Christmas cakes and memories are made from the same recipe: a dash of nostalgia, a handful of warmth, and a sprinkle of love.
Unknown
As the holiday season approaches, many of us look forward to cozy gatherings, a crackling fireplace, or the array of festive lights.
For me, it’s the unmistakably tempting aroma of holiday baking wafting through the air that makes me feel like it’s finally Christmas.
If you’re in the baking mood, why not add a dash of global flair to your holiday treats by exploring traditional Christmas desserts from around the world? Not only does trying new recipes spice up your baking line-up, it also brings a touch of cultural adventure to your kitchen. You’ll explore new flavors, textures, and traditions from different corners of the globe without ever leaving the kitchen!
Global Holiday Baking 101
When it comes to holiday baking, every culture brings its own traditions, ingredients, and unique flair to the season. Some recipes come from ancient traditions, representing warmth and celebration, while others are relatively modern adaptations that reflect local flavors and ingredients.
Making these global recipes is more than just a fun kitchen project. It’s a way to experience how other cultures celebrate while adding new depth and flavor to your holiday table.
Tips for Shopping & Baking with Global Ingredients
Whenever I try recipes from around the world, I likely encounter ingredients I haven’t used before. Don’t skip them as they can be the secret to capturing the authentic taste!
Often these specialty ingredients aren’t easily found in your typical American grocery store (although the range is getting better). Here are some tips for finding them.
Browse Specialty Stores: Local ethnic grocery stores often carry unique dessert ingredients like rose water, cardamom, rice flour, or candied fruit. Middle Eastern, Asian, or Latin American markets are treasure troves for holiday bakers looking to try something new.
Venture Online for Specialty Retailers: If you can’t find certain ingredients locally, many specialty ingredients like marzipan, golden raisins, and rare spices are available online.
Adapt Ingredients Mindfully: For recipes that call for items like specific cheeses or fresh spices, try to find substitutes that are close in flavor or texture. For example, mascarpone can often be swapped with cream cheese for Italian desserts.
Share the Stories Behind Each Recipe
Many holiday recipes offer a chance to share stories with loved ones. Imagine introducing the French Buche de Noel, explaining how it represents the Yule log of centuries past. Or how about delighting friends with Mexico’s Rosca de Reyes, which is traditionally eaten in January to celebrate the Three Kings. These stories offer opportunities to add a layer of meaning to your bakes and make new holiday memories.
Ready to get started?
European Christmas Delights
Europe is home to some of the most cherished holiday desserts, many of which have centuries-old roots. From the bustling Christmas markets of Germany to the charming patisseries of Paris, each country brings its own seasonal flavors to the table.
European Christmas desserts are often marked by rich spices, dried fruits and buttery goodness, making them feel both nostalgic and celebratory. Here are a few classic treats from Europe that you can bring into your home kitchen to capture the magic of a European holiday.
Stollen | Germany
1. Stollen (Germany): Stollen is a dense, fruit-studded bread that has been a German Christmas staple for over 500 years. Expect a blend of rum-soaked raisins, almonds, and candied citrus peel folded into a buttery, yeasted dough. You can also include a hidden a marzipan ribbon, then generously dust with powdered sugar for a snowy holiday treat.
Stollen originated in Dresden which hosts the annual Stollenfest. Here you can try different versions of this Christmas treat while enjoying Germany’s oldest Christmas market.
Stollen Recipe
Panettone | Italy
2. Panettone (Italy): Known for its fluffy, airy texture and subtly sweet flavor, panettone is one of Italy’s most beloved holiday treats. This bake hails from Milan and was developed during the Renaissance. It’s a tall, dome-shaped bread made with a long fermentation process that gives it a light, almost cake-like texture. Like stollen, panettone is filled with raisins and candied citrus. However, it is lighter and has more vanilla flavor (rather than almond and spices).
Panettone Recipe
3. Buche de Noel / Yule Log (France): This is the quintessential dessert centerpiece for your holiday table! The Buche de Noel, or Yule Log, symbolizes the traditional Yule log burned during winter solstice celebrations. This classic French dessert is a rolled chocolate sponge cake filled with cream. It is then decorated to look like a log textured with a fork to mimic bark, accented with delicate meringue mushrooms or leaves and dusted with snow-like powdered sugar.
Buche de Noel Recipe
Risalamande | Denmark
4. Risalamande (Denmark): Copenhagen, Denmark is an especially magical place to visit during the holidays. Here you can experience hygge — a cozy Danish concept of warmth and togetherness — while enjoying risalamande and other holiday treats.
