Traditional Slovenian Christmas Recipes
From My Family Kitchen to Yours
Christmas in a Slovenian home always begins in the kitchen.
Before the tree is decorated and before gifts are wrapped, there are bowls on the counter, flour on little hands, and the familiar scents of walnuts, rum, lemon zest, and sugar filling the house. These slow, warm moments — full of love and tradition — are what Christmas has always meant to me.
The traditional Slovenian Christmas recipes you’ll find here have been made in my family for generations. Some were passed down from my Mami and Stara mama, while others I began making myself when my children were small, standing on chairs beside me, eagerly waiting to ice cookies or sneak a taste of dough.
These recipes are simple, honest, and deeply rooted in tradition — just the way Slovenian holiday baking has always been. I’m so grateful to share them with you.
Classic Slovenian Christmas Cookies & Desserts
These are some of the cherished cookies and sweets that grace our table year after year — lovingly made and fondly remembered.
Potica (Slovenian Walnut Roll)
Potica, the traditional Slovenian walnut roll, is a beloved symbol of heritage and family celebrations. This sweet yeast bread, filled with a rich walnut, sugar, butter, and spice mixture, has been a holiday favourite for generations. Baking Potica is often a family affair — soft dough, nutty filling, and the comforting aroma make it a centerpiece for Christmas, Easter, and special gatherings. Read the step by step recipe
Slovenian Vanilla Crescent Cookies (Vanilijevi Kifeljčki) – Traditional Recipe
These buttery, delicate Slovenian Crescent Cookies are lightly dusted with vanilla sugar and melt in your mouth. A cherished family tradition, they’re simple to make, perfect for sharing, and always a favourite on any cookie tray. Read the step by step recipe
Slovenian Marmeladni Žepki | Classic Jam-Filled Pocket Cookies
These traditional Slovenian Marmeladni Žepki are simple, sweet, and irresistible. Made with just four ingredients, they can be filled with any jam you love — our family favourite is plum jam! Perfect for holiday treats, gifting, or enjoying with a cup of tea, these classic jam-filled pocket cookies are easy to make and always a hit. Read the step by step recipe
Puserli / Orehovi Poljubčki (Slovenian Walnut Meringue Cookies)
A very special Slovenian Christmas cookie passed down from my Stara mama, Rozalija Pušič. Crisp on the outside, chewy inside — more like a little candy than a cookie. Always a favourite. Read the step by step recipe
Slovenian Kiflice | Jam-Filled Crescent Cookie Recipe
These traditional Slovenian Kiflice are a must for your Christmas cookie platter! Soft, buttery crescent cookies, they can be filled with any jam or spread you love — our family favourites are plum jam, Nutella, and walnut filling. Extremely versatile and utterly irresistible, these cookies will disappear before your eyes, making them a holiday favourite year after year. Read the step by step recipe
Chocolate Walnut Meringue Cake | Orehove Čokoladne Rezine
This Chocolate Walnut Meringue Cake (Orehove Čokoladne Rezine) is a rich, chewy, and utterly irresistible dessert. The chocolate meringue topping is so decadent, you’ll want seconds! Perfectly versatile, this cake can be cut into half-moon shapes, squares, or any shape your heart desires. A cherished childhood favourite, it’s a must-try for any dessert table. Read the step-by-step recipe
Slovenian Janeževi Upognjenci | Classic Anise Arched Cookies
These traditional Slovenian Janeževi Upognjenci are fragrant anise-flavoured cookies that bring back memories of my Stara Mama’s dessert trays. Delicate and melt-in-your-mouth, yet pleasantly crisp, these classic arched cookies are a cherished part of Slovenian baking traditions and a perfect addition to any holiday cookie platter. Read the step-by-step recipe
Medenjaki (Honey Spice Cookies)
Medenjaki are traditional Slovenian honey spice cookies, often heart-shaped and beautifully decorated. Made during the holidays, they’re perfect for gifting — sweet, fragrant, and full of festive charm. Read the step by step recipe
Limonini Piškoti (Slovenian Lemon Glazed Cookies)
Soft, lightly sweet almond cookies finished with a bright lemon glaze. This recipe is simple, quick, and always a crowd-pleaser — perfect for baking with family or making ahead for holiday gatherings. Read the step by step recipe
Breskvice (Slovenian Peach Cookies)
Breskvice are round, bite-sized cookies filled with jam and chocolate, often apricot or plum. Dipped in a light coloured coating, they look like tiny peaches — hence the name breskvice, which means “peaches” in Slovenian. Read the step by step recipe
Čokoladni Razpokančki (Chocolate Crinkle Cookies)
Rich, chocolatey, and completely irresistible, these cookies are soft and fudgy on the inside with a crisp, powdered sugar coating on the outside. They taste just like little brownie bites and are always one of the first cookies to disappear from the tray. Read the step by step recipe
Traditional Linzer Cookie Recipe | Linški Piškoti
These classic Linzer Cookies (Linški Piškoti) are buttery, almond-filled cookies with a delicate texture and a peekaboo cutout, filled with your favorite jam — blackcurrant, raspberry, or rosehip. Read the step by step recipe
Why Slovenian Christmas Baking Is So Special
Slovenian Christmas baking is about gathering, remembering, and making time for one another. Recipes are rarely rushed, measurements are often memorized, and the kitchen is always full of conversation, polka music, and laughter.
These traditional Slovenian Christmas recipes are meant to be shared — with family, friends, neighbours, and anyone who walks through the door during the holidays.
If you grew up with these flavours, I hope they bring you home.
If they’re new to you, I hope they become part of your own traditions.
Thank you for being here, and for allowing me to share a piece of my Slovenian heritage with you.
From my Slovenian heart and kitchen to yours —
Michelle XO
