spicy, not too sweet, and have a nice balance of walnuts and candied orange peel.
Recipe: https://cookingmydreams.com/cavallucci-di-siena/
GREECE
Photo credit: Super Golden Bakes
Melomakarona – Traditional Greek Christmas honey spice cookies are made with olive oil, spices and soaked in honey syrup.
Recipe: https://www.supergoldenbakes.com/melomakarona-greek-honey-spice-cookies/
SLOVAKIA
Photo credit: Blondie-ish at Kitchen
These Linzer Cookies are filled with Salted Caramel instead of the more traditional jam and are made with almond flour, which makes them perfectly balanced between fragile and tough.
Recipe: http://blondieishatkitchen.com/en_US/linecke-kolaciky-so-slanym-karamelom/
ICELAND
Photo credit: Veggie Desserts
Icelandic Christmas meringue cookies with cornflakes and chocolate are easy to make and taste delicious. These traditional Christmas cookies are known in Iceland as Marens Kornflexkokur.
Recipe: https://veggiedesserts.co.uk/icelandic-christmas-meringue-cookies/
POLAND
Photo credit: Recipes from a Pantry
These Pierniczki świąteczne, aka Polish Christmas cookies, are the perfect make-ahead festive treat. They are easy to make, with pantry ingredients and bake in just 8 mins.
Recipe: https://recipesfromapantry.com/pierniczki-swiateczne/
FRANCE
Photo credit: Eat Little Bird
Delicious homemade Petit Beurre Biscuits with Chocolate (Petit Écolier).
Recipe: https://eatlittlebird.com/petit-beurre-biscuits-chocolate-petit-ecolier/
NETHERLANDS
Photo credit: Palatable Pastime
Dutch Speculaas Cookies are the traditional spiced windmill cookie with almonds often served on St. Nicholas Day in the Netherlands.
Recipe: https://palatablepastime.com/2017/12/04/dutch-speculaas-cookies/
USA
Photo credit: The PKP Way
Look no further for your go-to gingerbread cookie recipe. This recipe yields thick, chewy, and spicy gingerbread cookies that is perfect for decorating, gifting, and ornament-making!
Recipe: https://www.thepkpway.com/gingerbread-cookies/
CROATIA
Photo credit: The Schizo Chef
Paprenjaci – Croatian Spice Cookies are heavily spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and black pepper. They make the perfect edible holiday gift.
Recipe: https://www.theschizochef.com/2014/09/paprenjaci/
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photo credit: What a Girl Eats
These Moravian Molasses Cookies are wafer thin and crisp, but they are not a delicate cookie, with lots of dark molasses, cloves, cinnamon and ginger, they’ve got a nice spicy flavor!
Recipe: https://whatagirleats.com/moravian-molasses-cookies/
UK
Photo credit: My Diaspora Kitchen
Scottish shortbread is one of the most delicious and easiest recipes to make. Buttery and soft, classic shortbread will melt in your mouth!
Recipe: https://www.mydiasporakitchen.com/2017/12/24/walkers-shortbread-cookies/
GERMANY
Photo credit: Searching for Spice
Lebkuchen are the perfect Christmas treat. These delicious spiced German cookies are delicious as a snack or even as an edible Christmas present!
Recipe: https://searchingforspice.com/lebkuchen/
AUSTRIA
Photo credit: Earth Food and Fire
Vanillekipferl (German vanilla crescent cookies), are a shortbread like cookie common throughout Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Hungary. Made with just almonds, flour, butter and vanilla sugar, these cookies are very easy to prepare.
Recipe: https://www.earthfoodandfire.com/vanillekipferl-cookies/
FINLAND
Photo credit: Lavender and Macarons
Joulutorttu are traditional Finnish Christmas Cookies made in a shape of pinwheel and filled with a delicious prune jam.
Recipe: https://www.lavenderandmacarons.com/desserts/finnish-christmas-cookies-joulutorttu/
SRI LANKA
Photo credit: So Fab Food
These Sri Lankan Christmas Cake Cookies are cake-like, boozy cookies that are gluten-free, butter-free, and decadently delicious!
Recipe: http://cookiecompanion.com/ghanakatha-cookie-from-sri-lanka/?lang=en
Which one is your favorite and which Christmas cookie is traditional in your hometown? Let me know in the comments! 🙂
Happy Holidays!
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Iryna
Thank you so much for featuring my Finnish cookies recipe. Sharing it.
Jessica - Cooking my Dreams
Thank you for sharing your recipe! 🙂
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
So many Christmas cookies that I simply have to try! Thank you for including my recipe!
Jessica - Cooking my Dreams
I know! I'll be busy as well in the following weeks . Thank you for sharing your recipe!