Risalamande is a Danish rice pudding and their classic Christmas Eve dessert. This sweet and creamy dish is made with rice, milk, vanilla and almonds, then folded with whipped cream and served with warm cherry sauce. It’s also part of a charming Danish tradition: a single whole almond is hidden in the pudding, and whomever finds it, wins a small prize.
Risalamande Recipe
Kolaches | Eastern Europe
5. Kolaches (Eastern Europe): Kolaches and babka are traditional Eastern European holiday desserts enjoyed in countries like Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland. Kolaches are small round pastries filled with fruit preserves, poppy seeds or chocolate. Babka, on the other hand is a rich, braided bread that is typically flavored with cinnamon, chocolate or fruit fillings. In cities like Prague, Warsaw and Bratislava, you’ll find bakeries selling fresh kolaches and babka, especially during the festive season.
Recently I had the pleasure of attending a baking class with Lenka (Bake with Lenka), a native Slovakian now living and thriving in Park City, Utah. I felt so special to be baking her grandmother’s recipes for both kolaches and babka. Both were simply and easily adaptable for various tastes and preferences. Try them, and they will become a staple in your holiday and all year-round baking.
Recipes found at the end of this post.
The Vibrant Holiday Flavors of Latin America
Latin American Christmas desserts bring together vibrant flavors, festive colors and rich cultural traditions. Each country in the region has its own unique way of celebrating the holiday season, often combining Spanish influences with indigenous ingredients like nuts, fruits and spices. These desserts are often enjoyed with family gatherings and holiday festivities, where traditions are passed down through generations.
Let’s explore three classic Latin American treats that are sure to add some extra warmth and sweetness to your holiday celebrations.
Rosca de Reyes | Mexico
6. Rosca de Reyes (Mexico): Mexico City comes alive during the holiday season with bakeries and markets displaying elaborate Rosca de Reyes.
Rosca de Reyes, or “King’s Ring,” is traditionally enjoyed on January 6th, Epiphany Day, but is often served throughout the holiday season. Shaped like a crown and adorned with jewel-toned candied fruits, this sweet bread is more than just a treat. It is a beloved tradition in Mexico. Hidden inside the dough is a bean or a small figurine of the baby Jesus. Whomever finds it must hold a celebration on Dia de la Candelaria in February.
Rosca de Reyes, or “King’s Ring,” is traditionally enjoyed on January 6th, Epiphany Day, but is often served throughout the holiday season. Shaped like a crown and adorned with jewel-toned candied fruits, this sweet bread is more than just a treat; it’s a beloved tradition. Hidden inside the dough is a bean or a small figurine of the baby Jesus, and whomever finds it must hold a celebration on Dia de la Candelaria in February.
Rosca de Reyes Recipe
Turron de Jijona | Spain / Latin America
7. Turron (Spain/Latin America): Although it originated in Spain, turron has become a holiday favorite throughout Latin America. Turron is usually made by combining almonds with honey and sugar, creating a nougat-like treat. It can be soft (turron de Jijona) or hard (turron de Alicante), and it is often cut into small squares for easy sharing. Turron has a wonderfully sweet, nutty flavor and it’s perfect for those who love a little crunch in their holiday treats.
Turron de Jijona (Soft) Recipe and Turron de Alicante (Hard) Recipe
Alfajores | Argentina
8. Alfajores (Argentina): Alfajores are delicate sandwich cookies filled with dulce de leche. The rich caramel-like spread made from slowly heated sweetened milk. These tender cookies are especially popular during the holiday season in Argentina. Dust or roll them in powdered sugar or shredded coconut for an extra festive touch.
Alfajores Recipe
Unique Christmas Desserts from Asia and the Southern Hemisphere
In Asia and the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas desserts reflect the unique flavors and traditions of these regions. These regions are brimming with tropical ingredients that are light in texture and vibrant in color. With summer in full swing in Australia and New Zealand, holiday tables are adorned with fresh, fruity desserts. And in Japan and the Philippines, Christmas treats highlight local flavors and festive customs.
Pavlova | New Zealand & Australia
9. Pavlova (New Zealand & Australia): Warm, spice-heavy desserts aren’t the best option when you’re celebrating Christmas beachside. That’s why pavlova is a beloved dessert in both Australia and New Zealand, where Christmas hits when summer is in full swing.
This meringue-based dessert has a crispy outer shell and a soft, marshmallow-like interior. It’s typically topped with fresh summer fruits like strawberries, kiwi and passionfruit. Being light and refreshing, it’s a perfect treat for a warm Christmas celebration.
