European Christmas

10 EASY & DELICIOUS RECIPES !

INTERNATIONALDESSERTSBLOG.COM COPYRIGHT © 2019 INTERNATIONAL DESSERTS BLOG All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including by photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Got a question? Email Cate at [email protected] Welcome!

Nothing gets me into the holiday When I can't celebrate the holidays spirit like baking Christmas cookies in Europe, making European for family and friends. Christmas cookies is the next best thing! I love how warm and cozy my house feels when I've got a batch of The recipes in this ebook use simple Swedish Dream Cookies, Speculaas ingredients and most are easy to Palmiers or Finnish Pinwheels whip up. Your friends and family will in the oven! love them (and you).

Mmmmmm... Happy Holidays!

I’ve celebrated Christmas in Europe Cate several times (, where I used to live, as well as Ireland and P.S. Click here for ebook bonus Switzerland) and it's my favorite resources! time of year to visit.

The lights, outdoor markets, mulled wine...I love it all.

INTERNATIONALDESSERTSBLOG.COM Table ofContents

07 A USTRI A N 08 CRO A TI A N 09 FINNISH 10 SPECUL AA S 11 GERM A N V A NILL A C O C O N U T PINWHEELS SPICE R U M B A LLS CRESCENTS B A LLS P A LMIERS

12 G R E E K 13 ICEL A NDIC 14 IT A LI A N 15 POLISH 16 SWEDISH HONEY CORNFL A KE CHRISTM A S KOL A CZKI DRE A M S P I C E COOKIES COOKIES COOKIES COOKIES

Don't Forget Your Bonus Resources!

Get a printable shopping list, recipe notes, and even more delicous recipes!

Click here! Austrian Vanilla Crescents

The key to shaping these delicious cookies is to keep the dough very cold.

SERVINGS: 2 DOZEN PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES BAKE TIME: 15 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS

8 Tbsp unsalted butter, cold 1 Preheat oven to 325 F / 160C. 5 Place cookies on a prepared sheet and 1 1/4 cup (150g) all-purpose flour bake 12-15 minutes or until lightly golden brown. 1 egg yolk 2 Cut cold butter into small cubes and place in a 1 tsp vanilla extract food processor with the flour. Pulse until it forms 6 In a small, wide bowl combine powdered sugar 1/2 cup (50g) almond meal crumbs. Place in the freezer to keep very cold. and vanilla sugar. (Click here to learn how easy it is 5 Tbsp (35g) powdered sugar to make vanilla sugar.) 1/8 tsp salt 3 In a large bowl lightly beat egg yolk and vanilla. Take butter crumbs out of the freezer and it to the 7 Let cookies cool for a few minutes, then dip in the For the cookie coating: bowl, along with the almond meal, powdered sugar, powdered sugar. Coat well. Let cookies cool before 1/2 cup powdered sugar and salt. Stir until a dough forms. Knead dough a serving. 1 Tbsp vanilla sugar (get the recipe here) few times to ensure everything is well combined.

TIPS 4 Place one half of the dough in the fridge. Take the other half and cut into 12 equal pieces. Roll each I buy almond meal at Trader Joe's. Click here for a video showing how to piece into a sausage shape, tapering the ends shape these cookies, make homemade slightly as you round dough into a half-moon shape. vanilla sugar, and other cookie baking tips! If dough becomes sticky and hard to shape, put it in the fridge for a few minutes. 07

Croatian Coconut Balls

You won't be able to stop eating these easy no bake treats!

SERVINGS: 2 DOZEN PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES CHILL TIME: 1-24 HOURS

INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS

1 cup (60 g) butter 1 Heat butter, water, and sugar in a saucepan over 1/2 cup (60ml) water medium heat and bring to a boil. 3/4 cup (150g) sugar 1 cup (125g) powdered milk, sifted 2 Simmer for 5 minutes. Then set aside to cool for a 2 Tbsp vanilla extract bit. 1 cup (100g) unsweetened desiccated coconut, divided 3 Add powdered milk, vanilla, and half of the 24 hazelnuts, toasted shredded coconut. Stir until thoroughly combined.

TIPS 4 Chill in the fridge for at least an hour. The longer you chill the mixture, the easier it will be to roll into Store in an airtight container in the fridge. balls. I found chilling overnight works the best. Click here for recipe tips! 5 Roll the mixture into 24 small balls and press a hazelnut into the center. Roll each ball in the rest of the shredded coconut.

