European Christmas cookies bring rich flavors and traditional baking techniques together to create irresistible holiday treats. From buttery shortbreads to decadent chocolate-dipped creations, these recipes offer a taste of Europe in every bite. Whether you're looking to bake classic cookies or try something new, this collection has a recipe for every sweet tooth.
See my top 100 Best Christmas Cookies, 12 Days of Christmas Cookies, or 24 Days of Christmas Cookies for more fun holiday baking recipes.
Jump to:
- 1. Nussecken
- 2. Russian Tea Cakes
- 3. Kringla
- 4. Ricotta Cookies
- 5. Linzer Cookies
- 6. Empire Biscuits
- 7. Danish Butter Cookies
- 8. Amaretti Cookies
- 9. Greek Almond Cookies
- 10. Kolaczki
- 11. Chocolate Macaroons
- 12. Vanilla Macarons
- 13. Zimtsterne
- 14. Vanillekipferl
- 15. Speculaas
- 16. Lebkuchen
- 17. Spritzgeback
- 🎄 European Christmas Cookies By Skill Level
- 📖 Recipe Card
- European Christmas Cookie Recipes
- 💬 Comments & Reviews
Whether you want to bake classic treats from Germany, Italy, or beyond, these cookies will bring a festive spirit to your kitchen. European cookies come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors, from buttery shortbreads to spiced gingerbreads. Yum!
Here are some of my favorite European Christmas cookie recipes. They will fill your home with the most amazing aromas and bring joy and familiar traditions to any holiday celebration.
1. Nussecken
These German nut triangles are packed with a delightful almond and hazelnut filling, topped with a layer of smooth apricot jam, and covered in chocolate. They're a perfect combination of sweet, nutty, and crunchy.
2. Russian Tea Cakes
Known for their melt-in-your-mouth texture, these buttery shortbread cookies are rolled in powdered sugar, giving them a snowy appearance. They're very similar to Mexican wedding cookies, two classic holiday treats with a delicate flavor that pairs perfectly with a warm cup of tea.
3. Kringla
Kringla is a traditional Norwegian cookie that is soft, slightly sweet, and shaped like knots or pretzels. These pillowy cookies have a subtle vanilla flavor and are perfect for anyone who doesn't like their cookies overly sweet.
Kringla has a similar name to kringle, another popular Scandinavian treat, but one is a cookie and the other is a cake-like pastry. Learn more about kringla vs kringle here.
4. Ricotta Cookies
Ricotta cookies are popular Italian Christmas cookies that are light, fluffy, and bursting with lemon zest. These soft, sweet treats usually feature colorful sprinkles or a glaze, making them a fun and festive addition to any Christmas cookie platter.
5. Linzer Cookies
These beautiful Austrian cookies are made with buttery almond dough and filled with fruit jam, usually raspberry(as I used here) or apricot. With their delicate cut-out design, Linzer cookies are as stunning as they are delicious.
6. Empire Biscuits
Popular in Scotland, empire biscuits are made with a shortbread base and a sweet jam filling, then topped with a layer of icing and a cherry. I used both Maraschino cherry slices and green glace cherry slivers to make adorable red berries with green 'leaves' on top of each cookie.
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7. Danish Butter Cookies
Rich, buttery, and crisp, Danish butter cookies are a beloved holiday treat around the world. With their melt-in-your-mouth texture, these cookies are perfect for nibbling with a cup of coffee or tea.
8. Amaretti Cookies
These Italian almond-flavored cookies are naturally gluten-free and have a delicate, crispy exterior with a chewy center. They have a sweet and nutty flavor that is hard to resist.
Check out all of my delicious Italian Christmas cookies here.
9. Greek Almond Cookies
Also known as Kourabiedes, these traditional Greek almond cookies are rich, buttery, and dusted with powdered sugar. They're a perfect combination of sweetness and nuttiness, making them a Greek holiday staple.
10. Kolaczki
These little Polish pastry cookies are filled with fruit preserves like plum, apricot, or raspberry, and dusted with powdered sugar. They have a delicate, flaky dough, making them a sweet and beautiful addition to any holiday cookie tray.
