By Shauna Shepler

Christmas is a time when people all over the world gather with family and friends and eat lots of delicious food, including Christmas cookies. Whether in Australia or in Sweden, Christmas cookies are a big part of people's holiday traditions, and each country has its own variation of these delicious treats.

Germany, for instance, has the Lebkuchen (a type of gingerbread), which is considered to be the very first cookie associated with Christmas. Sweden has a type of Christmas cookie called Papparkakor. These wonderful recipes are fun and easy to make and share with your loved ones for many Christmases to come.

Frosted Lebkuchen

This German cookie recipe calls for ½ pound candied citron peel. A citron is a large fruit that looks like a lemon. It can be found in local supermarkets during the holidays because it is a common ingredient used in fruitcake. If you can't find it in your local supermarket, candied lemon or orange peel may be used instead.

For cookies:
2 cups sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups unsulfured molasses
4 tablespoons vinegar
4 teaspoons ginger
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon anise seed
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ tablespoon baking soda
½ cup warm water
1 teaspoon fennel seed, ground
½ pound candied citron peel, chopped fine
1 cup almonds, chopped fine
Flour-enough to make stiff dough
For frosting:
1 egg, beaten
Powdered sugar

Mix sugar and molasses well. Add beaten eggs, vinegar, nuts, peel and spices. Add soda dissolved in warm water, then add enough flour to make a stiff dough. Roll out and cut into oblong bars. You can also cut dough with cookie cutters. Prepare frosting by mixing powdered sugar with egg. Mixture should be thin enough to spread. Spread cookies with frosting and bake at 350 F for 12-15 minutes.

Pepperkakor

These are rolled Swedish ginger cookies.

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
¼ cup corn syrup
1/3 cup water
7/8 cup butter
1 tablespoon orange zest, grated
1 tablespoon cinnamon
½ tablespoon ginger
½ tablespoon ground cloves
2 teaspoons ground cardamom
2 teaspoons baking soda

Boil sugar, corn syrup, and water in small saucepan. Put butter and spices in large mixing bowl. Pour in hot sugar mixture. Stir until butter has melted. Cool. Stir together baking soda and flour. Mix all ingredients together to make smooth dough. Cover and let stand overnight. Lightly roll out one portion of dough at a time. Cut out shapes from dough with cookie cutters. Place cookies on cold, greased cookie sheets. Bake cookies at 400 F for 5-8 minutes in center of oven. Check cookies often.

Sources: www.foodtimeline.org/christmasfood.html, www.christmas_cookies.com/recipes