In the United States we know gingerbread at Christmas made into a gingerbread man, a dark cookie sweetened with molasses.  But in Europe it takes all kinds of shapes.

(A list of our favorite tips for traveling with a camera is included at the end of this blog)

Gingerbread in Switzerland, Basler Lackerli

Gingerbread in Strasbourg

Pain d’ Epice

Gingerbread tower

Gingerbread men in France

It is thought to have originated in Basel Switzerland as Basler Lackerli, a spiced bread sweetened with honey and kirsch and with hazelnuts and spices added.  That sounds like a great addition to the Christmas tradition.  In France it is known as pain d’epices, or spice bread.