11. Chocolate Macaroons
Chocolate macaroons are decadent treats with a rich chocolate ganache sandwiched between two crisp almond shells. These French cookies have a perfect balance of sweetness and deep chocolate flavor.
12. Vanilla Macarons
Vanilla Macarons are made with almond flour, sugar, and egg whites, and then filled with a smooth vanilla buttercream frosting. These French treats are known for their crisp shell and soft, chewy center, making them impressive and delicious Christmas cookies.
You can find all of my macaron flavors here if you want to try out different varieties.
13. Zimtsterne
These German cinnamon star cookies are soft, fragrant, and full of warm spices, making them a perfect holiday treat. The unique star shape and flavorful cinnamon glaze give them a festive appearance perfect for the holidays.
14. Vanillekipferl
These traditional German cookies are made with a rich, buttery dough flavored with vanilla and shaped into crescents then dusted in powdered sugar. Vanillekipferl has a melt-in-your-mouth texture that makes them a delightful addition to any Christmas cookie spread.
15. Speculaas
Crispy speculaas cookies are a beloved treat in the Netherlands and Belgium. These spiced shortbread cookies are flavored with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, and can be cut or pressed into fun and festive shapes.
16. Lebkuchen
Lebkuchen are traditional German gingerbread cookies made with Lebkuchengewurz (German gingerbread spice) that are soft and usually glazed or coated in chocolate. These cookies use a variety of warm spices like cinnamon and cloves, making them a perfect holiday treat.
17. Spritzgeback
These German spritz cookies are buttery, crisp, and shaped using a cookie press. With their light texture and elegant appearance, spritzgeback is a favorite holiday cookie that’s easy to make and perfect for gifting.
🎄 European Christmas Cookies By Skill Level
Some classic European Christmas cookies are easier to make than others. Here's a quick breakdown of these cookies by skill level to help you find the perfect recipe, whether you're a beginning baker or a seasoned cookie maker.
- Beginner-Friendly Recipes. Danish butter cookies, Greek almond cookies, or spritzgeback are simple and forgiving.
- Intermediate Recipes. Linzer cookies, speculaas, or ricotta cookies require some shaping and specific techniques.
- Advanced Recipes. Vanilla or chocolate macarons and zimtsterne require precision and skill for perfect results. See my Beginner's Guide to Making Macarons and Macarons Troubleshooting Guide for help with these finicky but delectable cookies.
I'd love to hear which European Christmas cookie recipe you're excited to try first. Share your thoughts in the comments, and don't forget to pass along your favorite cookie recipes if you are based in Europe!
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe Card
European Christmas Cookie Recipes
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1⅓ cups sugar
- 2 tablespoon shortening
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for rolling & shaping)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Start the night before by mixing together the 1 cup heavy cream and 1 cup sour cream in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth, then cover with cling film and refrigerate.
- When ready to start, set the cream mixture out to room temperature. Next, preheat your oven to 475°F (246°C/Gas Mark 9) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- In a large bowl cream together the 1⅓ cups sugar, 2 tablespoon shortening, and 1 large egg yolk.
- Stir in the 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and ¼ teaspoon saltinto the cream mixture then transfer the wet ingredients into the creamed sugar. Mix until well combined. Add the 3 cups all-purpose flour until completely incorporated into the dough, which should be sticky when done. *You can chill the dough for an hour before handling it to make the next step easier if desired.
- Since the dough is sticky, use a well-floured surface to roll the dough out onto. Pull off roughly 1 ½-inch ball-shaped portions of the dough and roll them in the flour to coat all sides. Then move them to the side of your working surface where there is less flour and roll them out to a rope shape (approximately 8-9 inches long). Shape the rope into an '8' or 'infinity sign' or fold over like a pretzel shape, or you can also shape them into round coils - but these take longer to bake.
- Place each shaped dough piece onto your prepared baking sheets then bake for 5-6 minutes, or until the bottom just begins to turn a light golden color. *Depending on the thickness of the 'ropes', the cooking time can be longer.
- Remove from the oven when done and allow to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Angela Latimer says
I love all of this traditional European Christmas cookies and work a few into my holiday baking and cookie trays each year. They're all delicious and fun to make! ~ Angela