I'm so excited to share this roundup of 20 traditional Norwegian Christmas cookies with you! These are the kind of cozy, buttery, spice filled treats that make the holidays feel special. We're talking everything from crisp lacy bites to soft, tender classics, and trust me, they're a delicious change from the usual cookies.

1. Norwegian Kringla Cookies

Soft, buttery, and not overly sweet, you are going to fall head over heels for these Kringla cookies. They're wonderfully thick and shaped a bit like little pretzels. The original cookies usually skip the frosting, but I think a little drizzle makes them even more irresistible.

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2. Sandbakkels or Sandkaker (Norwegian Sand Cookies)

Sandbakkels are a beloved Norwegian pastry that shows up every Christmas. They're tiny, delicate cups with a beautifully buttery texture that get filled with almond paste, cream cheese, or jam. They're wonderful for parties, and I love baking up a big batch so I can fill them with all sorts of festive goodies like spiced cream cheese or no bake pumpkin cheesecake.

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3. Fattigman Cookies

If you're on the hunt for a holiday bite that's light, flaky, and totally full of flavor, I've got you covered. This traditional Norwegian recipe is all about crispy fried dough showered with powdered sugar and a hint of cardamom. The result is a delicate little treat that pairs perfectly with a steaming mug of hot cocoa.

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4. Norwegian Walnut Cookies

As you can probably guess, these Norwegian walnut cookies are a rich little indulgence packed with nutty and sweet flavor. They remind me a lot of Mexican wedding cookies, but walnuts step in for the almonds. I find that helps tone down the sweetness in the dough, so when you add that final coating of powdered sugar, it never feels like too much.

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5. Bordstabler

Bordstabler, also known as board stacks, is such a fun Christmas cookie project. It's almost like getting two treats in one! You start with a lovely butter cookie base, usually shaped into a rectangle, and then top it with a macaroon like layer of meringue and ground almonds. Be sure to grind those almonds as fine as you can, but feel free to have fun making different shapes.

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6. Scandinavian Rosette Cookies

Scandinavian rosette cookies are a delicious treat you simply have to try! They come out of the hot oil light, airy, and wonderfully sweet with the most satisfying crispness. Think of them like Scandinavian churros, except they get a snowy dusting of powdered sugar instead of cinnamon.

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7. Sarah Bernhardt Cookies

Named for the famous French actress, this one of a kind meringue dessert is going to blow your mind. It manages to be crunchy yet soft, and bursting with flavor yet wonderfully simple, so it really gives you everything you want in a Christmas cookie and more. The meringue gets a lovely hint of almond extract, and the whole thing is draped in a gorgeous coating of dark chocolate. Yum.

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8. Norwegian Goro Cookies

Here's a timeless Norwegian Christmas cookie you absolutely need to try. They're typically built from a simple blend of flour, butter, sugar, and cream. The dough gets rolled out thin and pressed into gorgeous detailed shapes using special Goro irons. After a quick bake until golden, they're just lovely alongside a hot cup of tea or coffee.

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9. Brune Pinner

Brune pinner, or brown sticks, might not look the most festive, but they're a true Norwegian holiday staple. You'll taste notes of cinnamon, cardamom, and vanilla, which makes them similar to the pepperkaker above. But the golden syrup brings lovely sweetness, and the pearl sugar and chopped almonds on top add a wonderful crunch.

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10. Sirupsnipper

The pairing of sweet, nutty almonds with deep, rich sugar syrup makes this sirupsnipper recipe a mouthwatering dream. They're very close to the pepperkaker recipe above, but you'll swap the golden syrup for black treacle, which is a dark inverted sugar syrup. Just be aware that molasses won't work as well here, so it's worth grabbing some treacle online.

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11. Berlinerkranser (Berlin Wreath Norwegian Christmas Cookies)

When you peek at this ingredient list, you might think you're seeing things. But yes, you really do stir hard boiled egg yolks into the dough! Believe it or not, that's the secret to making these cookies impossibly rich and creamy. One bite will absolutely not be enough.

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12. Mandelflarn (Norwegian Almond Lace Cookies)

Mandelflarn are such fun lace cookies, but they do need a little more attention than some of the other recipes here. You'll be making a caramel with the nuts, and that mixture can go from perfect to scorched in the blink of an eye. If you're planning to make these tasty treats, just be sure you have time to keep a close watch on that pot.

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13. Norwegian Serinakaker (Butter Cookies)

It really doesn't get any simpler or tastier than a light, buttery sugar cookie. These little gems genuinely melt right in your mouth! They strike that dreamy balance between crumbly and tender, like a sugar cookie and shortbread joined forces and made something incredible.

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14. Norwegian Konjakksnitter (Cognac Cookies)

At first look, you might mistake these for biscuits or even beignets. But really, they're butter cookies with a lovely Cognac kick! With a fast dough made from butter, sugar, flour, and eggs, they're wonderfully uncomplicated yet feel so indulgent. That little touch of booze just makes them feel extra festive for the season.

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15. Easy Christmas Chocolate Rice Puffs (Risboller)

With chocolate, powdered sugar, and creamy coconut fat all in the mix, this no bake cookie recipe is an absolute must make. The warm chocolate really highlights the sweetness of the coconut, while the rice puffs add that irresistible crunch. Enjoy them plain, or go a little wild with crushed candy canes, chopped almonds, or festive sprinkles on top.

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16. Norwegian Kransekakestenger (Almond Cookies)

The other recipe on this list gives you a firmer dough that you can scoop into rounds, but this version has a much softer texture. Because of that, it's one of my absolute favorite doughs to use with a cookie press since you can pipe it into the cutest shapes. This time there's ground almonds and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, making them tender with a little zip.

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17. Norwegian Krumkake

Norwegian Krumkake really hits that perfect sweet spot of flavor and texture. It's almost like a cookie and a waffle had a baby, with a light and airy bite and the most delicate, crispy edges. You'll often see them rolled into a cone and filled with clouds of whipped cream and fresh fruit.

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18. Norwegian Havrekjeks

These cracker cookies are truly one of a kind. They're sweet and salty at the same time and packed with nutty oats. Havrekjeks can be served with sweet jam or even cheese and meats, so they're just as happy on a charcuterie board as they are on a cookie platter. This is another recipe that calls for baker's ammonia, so it's definitely worth picking up a tub.

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19. Norwegian Pepperkaker (Gingerbread Cookies)

You'll find takes on Norwegian Pepperkaker all across Europe. While they aren't as heavily spiced or chewy as the gingerbread we're used to, there's still plenty of warm cinnamon and ginger to make you reach for another. Honestly, I think they're even better than regular gingerbread because the flavor is more mellow, so even the littlest kids will gobble them up.

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20. Norwegian Julemenn (Christmas Men Cookies)

These thick, gently spiced cookies will make your whole kitchen smell like the holidays in the best possible way. You'll need hartshorn, also called Baker's Ammonia or Hjortetakksalt, which is a special leavening agent. Beyond that, it's a pretty familiar butter cookie dough. But that hartshorn truly gives them something extra.

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