Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (2024)

    It's cheaper than airfare.

    by Catherine O'DonnellBuzzFeed Contributor

    Food52 has taken their sugar-drunk fantasy and made it a reality. Here are 46 cookie recipes from over 30 countries to jump-start your holiday baking:

    1. Nanaimo Bars (Nanaimo, Canada)

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    Lillie Auld/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Another reason to consider moving to Canada. Get the recipe.

    2. Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas Cookies (Pennsylvania, U.S.)

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    James Ransom/Food52 / Via food52.com

    This may be a straight-laced cookie from a straight-laced place but it sure is good. Get the recipe.

    3. Rainbow Cookies (New York, U.S.)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (4)

    Nina Caldas/Food52 / Via food52.com

    What’s better than a technicolor platter of classic Italian bakery cookies? Get the recipe.

    4. Potato Chip Cookies (Saratoga Springs, U.S.)

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    Linda Xiao/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Surprised? Hop on the bandwagon, potato chips and cookies are meant to be. Get the recipe.

    5. Benne Wafers (South Carolina, U.S.)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (6)

    James Ransom/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Since these are so thin, go ahead and eat a couple...or five...or ten! Get the recipe.

    6. Prune & Chocolate Rugelach (New York, U.S.)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (7)

    Bobbi Lin/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Prunes aren't just for grandmas people. Get the recipe.

    7. Black & White Cookies (New York, U.S.)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (8)

    Yossy Arefi/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Bring New York City at Christmastime to you. Get the recipe.

    8. Bizcochitos (New Mexico, U.S.)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (9)

    Linda Xiao/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Get excited, these are made with full-on lard (a.k.a. they're creamy and fatty and wonderful). Get the recipe.

    9. Mexican Wedding Cakes (Mexico)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (10)

    Linda Xiao/Food52 / Via food52.com

    This is a cookie recipe with a controversial past. Make it to find out. Get the recipe.

    10. Brigadeiros (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (11)

    Linda Xiao/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Welcome to every birthday party and pretty much any kind of celebration in Brazil. Get the recipe.

    11. Alfajores (Argentina)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (12)

    Sophia Real/Food52 / Via food52.com

    The only thing that Argentineans love more than hefty pieces of steak and strong coffee is alfajores. Get the recipe.

    12. Serinakaker (Norway)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (13)

    Emily Vikre/Food52 / Via food52.com

    This Norwegian butter cookie was made to be put in Christmas cookie tins. Get the recipe.

    13. Swedish Rye Cookies (Sweden)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (14)

    Heidi Swanson/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Rye cookies aren't very appetizing on their own but luckily this one calls for a hefty serving of cream cheese which makes everything much better. Get the recipe.

    14. Polish Apricot-Filled Cookies (Poland)

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    Linda Xiao/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Speaking of cream cheese, this recipe beats out any cream cheese pastries you've tasted before. Get the recipe.

    15. Pfeffernuse (Germany)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (16)

    James Ransom/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Sorry Grandma, but these German spice cookies are better than any cookie you've ever made. Get the recipe.

    16. Austrian Vanilla Crescents (Vanillekipferl) (Austria)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (17)

    James Ransom/Food52 / Via food52.com

    These crescent cookies may appear unspectacular, but trust us, they're not. Get the recipe.

    17. Vanilice (Serbia)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (18)

    James Ransom/Food52 / Via food52.com

    This cookie was voted BEST out of this whole list. Run to the grocery store and pick up ingredients now. Get the recipe.

    18. Koulourakia (Greek Sesame Twist Cookies) (Greece)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (19)

    James Ransom/Food52 / Via food52.com

    This cookie has been passed down for generations. Continue the tradition. Get the recipe.

    19. Pain d'Amande (France)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (20)

    James Ransom/Food52 / Via food52.com

    A cookie for all your gifting, swapping, and impressing needs this holiday season. Get the recipe.

    20. Brandy Snaps (U.K.)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (21)

    Linda Xiao/Food52 / Via food52.com

    We bet you've heard of brandy snaps before but maybe you've never actually seen them? Here they are! Get the recipe.

    21. Maltese Lemon Christmas Cookies (Malta)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (22)

    Meikie Peters/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Smell that citrus? In Malta, it’s the smell of lemon—not chocolate or peppermint or cinnamon—that means Christmas. Get the recipe.

    22. Spanish Butter Wafers (Spain)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (23)

    Linda Xiao/Food52 / Via food52.com

    The best friend your tea (or wine) will have this holiday season. Get the recipe.

    23. Tehina Shortbread (Israel)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (24)

    Michael Persico/Food52 / Via food52.com

    This traditional shortbread has a surprise. We recommend finding out. Get the recipe.

