Cookie Traditions Around the World
For most Americans, the holiday season brings shopping, decorating and best of all— cookie
baking. Christmas cookie exchange parties allow friends and family to try out all kinds of holiday
cookies ranging from the classic to the trendy, but one thing remains constant—the best holiday
cookies are made with REAL BUTTER.
Here is a look at how different cultures around the world celebrate the holiday season with unique
cookie traditions that make their festivities special during this time of year.
Christmas Cookies Around the World
Austria
 In Austria, Vanille Kipferl (Vanilla Crescents) and Linzer Tartlets (with filberts, raspberries
and chocolate glaze) are popular treats around the holidays. The crust for these tartlets is
made with rich butter dough.
Holland

In Holland, St. Nicholas rewards good children with Pepernoten (peppernut cookies) and
Tai Tai (a gingerbread-like cookie). This holiday season, try an updated version of the
Dutch Tai Tai with Salted Ginger Crisps.
Germany

Long before there was sugar, monks in the monastery kitchens near Nürnberg, Germany
baked Lebkuchen cookies from honey that was brought to them by beekeepers in the
nearby forest. Today, Nürnberger Lebkuchen (honey cookies) are still made around the
holidays.
Greece

Greek Kourabiedes cookies are very popular around Christmas. These cookies are covered
in powdered sugar and a clove is placed atop each cookie as a reminder of the spices
carried by the wise men. Rich butter cookies are often flavored with cloves to add a savory
element to the sweet dough.
The Sicilian Region of Italy

Italian fig cookies called Cuccidati combine dried fruit, nuts and a butter-dough pastry in
this popular Sicilian holiday cookie.
Poland

Poppy Seed Cookies are a favorite in Polish Christmas baking. These cookies are made
with a simple combination of a delicate butter cookie and a crunchy poppy seed topping.
Sweden

Swedish Pepparkakor cookies are made in many Swedish homes at Christmas. In the past,
ginger and pepper were used interchangably; which explains the pepper prefix for this
ginger-flavored cookie.
Mexico

During Christmas time, Mexican Tea Wreath cookies are made with oranges, pistachios
and candied red and green cherries. Crisp, puffy rounds, sprinkled with cinnamon and
sugar called Buñuelos are made in many homes as well.

Another Mexican holiday favorite is the Mexican Wedding Cake cookie. These melt-inyour mouth, shortbread-like cookies are very popular, not only during the Christmas
season, but also at weddings, christenings and other festive occasions. The secret to making
these cookies taste their best is to use high-quality butter, pure vanilla extract and to add
freshly ground nuts (ground pecans, hazelnuts, almonds or walnuts). For a contemporary
Mexican wedding cake, try the Lemongrass Snowballs.
Hanukkah Cookies


During Hanukkah, crispy Rugalach cookies are filled with a variety of sweets such as white
chocolate, apricots, walnuts and brown sugar. Cutout sugar cookies in the shape of the Star
of David or dreidels are also popular and are usually decorated with blue and white
frosting.
Other popular cookie flavors during Hanukkah include pistachio and hazelnut. Try the
trendy recipe for Fennel Pistachio Cookies to add a new twist to this Hanukkah favorite.
Kwanzaa Cookies

Benne Cakes are a popular cookie that originated in Africa, where the benne seed
(or sesame seed as it is known in America) comes from. Benne seeds are said to be eaten
for good luck, so these cookies are especially popular during Kwanzaa, which begins the
new year.