Tradition! As the Christmas season approaches in Switzerland, kids, fathers, and grandparents start nudging the moms with hints that “it’s about time that we bake Christmas cookies, isn’t it?” By St Nick’s Day on December 6th the signals are so strong that grandma’s recipes, the baking sheets, and the cookie cutters are pulled out of their summer hiding places. Sure, you can find Christmas cookies on bakery & supermarket shelves starting in November in Switzerland, but there truly is nothing like a home-baked cookie. Every family and each region of Switzerland has its favorites. Christine and I are pleased share a few of our favorite recipes passed down to us from the Schefer-Grun clan. Just click on the cookie for the recipe.

Spitzbuebe
 “Little Rascals” or “Scallywags”

Mailänderli
 buttery lemon cookies

Basler Brunsli
 “Basler Brownies” gluten & grain free

Sablés 
slightly salty butter cookie

Änisbrötli – Springerli - Änischräbeli
 “Anis Cookies”

Zimmetstärnli
“Little Cinnamon Stars” also grain-free & gluten-free

Haferflockemakrönli
Old Fashioned Oat Macaroons
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WARNING. The problem with Swiss Christmas cookies is that children & especially grandfathers tend to sneak into the kitchen and eat them unbaked – baked if they find them.

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