Christmas, a festival celebrated globally, transcends its Christian origins to bring joy and unity across diverse cultures. This season of merriment is marked not just by the exchange of gifts and shared meals, but also by the delightful aromas and flavors that emanate from kitchens worldwide.
One of the most cherished traditions of Christmas is the baking, sharing, and exchanging of cookies. Each country brings its own unique twist to these sweet treats, enveloping homes in a tapestry of scents — from the citrusy zing of Cyprus’s melomakarona to the spicy warmth of Australian ginger cookies. Whether it’s the nutty allure of German zimtsterne signaling the advent of the festive season, or the crunchy sweetness of Nigerian chinchin, these cookies are not just recipes, but stories told through flavors and textures.
Below are amazing cookie types from different parts of the world. Experiment with these recipes, and who knows? You might just find a new tradition to bring to your Christmas table.
Best Christmas cookies from around the world
Melomakarona from Cyprus
Melomakarona are coarse-grained cookies that grace most people’s homes during Christmas. They are popular all over Cyprus and Greece. Their sweet orange peel, clove, and cinnamon aroma will grace your house days after baking.
These cookies are soft, moist, tasty, and soaked in a sweet honey syrup, making them even more delicious.
Florentine cookies from Italy
Italian Florentine cookies are prepared using chopped almonds with vanilla and orange flavors. They are then filled with fruits and can also be sandwiched with chocolate cream. They are often enjoyed with coffee, tea, espresso, or any hot beverage of your choice.
Mazurkas from Poland
They are usually prepared across Poland on Christmas Eve. Mazurkas are topped with dried fruits and peanuts, making them attractive and super delicious. To prepare them, you need eggs, peanuts, raisins, flour, and baking powder.
Mazurkas are one of the simplest cookie recipes you can prepare this Christmas. They can be great for cookie swaps with friends and family. They are also a great way to consume dried fruits if they aren’t your favorites.
Zimtsterne from Germany
Also known as German cinnamon stars, zimtsterne is a classic, gluten-free Christmas cookie you can find in almost every household in Germany. As early as December 6th, (St. Nicholas Day), cinnamon aroma starts to linger from house to house. They are an indication that Christmas is around the corner.
They are sweet, addictive, and have a nutty flavor because they are prepared with ground nuts. They have few ingredients and are easy to prepare. They can also be stored for up to a month in an airtight container.
Lusikkaleivat from Finland
They are also known as Finnish teaspoon cookies. Lusikkaleivat is traditional in Finland and is one of the many types of cookies prepared during Christmas celebrations. They derive their name from teaspoons in which they are shaped.
If you love jam-filled cookies, then lusikkaleivat is your go-to recipe. They are made with brown caramelized butter and formed into ovals using teaspoons. Traditionally, lusikkaleivat was flavored with anise and lemon, but you can also use vanilla extract.
They can also be served with tart fruit jam or any jam of your preference. The recipe also states that they taste great a few days after baking, making them great for cookie care packs.
Kabis from South Sudan
The smell of kabis is an indication that Christmas is here. They are unique since their recipe strays a little bit from the conventional cookie recipe. Kabis are made with ghee, milk, sugar, eggs, flour, and ammonia carbonate.
Ammonia carbonate was long ago used as a raising agent before baking powder found its way into the baking industry.
Kransekake from Norway
Kransekake is a traditional Norwegian wreath cake made with 18 iced cookies stacked to form a ring tower. It was made during different special celebrations, including weddings, birthdays, and Christmas. The cookie rings are held in place using thin icing sugar between each cookie. They form a cone-shaped cookie cake.
It is made with crushed almonds and egg whites. Kransekake is light and sweet, with a strong nutty flavor.
Ginger cookies from Australia
Australian Christmas ginger cookies are made with freshly grated ginger, black pepper, nutmeg, crystallized ginger, and golden syrup. These cookies are spicy in a good way and can be addictive. If you love spice and heat, then you’ll love these gingery little cookies.
Kulkul from India
Kulkul is a great Indian Christmas treat. It is popular around the Goa region and is believed to have originated from the Portuguese. They are made with coconut milk and rolled into worm-like shapes with a fork. They are then fried and glazed with sugar syrup, giving them a crunchy coating.
These coconut-y treats are time-consuming if you are making them in big batches. You will need to have a helping hand especially in rolling them out. They can be stored for long periods in airtight containers and can, therefore, be prepared ahead of time to enjoy on Christmas.
They also make good cookie swaps to share with friends and family.
Chinchin from Nigeria
Chinchin is popularly known as Nigerian fried cookies. They are often prepared during festivals, including Christmas. They can be served as snacks, appetizers, or even desserts. Chinchin is versatile and pairs well with almost all drinks, warm or cold.
Apart from being an ultimate Nigerian snack, chinchin is consumed in nearly all African countries and can vary in taste, texture, shape, and color. It can be sweet, savory, or just bland with no seasoning at all.
Orehovki from Bulgaria
These are also known as Bulgarian walnut cookies. They have a strong nutty and cinnamon flavor. Orehovki cookies are crispy, but chewy on the inside. Almost everyone loves them, and they are mostly prepared during Christmas celebrations.
Orehovki requires only a few ingredients to make and is super easy to prepare.
Takeaway
Whether you choose chinchin from Nigeria or zimtsterne from Germany, there’s a unique flavor that each cookie adds to your table. So preheat your ovens, roll up your sleeves, and prepare to infuse your holiday celebrations with a dash of international charm. Here’s to a Christmas filled with joy, love, and, of course, a splendid array of amazing international cookies!
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