08 Finnish Pinwheels

Get the whole family making these festive Finnish treats on Christmas morning!

SERVINGS: 12 PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES BAKE TIME: 15 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS

1 sheet puff pastry 1 Heat oven to 425 F / 215C. 12 tsp jam, one per pinwheel Powdered sugar for coating 2 Thaw and unfold puff pastry.

TIPS 3 Cut pastry sheet into 12 squares of equal size.

These delightful treats are best enjoyed 4 Spoon 1 tsp jam into the middle of each square. the day they're made. Use your favorite flavor(s) of jam. 5 Cut and fold pastry as demonstrated in the Click here for recipe tips! photos to make pinwheel shape.

6 Transfer to lined baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

7 Let cool on a wire rack for a few minutes. Then dust with powdered sugar. 09 Speculaas Spice Palmiers

I love the flavor that Dutch speculaas spice adds to these easy French cookies!

SERVINGS: 12 PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES BAKE TIME: 15 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS

1 sheet puff pastry 1 Heat oven to 425F / 215C. 1 Tbsp sugar 3 tsp speculaas spice mix (get the recipe here) 2 Thaw and unroll puff pastry sheet.

TIPS 3 Sprinkle sugar and speculaas spice mix on pastry sheet. (Click here for my speculass spice mix You can use in place of the recipe.) speculaas spice. Click here to get the recipe for speculaas 4 Roll ends of dough towards the middle until they spice mix. meet in the middle. I rarely measure the ingredients for palmiers. I just eyeball it and they always 5 Cut into 12 slices. Transfer to a lined cookie taste great! sheet. Click here for recipe tips! 6 Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.

10 German Rum Balls

These scrumptious no bake chocolate treats can be made with or without hazelnuts.

SERVINGS: 24 PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES CHILL TIME: 30 MINUTES

DIRECTIONS INGREDIENTS

7 oz (200g) high quality chocolate, mix of milk 1 Melt chocolate in the microwave or in a double 6 Stir in hazelnuts (optional). and dark boiler. Set aside to cool. 7 Tbsp (100 g) butter, room temperature 7 Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. 2 Tbsp cacao powder, sifted 2 In a mixing bowl cream butter until light and 3/4 cup (75g) powdered sugar fluffy. 8 Roll into 24 balls and then in cocoa powder or 2 Tbsp rum (or 1 Tbsp rum extract) chocoalte sprinkles. 7 oz (200g) hazelnuts, ground (optional) 3 Sift cocoa powder and powdered sugar into the cocao powder or chocolate sprinkles butter and beat until well combined.

4 Add rum and stir. I recommend adding the rum a TIPS little at a time and then tasting in order to ensure you achieve your ideal flavor intensity. Not a fan of rum? Start with a small amount

and add to taste. 5 Add cooled melted chocolate. Beat until Store in an air-tight container in the fridge. everything is well combined. Be sure to scrape Click here for recipe tips! down the sides of the bowl a few times. 11 Greek Honey Spice Cookies

If you like baklava you'll love these cookies!

SERVINGS: 2 1/2 DOZEN PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES BAKE TIME: 15 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS

2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour 1 Heat oven to 350 F / 175C. 7 Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge 1 tsp cinnamon for 30 minutes. 1/2 tsp ground 2 Whisk together flour, , baking soda, and 1/2 tsp baking soda baking powder. Set aside. 8 Roll dough into small balls and place on a lined 1 tsp baking powder cookie sheet. Bake 15-18minutes or until golden 4 Tbsp (110g) softened butter 3 Beat softened butter, olive oil, and sugar on brown. Cool cookies on a cooling rack. 1/2 cup (115 ml) extra virgin olive oil medium high for 5 minutes until thick and creamy. I 3/4 cup (170g) sugar like to use a stand mixer for this. 9 Heat sugar, water, and honey over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Let cool. 2 egg yolks 1/4 cup (60ml) orange juice 4 Mix egg yolks and orange juice together in a 1 tsp orange zest small bowl. Add to the butter and beat on low until 10 When cookies are cool to the touch, dip both 1/2 tsp honey combined. sides in the syrup. Then, carefully dip the top of Finely crushed walnuts each cookie in the crushed walnuts. Top with extra For the Syrup 6 Add dry ingredients a little at a time until orange zest. 1/2 cup (100g) sugar thoroughly incorporated. Add honey and orange 1/2 cup (125ml) water zest and then mix until a soft dough forms. 1/2 cup (170g) honey 12 Icelandic Cornflake Cookies

Cornflakes and chocolate have never tasted so good!

