From traditional European Christmas treats to American favourites and distinctive Middle Eastern recipes, food guide TasteAtlas has published its latest ranking of the world’s 50 best cookies.

The list features sweet treats from dozens of countries, with Greece earning several notable distinctions, including one traditional Christmas speciality that narrowly missed out on the top spot.

Taking first place are Vánoční cukroví, the Czech Republic’s traditional Christmas biscuits, with a rating of 4.4 out of 5. These small festive treats come in numerous varieties and are an essential part of Czech Christmas traditions.

Greek melomakarona win silver

Greece’s melomakarona rank second, scoring 4.3 out of 5. Closely associated with the Christmas season, these traditional Greek honey-soaked biscuits are known for their distinctive combination of honey, walnuts and aromatic spices.

Algeria’s almond-based Makroud el Louse take third place with the same rating of 4.3, followed by Argentina’s alfajores in fourth place with 4.2. Dutch stroopwafels complete the top five, also scoring 4.2.

Scotland’s Petticoat Tails rank sixth, followed by American chocolate chip cookies in seventh and Italy’s Baci di Dama in eighth. Mexico’s Marranitos take ninth place, while Dutch Speculaas round off the top 10.

Three more Greek treats make the top 50

Beyond melomakarona, three other traditional Greek sweets have secured places in the ranking. Amygdalota, traditional almond sweets, come in 24th place with a rating of 3.9 out of 5, while moustokouloura, biscuits made with grape must, rank 28th with the same score.

Greek kourabiedes, the traditional Christmas butter biscuits coated in icing sugar, take 47th place with a rating of 3.8, meaning that both of Greece’s best-known Christmas biscuits feature among TasteAtlas’s top 50.

Other notable entries include French macarons in 39th place, Austrian Linzer Augen in 40th and German Zimtsterne in 44th. Iran’s Naan Berenji complete the ranking in 50th place, with a score of 3.7 out of 5.

See the full TasteAtlas list here.