These (mostly) traditional Polish Christmas cookies are anything but basic!
1/9
Grandma’s Polish Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
This traditional khruchiki recipe has been handed down through my mother's side from my great-grandmother. As a child, it was my job to loop the end of each cookie through its hole. —Sherine Elise Gilmour, Brooklyn, New York
Khruchiki (also called “khrustyky” or “chrusciki”) aren’t your average Christmas cookie. These Polish cookies are flipped inside-out, then deep-fried to golden perfection. Don’t forget the confectioners’ sugar finish!
2/9
Cranberry Rugelach
From the Recipe Creator:
These traditional Polish treats will keep for a long time in an airtight container. One year, I sent a batch to my sister, but the box got lost. She received it 12 days later and reported that the cookies were worth the wait! —Jean Doxon, Omaha, Nebraska
Made with cream cheese and lots of butter, these rugelach will melt in your mouth, and the spiced cranberry-walnut filling is perfect for the winter season. How cute would these crescents look on a cookie tray?
3/9
Gingerbread Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
Our two boys linger around the kitchen when these homemade gingerbread cookies are baking. I make this gingerbread cookie recipe throughout the year using a variety of cookie cutters. —Christy Thelan, Kellogg, Iowa
If you add a little orange zest, cardamom, black pepper and allspice to this gingerbread cookie dough, you can create something that’s very close to Polish pierniczki. Cut the dough out into any Christmas shape, and decorate with royal icing or a honey glaze.
4/9
Apple Kolaches
From the Recipe Creator:
A fellow home cook shared this recipe for a sweet, fruit-filled pastry. My son, who isn’t a dessert fan, was disappointed when he came home to find his dad had polished off the last kolache in the batch. —Ann Johnson, Evansville, Indiana
With an apple-cinnamon filling, these kolaches are a wonderful cookie that easily transitions from fall to winter. Of course, you can also use this base recipe with other classic fillings, like raspberry and apricot.
5/9
Blue Moon Crescent Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
I love my grandma's vanilla crescent cookies, but wanted to add my own twist. These have a touch of lemon and cinnamon, plus flecks of dried blueberries. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado
Kifli usually contain a walnut filling, but these crescent cookies omit the nuts. Instead, you’ll find dried blueberries, cinnamon, lemon juice and lemon zest in every bite of these crisp, melt-in-your-mouth treats.
6/9
Raspberry Pistachio Thumbprints
From the Recipe Creator:
Thumbprint cookies are a Christmas classic, and I especially like my updated version with pistachios. The rich, buttery bites are not only delicious, but they are also pretty enough to give for gifts—if you manage to share them! —Laura Murphy, Columbus, Mississippi
Pistachio and raspberry is my absolute favorite ingredient pairing of all time. Here, a rich pistachio cookie base complements the deeply sweet yet tart and complex flavor of raspberry jam. These cookies don’t last longer than a day in my house.
7/9
Lace Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother and I make these elegant sandwich cookies filled with melted chocolate chips. Baking together is a delightful way to spend an afternoon. —Stacey B., Stillwater, Oklahoma
These delicate cookies are thin, crispy and brittle, but a melted chocolate filling adds a pleasant softness that contrasts nicely. Of course, you don’t have to fill them, or you can replace the chocolate with good-quality jam, peanut butter or thick, salted caramel.
8/9
Ice Cream Kolachkes
From the Recipe Creator:
These sweet pastries have Polish and Czech roots and can also be spelled 'kolaches.' They are usually filled with poppy seeds, nuts, jam or a mashed fruit mixture. The ice cream is a unique twist on traditional kolachkes, and it's simplest to use a square cookie cutter to cut the dough. —Diane Turner, Brunswick, Ohio
A standard kolachkes recipe has a cream cheese-based dough, which is very soft and pliable. Here, we trade it for vanilla ice cream to make the cookies a little richer and sweeter. Bonus: There’s ice cream left over!
9/9
Frosted Anise Cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
I love anise flavoring, and my nana loved sugar cookies, so I put them together. This anise cookie recipe has a soft, from-scratch texture. It’s hard to stop at just one! —Rachele Angeloni, North Providence, Rhode Island
Anise is a common flavoring in Polish cookies and adds a holiday touch to these buttery sugar cookies. We kept the recipe easy by topping them with store-bought frosting, but feel free to make your own and add more anise extract if you really like the taste of licorice.
Polish Christmas Cookies FAQ
What are traditional Polish Christmas cookies?
The most traditional Polish Christmas cookies are kolaczki, which can be flavored with various fillings. Other traditional Polish Christmas cookies include fried khruchiki, anise-flavored or spiced pierniczki, lace cookies, thumbprints and kifli.
What are other Polish Christmas desserts?
Other Polish Christmas desserts include makowiec (Polish poppy seed bread), sernik (a cheesecake made from quark cheese) and kompot (a traditional fruit compote). There are so many other great Polish desserts that aren’t specific to Christmas, but you can still easily serve them during the holidays, such as poppy seed squares, plum cake, babka and paczki.
Are there Polish cookies I can make ahead for Christmas?
Yes, there are Polish cookies you can make ahead for Christmas. In fact, you can make most of the Polish Christmas cookies in this collection ahead of time, except for lace cookies or khruchiki, which are best served the same day they’re made. Store cookies in airtight containers at room temperature for about three days or in the freezer for up to six months.
