30 Best Holiday Cookies From Around The World Recipes

There isn't a better treat to complement a glass of eggnog than a warm gingerbread cookie. The smell of cinnamon is a sweet reminder of holiday cheer and the warmth that comes with being with loved ones. Around the world, cookies are also a holiday treat, and different cultures enjoy their own traditional cookies. Gingerbread cookies or sugar cookies are traditionally baked around the holidays in America (and in some other countries as well), whether we're leaving them for Santa or baking them for ourselves. But beyond these classic confections, other countries have their own recipes for holiday cookies.

From mailänderli (lemon-flavored shortbread cookies from Switzerland) and joulutorttu (pinwheel-shaped Finnish holiday cookies filled with prunes or lingonberries) to vanillekipferl (crescent-shaped vanilla cookies from Austria made with ground nuts), there are countless international holiday cookies to delight in, so read on for the 30 best holiday cookies from around the world.

These almond cookies are often made in the home during the holiday season and are also a staple recipe to help ring in the Chinese New Year. Ingredients include butter, sugar, sliced almonds, and an egg white.

For the Almond Cookie recipe, click here.

This treat is extremely popular in Brazil. Brigadeiro cookies are delicious, sweet little chocolate balls covered in sprinkles. They're perfect if you're looking for a quick and easy dessert to round off your meal. And with only three ingredients, they can even be whipped up in a microwave!

For the Brigadeiro Cookie recipe, click here.

These ring-shaped cookies are topped with colorful sprinkles — chocolate sprinkles for an everyday treat, and red and green ones for the holidays. They're made with egg yolks, vanilla extract, an egg white, and, of course, a variety of sprinkles.

For the Galletas con Chochitos recipe, click here.

Hamantaschen is a Yiddish word that literally means "Haman pockets" — they're named for Haman, the antagonist of the Book of Esther. Hamataschen are triangular-shaped cookies usually served on the Jewish Hoilday Purim. The inside of the pastry-like cookies can be filled with a variety of different fillings, including poppy seeds, prunes, nuts, fruit preserves, or caramel.

For the Hamantaschen recipe, click here.

A vanillekipferl, also called kipfli and kipfel is a crescent-shaped cookie that is made with ground almonds, walnuts, or hazelnuts, flavored with vanilla, and dusted with sugar. The cookie originated in Austria, but is served throughout central and eastern Europe during Christmas time.

For the Kifli recipe, click here.

Around the holidays, people in Poland bake jam-filled cookies called kołaczki, which may be round, square, or diamond-shaped. Poland, Croatia, and the Czech Republic all claim to have invented this traditional treat.

For the Kołaczki recipe, click here.

Called either lebkuchen or pfefferkuchen, this German cookie is softer than the traditional gingerbread cookie you may be used to and typically has honey and spices. It can be rectangular or round and has a sweet, slightly nutty taste. Similar recipes date back to ancient Egypt, but the most well-known variation of the cookie is the Nürnberger lebkuchen, from the German city of Nuremberg, where it was made into creative shapes and designs and decorated by a professional guild of gingerbread makers, the Lebkuchner Guild.

For the Lebkuchen recipe, click here.

The addition of lemon gives these cookies a bright Mediterranean twist. They are crunchy and very buttery, a refreshing addition to your tea or coffee at a post-holiday feast.

For the Maltese Lemon-Infused Cookies, click here.

Japan is a culinary goldmine, and it's famous for having many interesting sweets and pastries that have become popular around the world. Matcha has become particularly popular — not only for its health benefits, but also because of its unique, earthy flavor. These bright green cookies are easy to make and slightly healthier than your average butter cookie, and they add a pop of color to any spread!

For the Matcha Cookie recipe, click here.

These treats are Canada's hidden culinary secret! They are really wonderful and pretty simple to make: with a graham cracker base, an instant-pudding filling and melted chocolate on top. They are named after the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island. The best part about making these is that they require no baking!

For the Nanaimo Bar recipe, click here.

Similar in taste to a gingersnap cookie, a pepparkakor is made with maple syrup and is traditionally cut into the shape of a star or heart, although other traditional shapes include a pig or a goat. This Swedish holiday cookie is hung as an ornament on the Christmas tree. Another Swedish custom is to place a pepparkakor in the palm of your hand and make a wish. Then, using your index finger or thumb of your other hand, tap the center of the cookie. If the cookie breaks into three pieces, your wish will come true. If not, you'll still have a delicious cookie to eat.

For the Pepparkakor recipe, click here.

These classic Iranian cookies are made with rice flour and a hint of rose water (a common ingredient in many Middle Eastern dishes), and tend to be quite crumbly. They're often topped with poppy seeds for decoration, but it's optional.

For the Rice Cookie Recipe, click here.

This iconic cookie that is also very popular in Scotland and Britain is often eaten on New Year's Eve. They are buttery and delicious — perfect to enjoy with a cup of tea or simply as a comforting reminder of your grandparents.

For the Scottish Shortbread Cookie recipe, click here.

Small round cookies called struffoli are baked for the holidays in Italy. They're also known as "honey balls," and they can usually be found piled in a tree-shaped mound or arranged to resemble a wreath. Ingredients include honey, eggs, and margarine, but the treats can be topped with sprinkles, toasted pine nuts, silver balls, or candied fruits.

For the Struffoli recipe, click here.

These nutty cookies are perfect for Christmastime. They're rolled in vanilla sugar which gives them a great fragrance as well. The type of nut used can vary — both walnuts and almonds work perfectly. Any of the cookies on this list are worth serving (and eating) anywhere in the world, and some are featured in our ranking of favorite holiday cookies from worst to best!

For the Vanilice recipe, click here.

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