Christmas Pavlova Recipe
Christmas Cake | Japan
10. Japanese Christmas Cake (Japan): Japan has embraced its own version of Christmas cake — a light sponge cake layered with whipped cream and adorned with strawberries. Known simply as “Christmas Cake” or “Kurisumasu Keki,” this dessert is a symbol of festive cheer in Japan and is usually enjoyed on Christmas Eve. The cake is airy and not overly sweet, making it a lovely and refreshing dessert. And how festive is it with its white and red color scheme?!
Japanese Christmas Cake Recipe
Celebrate Christmas with a World of Flavors
Tired of the same old Christmas sugar cookies and gingerbread? Let this holiday season be a chance to bake something that is a little outside the norm. By connecting with these different dessert recipes, you’re not only expanding your culinary skills but also embracing the diversity of holiday traditions — one bite at a time.
Whether you’re savoring the rich, spiced treats of Europe, indulging in the colorful confections of Latin AMerica, or enjoying the fresh, fruity delights of Asia and the Southern Hemisphere, each of these traditional Christmas desserts from around the world will open your mind (and palate) to something new.
Have these recipes left you with a taste for adventure? Explore these exciting winter getaways or reach out today to start planning your next cultural escape!
Live a Life Explored!
Grandma’s Kolaches
A recipe perfected by a Slovakian grandmother and her cooking instructor granddaughter, Lenka!
Equipment
- Baking Pan
- Rolling Pin
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour plus more for dusting
- 1 cup whole milk
- 5 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 ounce unsalted butter softened
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 20 grams fresh yeast (not instant)
- lemon zest from one-half lemon
- 1 egg for egg wash
- Fillings of your choice (see below for more suggestions)
Instructions
- Bring butter, eggs and milk to room temperature.
- In a small bowl, heat 1/2 cup milk until lukewarm. (You can heat on the stove or in the microwave.) Once warm, stir 1.5 tablespoon of sugar into warm milk making sure it is properly dissolved.
- Add 1/2 tablespoon active dry yeast (or 1.5 tablespoon fresh yeast) into lukewarm sweet milk. (Milk cannot be boiling hot.) Mix together with a spoon. Cover the bowl with yeast and set aside to let yeast activate until frothy and bubbly, approximately 15-20 minutes.
- In a separate bowl (standing mixer or otherwise), combine 1-3/4 cups of flour, 2 tablespoons of sugar, pinch of salt and lemon zest.
- In the middle of the dry ingredients, add 1/2 cup of milk and 1 egg.
- Pour activated and frothy yeast into the bowl, followed by 1/4 cup softened butter, chopped into small pieces. Start kneading the dough either by hand or in a mixer fitted with a dough hook until the dough is smooth and shiny and pulls away easily from the sides of the bowl (or until it doesn't stick to your hands). Properly kneaded and well worked-out, it is still very elastic and stretchy, yet not sticky and wet.
- Cover the dough with a clean towel or plastic wrap and let it rest and proof until it is double in size, for at least 45 minutes or longer (depending upon your room temperature). NOTE: The warmer the temperature, the faster the dough will rise. If you're using dry yeast, you'll need to proof your dough for a longer time.
- In the meantime, prepare your fillings from the list below.
- Once the dough is well-risen and has doubled in size, it's time to shape it. Roll it out to a rectangle. Cut the dough into small square approximately the size of the palm of your hand. First, pinch the 4 corners together and then seal all open sides by pulling them up, making sure no filling is leaking out. Buns need to be sealed well to eliminate the leakage.
- Place your kolaches in a baking pan/sheet lined with parchment paper with the sealed side facing down. Let it rise for another 20 minutes (covered with a learn towel. After the second rise, egg wash the kolaches with one beaten egg.
- Place a small dollop of the filling that you used for the inside on the top to recognize what is inside after baking.
- Preheat oven to 370 degrees.
- Bake until golden brown for approximately 18-25 minutes, depending upon your oven and altitude. Check the color often.
- Brush hot kolaches with melted butter. (Option: add a few drops of rum into the melted butter for extra flavor.) Cool for approximately 20 minutes before eating. You can dust your kolaches with powered sugar.
Notes
Ideas for Fillings:
- Chocolate Spread: Combine 4 parts chocolate to 1-2 parts heavy cream until a spreadable consistency.
- Poppy Seed filling: Combine 2 parts ground poppy seeds with 1 part sugar and 3 parts milk. Cook together in a saucepan over low heat for approximately 8 minutes. Tur mixture off and stire in a tablespoon of preferred jam or preserves and a pinch of cinnamon.
- Cinnamon Butter & Sugar: Combine 2 parts softened, unsalted sugar with 1 part sugar. Add a generous amount of cinnamon and a pinch of salt.
- Use your favorite jam or preserves. Popular flavors are: Sour cherry and plum.