    24. Samsa (Almond-Orange Triangles) (Northern Africa (Morocco, Tunisia & Algeria)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (25)

    Linda Xiao/Food52 / Via food52.com

    A cousin to baklava, samsa get fried instead of baked. Get the recipe.

    25. Chin Chin (Nigeria)

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    Linda Xiao/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Meet Chin Chin: the cutest Christmas cookie on the planet. Get the recipe.

    26. Nigerian Coconut Cookie Crisps (Nigeria)

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    Linda Xiao/Food52 / Via food52.com

    This coconut and jam cookie should be your priority. Get the recipe.

    27. Halawa (Halva) Truffles (Egypt)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (28)

    Jonathan Gregson/Food52 / Via food52.com

    The root of the word "halawa" is sweetness so this cookie pretty much sums up everything you want during the holidays. Get the recipe.

    28. Mbatata (Sweet Potato Cookies) (Malawi)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (29)

    Linda Xiao/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Yes, you should make sweet potato cookies. Get the recipe.

    29. Chocolate Pepper Cookies (South Africa)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (30)

    Linda Xiao/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Spice things up: Add black pepper to your next batch of chocolate cookies. Get the recipe.

    30. Basler Leckerli (Waldshut-Tiengen, Southern Germany)

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    James Ransom/Food52 / Via food52.com

    The German boyfriend came and went, but this spice cookie recipe is still kicking it. Get the recipe.

    31. Elisenlebkuchen (Nuremberg, Germany)

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    Sophia Real/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Of all the gingerbread out there, here’s the one that will be your new favorite. Get the recipe.

    32. Buccellati (Sicilian Christmas Cookies) (Sicily, Italy)

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    Emiko Davies/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Benvenuti to a Sicilian Christmas! Get the recipe.

    33. Ukrainian Curd Cheese Cookies (Ukraine)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (34)

    Linda Xiao/Food52 / Via food52.com

    No, Midwest America is not the only place that boasts cheese curds. Get the recipe.

    34. Rice Cookies with Cardamom and Rose Water (Kermanshah, Iran)

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    Bobbi Lin/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Simple to make and richly-textured, they're a great answer to the question of gluten-free sugar cookies. Get the recipe.

    35. Springerles (Germany)

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    Food52 / Via food52.com

    This cookie is a perfect partner to your spiked eggnog. Get the recipe.

    36. Dorie Greenspan's Stained Glass Cookies (Paris, France)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (37)

    Linda Xiao/Food52 / Via food52.com

    These cookies double as ornaments, win win! Get the recipe.

    37. Struffoli (Italian Honey Ball Cookies) (Southern Italy)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (38)

    Angela Brown/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Baking these honey balls is an easy way to become the most popular person at your holiday party. Get the recipe.

    38. Alice Medrich's Buckwheat Thumbprint Cookies with Cherry Preserves (Russia)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (39)

    Mark Weinberg/Food52 / Via food52.com

    An upgraded version of Russian tea cakes. Get the recipe.

    39. Chickpea Flour (Besan) Laddu (India)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (40)

    Nik Sharma/Food52 / Via food52.com

    If you’ve never heard of laddus, just think of them as balls of sweet goodness. Get the recipe.

    40. Coconut Milk Fudge (India)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (41)

    David Loftus/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Two ingredients that are bound to combine well: sweetened condensed milk and coconut. Try it yourself. Get the recipe.

    41. Chinese Peanut Cookies (China)

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    Linda Xiao/Food52 / Via food52.com

    These cookies remind us of everything a nutter butter should be, and isn't. Get the recipe.

    42. Matcha Butter Cookies (Japan)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (43)

    Emiko Davies/Food52 / Via food52.com

    The Japanese love flavoring desserts with the distinct, bitter flavor of matcha tea, and these cookies are no exception. Get the recipe.

    43. Polvorón (Philippines)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (44)

    Linda Xiao/Food52 / Via food52.com

    These polvorónes—traditional Filipino cookies—do everything the cookies on that holiday platter you got this year don’t do. Get the recipe.

    44. Tangerine Pies "Kuey Tarts" (Singapore)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (45)

    Pate Eng/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Spoiler alert: No tangerines were involved in the making of this cookie. Get the recipe.

    45. Mint Slices (Australia)

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    Sarah Coates/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Sorry Girl Scouts, but these Australian Mint Slices might just give your Thin Mints a run for their money. Get the recipe.

    46. Mango Melting Moments (Australia)

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (47)

    Emiko Davies/Food52 / Via food52.com

    Who doesn't want to try a cookie that describes itself as a "melting moment?" We recommend you put this next on your list. Get the recipe.

    Many editors and contributors from Food52 supported in publishing this post. For more cookies, visit our Cookies of the World Map.

    Travel Around The World With 46 Cookie Recipes (2024)
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