SERVINGS: 3 DOZEN PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES BAKE TIME: 20 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS

4 egg whites 1 Heat oven to 300F / 150C. 1 cup (200g) sugar 3/4 cup (130g) semisweet chocolate, roughly 2 Beat egg whites, slowly adding the sugar, until chopped (cocolate chips work well, too) stiff peaks form. 3 cups (100g) cornflakes 1 tsp vanilla extract 3 Fold in chocolate, cornflakes, and vanilla.

TIPS 4 Spoon cookies onto a lined baking sheet.

Click here for recipe tips! 5 Bake for 18-20 minutes or until crisp.

6 Cool before serving.

13 Italian Christmas Cookies

Decorate these tasty cookies on Christmas Eve!

SERVINGS: 2 DOZEN PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES BAKE TIME: 15 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS 1⁄2 cup (115g) butter 1 Heat oven to 375F /190C. 6 While cookies cool on a wire rack, mix together 1 cup (200g) sugar water, vanilla, and powdered sugar until you have a 4 eggs 2 Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add creamy glaze. 2 teaspoons vanilla eggs and vanilla. Beat until combined. 3 1⁄2 cups (320g) flour 7 When cookies are cool to the touch, dip the 4 teaspoons baking powder 3 Sift dry ingredients into a bowl. Slowly add to wet cookies in the glaze. Add colorful sprinkles over the ingredients, mixing on low until thoroughly top of the cookies. For the Glaze: incorporated. 2 teaspoons vanilla 6 teaspoons water 4 Knead dough on floured surface a few times. Roll 2 cups (256g) powdered sugar about a tablespoon of dough in your hands and place on a lined cookie sheet. TIPS Click here for recipe tips! 5 Bake for about 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

14 Polish Kolaczki

Use your favorite jam in these traditional cookies!

SERVINGS: 2 DOZEN PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES BAKE TIME: 15 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS

2 cups (256g) all-purpose flour 1 Heat oven to 350 F / 175C. 6 Shape dough into a rectangle. Cut into 12 squares 1 tsp baking powder of equal size. Place a teaspoon of jam in the center 1 package (8 oz / 225g) cream cheese, cold Sift flour and baking powder into a mixing bowl. of each of square. 1 cup (100g) butter, cold 12 tsp jam 3 Cut cold cream cheese and butter into chunks. 7 Fold one corner into the center of the filling. Then Powdered sugar for dusting Add to flour and use your fingers to rub together fold the opposite corner over so corners are until ingredients are evenly distributed and dough overlapping. Pinch dough together slightly. forms a ball. TIPS 8 Place on lined cookie sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned. Use your favorite flavor(s) of jam! 4 Divide dough into two balls and cover each with

Click here for recipe tips! plastic wrap. Chill in fridge overnight. 9 Let cool slighlty, then dust with powdered sugar. 5 Roll out one dough ball to 1/8 inch thickness Repeat process with second ball of dough. using as little flour as possible.

15 Swedish Dream Cookies

These melt-in-your mouth delights are sure to become a Christmas favorite!

SERVINGS: 3 DOZEN PREP TIME: 10 MINUTES BAKE TIME: 15 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS

2/3 cups (100g) all-purpose flour 1 Heat oven to 300 F. 7 Bake 15-20 minutes or until the tops begin to 1 tsp baking soda crack. 8 tbsp (200g) unsalted butter, softened 2 In a small bowl, whisk together flour and baking

1 1⁄4 cups (275g) sugar soda. 8 Cool on a wire rack before serving. 1 tbsp vanilla extract

1⁄3 cup (75ml) corn oil 3 In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. TIPS 4 Add oil and mix until smooth. You can also use grape seed oil instead of corn oil. 5 Add dry ingredients slowly and mix until Click here for recipe tips! thoroughly incorporated.

6 Spoon cookie dough onto a lined baking sheet. Leave room for cookies to spread.

16 What to Make Next?

Click below for more delicous international desserts & sweets!

MORE GERMAN CAKES, PIES & COOKIES CHRISTMAS FAVORITES TARTS

SUMMER BASICS CHOCOLATE BY COUNTRY

17 Thanks for Reading!

Join me on Pinterest and Facebook to keep this baking party going - click below!

INTERNATIONALDESSERTSBLOG.COM 17