Macaron Milieu
International Cookies
Experience travel around the world with your tastebuds
I’m on a journey to learn how to bake cookies from around the world as a way to explore different cultures, traditions, and stories. By discovering the ingredients and techniques that make each cookie unique, I hope to deepen my appreciation for diversity and the many ways food brings people together. I’m learning from a variety of sources including the "crumbs" cookbook by Ben Mims, and other recipes and cultural insights I find online. I am approaching each recipe with respect and curiosity, honoring each cookie's cultural roots while learning from the people and histories behind them. Through this, I hope to create a welcoming space where shared treats spark conversation, connection, and an expanded sense of community.
My Journey
France
macarons, hélénettes, sablés breton
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United States of America
chocolate chip cookies
Azerbaijan
ghorabieh, sheker chorek
Italy
pignoli
Scotland
shortbread
Sweden
Schackrutor
China
Hup Toh Soh
Germany
Hamantaschen
Morocco
Kaab el Ghazal
El Salvador
Salpores de Arroz
Senegal
Cinq Centimes
Azerbaijan
From the cookbook I am using to facilitate this baking voyage, I recently learned that cookies trace their origins back to 7th-century Persia. Since this is the beginning of my international cookie baking expedition, I thought it was appropriate to start off with a truly original cookie. This particular cookie comes in a few variations: an almond version called badami ghorabieh, a walnut version called gerdui ghorabieh, and a coconut version called nargili ghorabieh. Of the three, I liked the coconut one the best due to the chewy texture.
ghorabieh
These cookies (not to be confused with a braided bread with the same name) are crumbly, buttery, and almost melt in your mouth. The ingredients are familiar to me (I had all the ingredients already at home) and they came together quite quickly. Shaker chorek cookies are traditionally made in celebration of Nowruz, the Persian New Year.
sheker chorek
United States of America (USA)
As an American I feel it is safe to say that chocolate chip cookies are the epitome of American cookie baking. First invented in Wakefield, Massachusetts by Ruth Graves in 1938, chocolate chip cookies have remained a very popular cookie in the states.
chocolate chip cookies
If you go grocery shopping at a supermarket chain I am sure you have come across these cookies in the bakery aisle. They typically have a bright color frosting (like pink) and have rainbow sprinkles on top. I think of them as a hybrid between a cookie and a cake. My lofthouse cookies take all the good characteristics of those cookies in the grocery store and then are elevated by using fresh and high quality ingredients (without all of the chemicals!)
lofthouse cookies
France
hélénettes (France)
It is common for me to find myself with an excess of egg yolks due to all of the French macarons I make. This cookie recipe has been a way for me (and ostensibly generations of French bakers) to be less wasteful. When trying to find the origin story for these cookies I wasn't able to see anything definitive. It seems like these cookies are the kinds of cookies that have recipes sent down from generation to generation.
Sablés breton cookies were invented in 1670 and have a unique grid-like pattern on the top. A light brushing of a mixture of egg yolk and water on top gives them a bit more color. They are crisp, buttery, and make a great pairing to go with a cup of hot tea.
sablés breton
Italy
Pine nuts are so tasty (and expensive!) I learned recently from the Italian doctor I work with at my other job that "pignoli" translates into "pine nuts". They are utilized in various ways in Italian cooking and baking. These cookies are a bit fancy, a bit chewy, and have delightful tastes of toasty pine nuts and almond paste.
pignoli
Scotland
shortbread
In the Fall of 2025 I went on a trip with my father to Scotland. When we were in Edinburgh, I took a Scottish baking class, and one of the treats we baked was shortbread cookies. I learned that using high quality European butter is paramount in successfully baking tasty shortbread cookies.
Sweden
Schackrutor
Schackrutor are Swedish cookies whose name translates to “checkerboard” or “chessboard” cookies. Made with vanilla and chocolate dough arranged in a cute checker pattern, these cookies are commonly found in homes and bakeries throughout Sweden. One of my friend’s mom (who is Swedish and grew up in Sweden) confirmed that these are a classic, well-loved cookie there.They’re a simple, comforting cookie with a perfect balance of vanilla and chocolate.
China
Hup toh soh are Chinese walnut cookies that are typically made for Lunar New Year. They are crisp, nutty, and not too sweet. I find that the toasted black sesame seeds really add an extra oomph to the walnut and sesame flavor.
Hup Toh Soh
Germany
Growing up, around the time of Purim (a Jewish holiday), I ate hamantaschen. During Purim, we celebrate the defeat of Haman who tried to destroy the Jewish people. Hamantaschen come in all sorts of flavors - my favorites being chocolate and apricot - but the most traditional filling is poppy seeds.
Hamantaschen
Morocco
I first made kaab el ghazal cookies, also known as gazelle horn cookies, on Eid al- Fitr, a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. They are shaped into crescents because they are meant to resemble gazelle horns, which symbolize elegance and beauty. The orange blossom water in them adds floral notes while the toasted sesame exterior adds nuttiness and texture.
Kaab el Ghazal
El Salvador
Salpores de arroz are cinnamon rice flour cookies. Since they utilize rice flour instead of wheat flour, they are naturally gluten free. These cookies are the result of combining indigenous culture and Spanish influence in El Salvador.
Salpores de Arroz
Senegal
Cinq centimes, translated into "five-cent cookies," are crispy, peanut-topped sugar cookies. They are a commonly found street food in Senegal, and they are a result of the combination of French influence and the huge market of peanut farming.
Cinq Centimes