christmas Recipes
54 delicious christmas recipes from around the world
Aletria (Portuguese Sweet Vermicelli)
Aletria is a traditional Portuguese sweet vermicelli dessert, often enjoyed during the Christmas season. It's a comforting and subtly sweet dish, similar to a rice pudding but made with fine vermicelli noodles, finished with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Bacalao a la Vizcaína
A classic Basque dish featuring salt cod simmered in a rich, sweet red pepper sauce. Traditionally served during Christmas Eve celebrations.
Bacalhau Espiritual
An elegant and creamy baked cod dish, often served during Christmas, resembling a savory soufflé. This recipe features flaked salt cod bound in a rich béchamel-like sauce, enriched with egg yolks and lightened with whipped egg whites.
Bigos (Hunter's Stew)
Bigos, often called Hunter's Stew, is Poland's beloved national dish. This hearty and complex stew features a rich blend of sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, and a variety of meats, slow-simmered to perfection. It's a dish that truly improves with time, making it ideal for making ahead and reheating over several days.
Bigos (Hunter's Stew)
Poland's national dish - a legendary hunter's stew featuring sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, and a medley of meats, traditionally simmered for days. Its flavor deepens and improves with each reheating, making it even better the next day.
Biscotti di Prato (Tuscan Almond Cookies)
Authentic Tuscan almond cookies, also known as Cantucci or Biscotti di Prato. These twice-baked, crunchy delights are traditionally served with Vin Santo for dipping, but are also delicious on their own. The absence of butter or oil contributes to their signature crispness.
Bolo Rei (Portuguese King Cake)
A traditional Portuguese fruit cake, often enjoyed during the Christmas holidays. This enriched dough cake is studded with candied fruits and nuts, shaped into a crown, and symbolizes the riches of the Three Kings.
Classic English Trifle
A quintessential British layered dessert, featuring cubes of sponge cake soaked in sherry, topped with fruit, rich custard, and whipped cream. A beloved centerpiece for celebrations, especially Christmas.
Diples (Greek Honey Scrolls)
Diples are traditional Greek honey scrolls made from thinly rolled fried dough, drenched in a sweet honey syrup, and often topped with crushed walnuts and cinnamon. They are a popular treat during holidays like Christmas and are also served at weddings.
Gravlax (Traditional Cure)
Sugar and salt-cured salmon, an ancient Nordic preservation method now a celebrated delicacy. This recipe includes instructions for the classic hovmästarsås (sweet mustard sauce).
Grzaniec Galicyjski (Galician Mulled Wine)
A fragrant and warming Polish mulled wine, traditionally enjoyed during the colder months, especially in the Galician region. This recipe is simple to make and perfect for festive gatherings or a cozy evening.
Jansson's Frestelse (Jansson's Temptation)
Jansson's Temptation is a beloved Swedish Christmas classic, a rich and creamy potato gratin infused with the savory flavor of Swedish anchovies (ansjovis) and sweet, softened onions. This dish is surprisingly approachable, even for those wary of anchovies, as their flavor mellows beautifully during baking.
Janssons Frestelse (Jansson's Temptation)
A classic Swedish potato gratin, Jansson's Frestelse is a rich and comforting dish featuring thinly sliced potatoes, onions, and savory anchovies baked in a creamy sauce until golden and bubbling. It's a beloved centerpiece of Swedish Christmas feasts.
Janssons Frestelse (Jansson's Temptation)
Jansson's Temptation is a beloved Swedish potato gratin, traditionally served during Christmas. It features thinly sliced potatoes layered with sweet, caramelized onions and the distinct umami of Swedish anchovies (ansjovis), all baked in a rich cream and milk mixture until golden and bubbling. Its name is a playful nod to opera singer Pelle Janzon, who was rumored to be a fan.
Julskinka (Swedish Christmas Ham)
A traditional Swedish Christmas ham, this Julskinka features a succulent, slow-cooked ham coated in a flavorful mustard and breadcrumb crust, baked to golden perfection. It's a stunning centerpiece for any holiday feast.
Kompot (Polish Stewed Fruit Drink)
A traditional Polish beverage made by gently stewing a variety of fruits in sweetened water, often infused with spices. It's a refreshing drink served chilled, with the tender stewed fruits enjoyed as a light dessert.
Kourabiedes (Greek Almond Butter Cookies)
Kourabiedes are traditional Greek butter cookies, known for their incredibly crumbly texture and rich almond flavor. These melt-in-your-mouth cookies are a staple during the Christmas holidays, generously dusted with powdered sugar.
Krokiety (Polish Crêpe Croquettes)
Crispy, golden-fried crêpes filled with a savory mushroom and cabbage mixture, then coated in breadcrumbs. A beloved Polish comfort food, often served as a side to clear borscht.
Lebkuchen (Nuremberg Style)
Authentic Nuremberg Lebkuchen, a rich and spiced gingerbread, traditionally made for Christmas. This recipe focuses on a dense, moist texture, often without flour, and is a staple at German Christmas markets.
Lutfisk
A traditional Swedish Christmas delicacy, Lutfisk is made from dried whitefish (stockfish) that has been treated with a lye solution. This process rehydrates and softens the fish, giving it a unique, gelatinous texture. It's a dish that evokes strong opinions – either loved or disliked.
Makowiec (Polish Poppy Seed Roll)
A traditional Polish poppy seed roll, often made for Christmas. This dense and sweet cake features a rich poppy seed filling swirled within a soft yeast dough, creating a beautiful spiral pattern when sliced. It's a labor of love that's well worth the effort.
Melomakarona (Greek Honey Walnut Cookies)
Melomakarona are traditional Greek Christmas cookies, characterized by their soft, crumbly texture, warm spice notes, and a rich soaking in honey syrup. They are typically made with olive oil, making them suitable for fasting periods.
Pandoro
A traditional Veronese Christmas cake, this tall, star-shaped, buttery sweet bread is a festive delight, known for its rich flavor and airy crumb.
Panettone
A traditional Milanese Christmas bread, characterized by its tall, domed shape and rich, airy crumb studded with candied citrus peel and raisins. This is a challenging but rewarding bake.