Pryanik

Pryanik (Russian: пряник [ˈprʲænʲɪk] ⓘ, Ukrainian: пряник, Belarusian: пернік; Czech and Slovak: perník; Polish: piernik [ˈpjɛrɲik] ⓘ; Croatian: paprenjak) refers to a range of traditional sweet-baked goods in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and some neighboring countries such as in Poland (Polish: piernik) and Lithuania (Lithuanian: meduolis).

[1][2] Sugar is often used instead of honey in industrial pryaniki production and modern home-cooking.

Related to pryanik is kovrizhka (коврижка), known in western countries as a "fudge", sweet bread with similar ingredients.

The word pryanik is from Old East Slavic пьпьрянъ, an adjective from Old East Slavic пьпьрь 'pepper', which makes it etymologically similar or related to German Pfefferkuchen.

In France, the inventor of gingerbread is considered to be Gregory of Nikopol, who in 992 allegedly moved to this country from Armenia and taught the local monks this recipe.