Education

Around the World in 10 Holiday Cookies

The holiday season is here, and we’ve got one thing on our mind: cookies! Frosted, sugar-dusted, or jelly-filled, the season wouldn’t be the same without these little morsels of delight. With our global focus, here are 10 of our favorites from around the world.

Which one would you like to try?

Austria – Linzer Cookies

Austria is known for its gorgeous desserts, and linzer cookies are no exception. Sandwich some jam between two pieces of shortbread, dust it with powdered sugar, and these beauties are set to stun.  

United States – Rugelach

These little twists are a Hanukkah favorite in the U.S. and across much of the Jewish world. Denser than a croissant, rugelach is all about the fillings –walnuts, chocolate, apricot jam – we’re hungry just thinking about it.

Australia and New Zealand – Anzac Biscuits

Anzac biscuits have WWI to thank for their name. An acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, these rolled oat biscuits were a popular way to raise funds for the war effort. Coconut and golden syrup make these a must-have during the holidays and all year long.

Greece – Kourabiedes

Studded with almonds and brimming with flavor, kourabiedes are a Greek holiday must. Still, they can be messy due to their generous powdered sugar coating. Our hack? If you get sugar all over your shirt, just yell, “opa!”

Italy – Pizzelle

Yes, their name means “little pizza,” but these cookies are much closer to a waffle. By pressing the batter between two iron plates, pizzelle take on stunning seasonal patterns. Snowflakes are common, but many designs date back centuries.

South Africa – Soetkoekies

It’s fun to go big at the holidays, but it can also be good to pull back. Enter soetkoekies (literally “sweet cookies”), a distinctly crunchy treat you can whip up with pantry staples. With a strong but straightforward nutmeg and clove flavor, sometimes simple is perfect.

Norway – Krumkake

Similar to Italy’s Pizzelle, the Krumkake is another iron-made cookie, but this time it’s rolled. Think of it as a baby ice cream cone, the perfect vehicle for whipped cream and holiday cheer.

Switzerland – Leckerli

A Swiss staple for centuries, Leckerli combines crunchy nuts, warm spices, gingerbread, and candied citrus into a unique cookie-bar. While they’re mainly eaten in Switzerland, Germany, and France, we’re going to need these to go global, stat.

Middle East – Ma’amoul

As a holiday cookie, Ma’amoul checks all the boxes. A shortbread cookie with a decorative design and a date filling, this treat is traditionally served at Easter and Eid, but is also a favorite at Christmas. Mmmm, we may have a new favorite too.

Brazil – Rabanada

Ok, not a cookie, but how could we not shout out Brazilian Christmas French toast? Deep fried in oil and filled with custard, these Christmas staples are crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. Though they sound like the perfect wake up treat, Brazilians typically save them for dessert.

There you have it, 10 new holiday cookies to taste or even try making. Wherever you’re celebrating, we wish you a sweet holiday season.