Skip to main content

It's Time to Bake Swiss Christmas Cookies

Swiss Christmas Cookies - Joujou  / pixelio.de

It's that time of the year again, Christmas season is upon us. And even though this year's holidays will probably affected by more or less strict Covid-19 restrictions, it's still a season to rejoice and celebrate Christ's birth with family and friends.

Christmas Season Joys

Christmas eve is still a month away and with it the family get-together (if Covid restrictions allow for it!), the good food and the gifts. However, in Switzerland, there are many things that we enjoy throughout the Christmas season. I'm thinking of advent wreaths,  christmas calendars and advent windows to mark the time until Christmas eve, making a gingerbread house, doing some candle dipping, enjoying some hot glow wine and much more. However, the most typical Christmas activity in Switzerland - and one that songwriter Andrew Bond eternalized in his most famous Christmas song - is baking Swiss Christmas cookies!

Typical Swiss Christmas Cookies

What makes a cookie a Christmas cookie? And how does a typical Swiss Christmas cookie look and taste like? I cannot answer the first question with certainty but my guess is that traditional Christmas cookies simply developed over time. I can, however, provide a good answer to the second question with this list of most typical Swiss Christmas cookies.

1) Mailänderli

It is probably the most basic of all Christmas cookies but also the most versatile. A few ingredients (butter, eggs, flour and sugar) and lots of different cookie cutters make a fun collection of cookies. Plus, you can add different decorations and flavors if you'd like. You can find a recipe here.

Mailänderli - Michael Eugster  / pixelio.de

2) Spitzbuben

The name of these cookies literally means 'rascal'. They are two layered butter cookies with jam in between. The top cookie has smaller cut-outs which often times make the shape of a smiley face. Hence, the name 'Spitzbuben'. You can find a recipe here.

Spitzbuben - Joujou  / pixelio.de


3) Cinnamon Stars (Zimtsterne): 

This is a star-shaped almond cookie with a lot of cinnamon in it and egg-white merengue on top. It needs to be dried overnight before baking. You can find a recipe here.

Cinnamon Stars - Gila Hanssen  / pixelio.de

4) Haselnussmakrönli

Eggwhites, salt, sugar and hazelnuts - you don't need more than that to make these tasty hazelnut macarons. You can find a picture and recipe here.

5) Brunsli

These cookies are literally called 'brownies' here in Switzerland. And that's because they contain a lot of good Swiss chocolate! The brown cookie in the top picture is a Brunsli. You can find a recipe here.

6) Vanillegipfeli

These amazing vanilla flavored butter and almond cookies go perfect with a cup of hot coffee or tea. They are a bit more delicate to make but worth the effort. You can find a recipe here.

Vanillegipfeli - Rudi Arlt  / pixelio.de


7) Chräbbeli

Chräbbeli are the toughest cookies in the bunch. Some people dislike them because they are a bit harder on your teeth. Nevertheless, these anise flavored cookies are a staple in any Christmas cookie selection! If you want a softer version, try making Anise Bread. You can find a recipe and pictures here.

8) Tirggel

This Christmas cookie is typical for Zurich. It's a honey flavored hard and flat cookie that is made with a wooden mold. They are also great Christmas tree decorations. You can find pictures and a recipe here.




© 2020 IRENE WYRSCH "A HUMOROUS GUIDE TO SWITZERLAND" ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

You have something to add or would like to ask a question? I would love to hear from you!

Popular posts from this blog

Schätzli, Schnüggel and Müüsli - Terms of Endearment in Swiss German

Kiss -  Oliver Haja  / pixelio.de If you've ever been invited to the home of a Swiss couple, you are probably familiar with the most popular Swiss German term of endearment "Schätzli" ('little treasure') or one of it's many varieties like e.g. "Schatz" or "Schätzeli" . Obviously, this is not the only pet name used by Swiss couples (or parents for that matter). Like many other languages, Swiss German offers a wide variety of words and phrases that you can use to address your loved one. Swiss German Terms of Endearment What most of these pet names have in common is the ending "-li" which basically turns the thing or person a word refers to into something small or cute. For example "Haus" means house and "Hüüs li " means small house. Plus, this ending "-li" can also be added to first names as a means of endearment, e.g. Benjamin li , Esther li or Fabienne li . I tried to come up with a colle
3 comments
Read more

How to Say 'I Love You' in Swiss German

To be completely honest, I'm not very fond of hallmark holidays and Valentine's Day is probably the mothership of them all. In my home there will be no cheesy cards or flowers on that day and, personally, I'm happy about it. However, I know that there are many people who like to celebrate Valentine's Day and take it as an opportunity to show their love and appreciation to their loves. Even in Switzerland, there are plenty of people celebrating it nowadays. If you're short on ideas for this years Valentine's Day in Switzerland you might find some inspiration here: Valentine's Day in Switzerland . If you're already set and have the perfect date ready, how about surprising your loved one with a few romantic Swiss German phrases? You should know that the expression "I love you" has only recently made its way into Swiss German from the High German "Ich liebe dich". Swiss people used to simply say "I like you" or "I like
3 comments
Read more

Panache, a Swiss Mixed Beer

Next to our daily coffee fix , we Swiss really enjoy our ' Feierabendbier '. This literally means 'quitting time beer' and refers to a beer drunk in the after-work hours. Maybe we're not quite like the Irish who are said to go straight to the pub after work but many of us still like to enjoy a good cold beer when we get home. Much like with coffee , where people usually like it either strong or not, there are Swiss people who don't like their beers to be strong. Especially so after a long day of work. This is when we usually opt for a typical Swiss mixed beer called ' Panache '. Panache Beer - KFM  / pixelio.de Mixed beers or beer drinks are a great alternative to 'real' beers. I'm not talking about pre-mixed beer that is sold in supermarkets. Those suck! Good mixed beer is made on the spot with beer and a soft drink, syrup, liquor or other interesting ingredients. The most famous of all Swiss mixed beers is the Panache, pronounce
2 comments
Read more