One of the best things about Christmas is the enormous range of sugar cookies and biscuits that swamp bake sales and supermarkets at this time. Winter solstice celebrations were historically a time of feasting for communities, and when the tradition merged with Christmas in the Middle Ages, festive biscuits soon took off. Whether you leave out some milk and cookies for Santa Claus on your dining table or stroll through Christmas markets in December, seasonal biscuits are a delicious treat to indulge in.

　　Here's what you should know about the origins of Christmas cookies and the many varieties they come in.

　　The Origins Of The Christmas Cookie

　　Modern Christmas cookies can trace their history to recipes from Medieval Europe, when many modern ingredients such as cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, almonds and dried fruit were used to make cookies. It is believed that the cookie reached Europe in the early 8th century with the Muslim conquest of Spain, and recipes continued to be shaped through the spice trade. By the 1300s, they’d evolved to resemble the sweeter, softer and spicier modern-day versions we know today.

　　The great-grandfather of all Christmas cookies is often considered to be gingerbread, which evolved as dried fruits, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and ginger started appearing in cities throughout Europe. Nuremberg in Germany, which was at the intersection of two major trade routes, is considered its main birthplace, with bakers in the city making soft, chewy, spiced lebkuchen (gingerbread biscuits) as early as the 13th century. The recipe evolved from a spiced honey cake, made with ingredients including almonds, oranges and sugar, which Jewish traders brought back from the Arab world.

　　By the 16th century, Christmas biscuits had become popular across Europe, with lebkuchen being favoured in Germany, pepparkakor in Sweden and krumkake in Norway. The earliest examples of Christmas cookies in the United States were brought by the Dutch in the early 17th century. The import of cookie cutters in America with stylised images that people could hang on Christmas trees further increased the spread of festive biscuits. In the early 20th century, American merchants also imported decorated lebkuchen cookies from Germany to be used as presents.

　　Types Of Christmas Cookies

　　Spritz Cookies

　　These are butter cookies made with a cookie cutter and originated from the Scandinavian countries. The name comes from the German word spritzen, which means “to squirt.” This is because the dough is pushed and squirted through a cookie press. One Norwegian tradition is to make them in the shape of 's' and 'o', but today, they're often made into Christmas trees, stars and more.

　　Gingerbread People

　　Legend traces gingerbread men back to Queen Elizabeth I, who supposedly had her cooks mould the pastry into the shapes of her favorite courtiers and liked to give VIP guests ginger biscuits that were edible caricatures. Today, they are the quintessential Christmas treat for people worldwide.

　　Pizzelle

　　These are Italian waffle cookies made with flour, eggs, sugar, butter or vegetable oil and flavouring (usually anise or anisette). They are known to be one of the oldest cookies and were probably developed from the ancient Roman crustulum. Families once had pizzelle irons made with family crests, special dates or other celebratory designs to decorate the cookies with. The crispy cookies are now an Italian holiday favourite.

　　Sugar Cookies

　　Also known as Amish sugar cookies or Nazareth sugar cookies, the modern sugar cookie was created by the Moravians, who settled in the Nazareth area in the state of Pennsylvania from Germany during the mid-18th century. The US state of Pennsylvania has since adopted Nazareth sugar cookies as its official state cookie. Make sure you visit the Christkindlmarkt in the city of Bethlehem to get your hands on some.

　　Snickerdoodle

　　A snickerdoodle is a type of cookie made with flour, fat, sugar and salt and rolled in cinnamon sugar. Eggs may also sometimes be used as an ingredient, with cream of tartar and baking soda added to leaven the dough. Snickerdoodles are characterised by a cracked surface and can be either crisp or soft, depending on the ingredients used. While they are known as “sugar cookies,” they differ from regular sugar cookies because they are rolled in a mixture of white sugar and cinnamon.

　　Rose Cookies

　　These crispy and intricate flower-shaped cookies are a traditional part of Goan Christmas sweets. Made by combining all-purpose flour, sugar, coconut milk and eggs, the little cookies are shaped like flowers. Their preparation also reflects the culinary heritage of Goa, where the fusion of Indian and Portuguese influences has resulted in a unique and diverse range of dishes.