[2] Gebildbrot came to Aachen in the 15th century with immigrant blacksmiths and quickly found popularity among the city's bakers.

They made a soft dough sweetened with honey, which they pressed into elaborately carved baking molds depicting saints and other figures.

An original baker named Henry Lambertz then came up with the idea of rolling out the dough over raised molds.

The robust cookies can be efficiently produced in large quantities and are ideal as travel provisions, which is why their reputation has spread far beyond Aachen.

Printen are made from a variety of ingredients including cinnamon, aniseed, clove, cardamom, coriander, allspice and also ginger.