Kitchens scented with festive spice. Christmas biscuits, traditional and new, and many easy to make. Here, we have Trine Hahnemann’s honey hearts, Budgie Montoya’s paciencia cookies and Nigel Slater’s brandy snaps. Plus, Chetna Makan’s masala crackers and Nigella Lawson’s perfect parmesan shortbreads. Whether baking for yourself, or for presents for friends, have a very merry Christmas.
Honning hjerter – honey hearts recipe by Trine Hahnemann
For maximum flavour, bake these biscuits well ahead of Christmas, and decorate them for the tree
Alfajores de dulce de leche recipe by Ana Ortiz
These melt-in-mouth biscuits with their dense, creamy filling make the perfect gift – if you can resist eating them first
Orange and ginger amaretti recipe by Justin Gellatly
The classic almond biscuit combined with the zest of orange and warmth of ginger
Polish gingerbread cookies with chocolate, poppy seed and candied peel recipe by Ren Behan
Bring in Christmas early with this traditional Polish biscuit that gets more flavoursome over time
Nigel Slater’s recipe for brandy snaps with cinnamon cream
Gentle handling will guarantee success with this classic Christmas biscuit
Brindisa polvorones recipe by Monika Linton and Scott Boden
A shortbread-style biscuit – just add a dusting of icing sugar and a glass of cognac
Georgina Hayden’s recipe for tahinobiskoto – tahini, almond and honey cookies
An amaretti-style biscuit that’s super-quick and easy to make
Florentiner – cherry and almond florentines recipe by Anja Dunk
An elegant biscuit that’s an ideal after-dinner treat
Cranberry pistachio biscotti recipe by Becky Excell
A crunchy and sweet biscuit that’s gluten-free to boot
Brown butter nutmeg shortbread recipe by Rebecca Bishop
Caramelised butter introduces a butterscotch flavour to this crumbly biscuit
Redcurrant and coconut marshmallow wreaths recipe by Helen Goh
Chewy yet light and with a tart touch – this is a riff on a treasured Aussie biscuit
White chocolate gingerbread cookies recipe by Helena Garcia
A hint of ginger gives these biscuits a Christmassy flavour
Nigel Slater’s hazelnut buttercream cookies recipe
A biscuit that will satisfy with its toasted nutty flavour and rich praline filling
Schoko-pfefferminztaler – chocolate peppermint biscuits recipe by Anja Dunk
With their super-sweet topping, these bakes pay tribute to the classic after-dinner mint
Zimtsterne – cinnamon stars recipe by Jürgen Krauss
Make the meringue topping as generous as you like with this gluten-free biscuit
Chocolate, rye and festive spice cookies recipe by George Fuest
Fudgy in texture, this dark chocolate biscuit makes a perfect gift
Chetna Makan’s cumin masala crackers recipe
Dangerously moreish, this savoury biscuit that’s as good on its own as it is with cheese
Nidi di cocco all’albicocca – apricot macaroons recipe by Giuseppe Dell’Anno
Handed down through the generations, this biscuit recipe calls for soaking the coconut in sugar syrup first
Nigella Lawson’s parmesan shortbreads recipe
A must for pre-dinner nibbles, make these moreish biscuits in advance for ease
Paciencia cookies recipe by Ferdinand ‘Budgie’ Montoya
A meringue biscuit that’s worth all the whisking
