Baking inspiration from Europe: delicious Christmas cookies

It's the holiday season and high time to open your Christmas bakery! If you are undecided about the cookies you'd like to make, or if you need inspiration, here is a list of the most popular and well-known Christmas cookies in the world. Many of them originate in Germany or its western European neighbors.

Cookie cutters in the shape of Christmas trees, angels, hearts, or stars are sold nearly everywhere so you can make your own holiday designs. Shortcrust cookies are easy to make and particularly popular among families with children.

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Vanilla crescents are especially popular in Germany. They originally came from the Austrian-German region and were first baked in the 17th century. Vanilla crescents are very buttery and covered in powdered sugar.

Cinnamon stars take third place on the popularity scale in Germany. Experienced Christmas bakers make them right after they finish the vanilla crescents because they can use the egg white that remains from the crescents' ingredients.

Spitzbuben, also known as Linzer Cookies, are a must on the cookie plate. You can make them either with or without almonds, depending on your taste.

For many people, the mostly flour-free coconut biscuits with wafers also belong in the cookie box - regardless of whether they are homemade or bought.

Baking gingerbread has a long tradition in Europe (and subsequently, in northern America). There are many varieties to the recipe. In Germany alone, for example, there are at least three dominant versions: the Aachener Printen, the Nuremberg gingerbread, and the Pulsnitz gingerbread.

Husarenkrapfen or Hussar donuts are part of the traditional Christmas and tea baking in Austria, but they are also known in other countries. After baking the dough, you can fill the 'angel eyes' with either chocolate filling or jam.

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Chocolate bread is technically a small cookie-sized cake. Depending on the recipe, it contains cinnamon, vanilla, dried fruit, and/or nuts. This type of cookie is easy to make and some people prepare it to put the leftovers from previous baking afternoons to good use.

Making nut wedges according to grandma's recipe is not for the faint of heart, but they are still very popular. Whoever wins the battle against sticky dough or crumbles when cutting them, can be sure of the praise of family and friends.

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Shortbread cookies or Linzer Stangerl with chocolate and apricot jam also require some baking experience. The cookie gets its name from the firm shortcrust pastry that has to be pressed through a piping bag or meat grinder.

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Speculoos belong to the premier class of Christmas cookies. They are said to originally come from Belgium and the Netherlands, decorated with motifs from the story of St. Nicholas. The spicy cookies contain cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves. They give a definite enhancement to the Christmas atmosphere.

The name of this Swiss cookie, Brunsli, comes from its color, Bruun, i.e. brown. It's made from almonds, sugar, beaten egg whites, and chocolate. According to the 'Inventory of the Culinary Heritage of Switzerland', the first recipe was published in 1750.

The Mailänderli is considered the most eaten Christmas cookie in Switzerland. There's a debate about whether the name really has anything to do the with Italian city of Milan. What people do agree about, however, is its ingredients: butter, sugar, eggs, and a light lemon flavoring.

Admittedly, this is not a cookie, but marzipan Christmas bread is a must in many households in December. There are over 50 different varieties and names. Named 'stollen' in Germany, it was first mentioned as a Christmas pastry in 1329.

Of course, this list is not complete. There are many other cookies you can bake around Christmas time. In addition, we have to note that most of the Christmas treats mentioned in this gallery can be made vegan, baked with low histamine, or made gluten-free.