A European tour of Christmas desserts for a sweet end to the year
A European tour of Christmas desserts for a sweet end to the year
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Christmas is the time of year to treat young and old around the dinner table. While the Yule log has been the must-have dessert in France since the 18th century, there are other traditional recipes to discover. Take your guests on a European dessert tour!
Explore the regions of France and their traditions
A symbol of the festive season, the Yule log has its origins in a pagan tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. Back then, a carefully selected log of wood was burnt in the hearth to protect the household and its occupants. In the 18th century, this custom developed into a sweeter, tastier pastry. Today, whether it’s rolled up and topped with cream or revisited by chefs in modern creations, the log remains a staple of French tables… in every region!
In Provence, after midnight mass, families set their tables with 13 desserts to round off the meal. This number symbolises the presence of the twelve apostles and Christ at the Last Supper. They consist of four mendiants (dried figs, raisins, almonds, walnuts or hazelnuts), fresh fruit (grapes, watermelon, mandarins, dates and an exotic fruit), and sweets and pastries (pompe à huile and nougats: white with hazelnuts, red with rose and black with melted honey). Depending on what you like, you can add fruit paste, calissons, chocolate, and more…
Head for the Pyrenees and the markets of Lourdes, Argelès-Gazost or Beaucens to try this spit cake. Brought back from the Caucasus in the baggage of Napoleon’s armies, its distinctive shape comes from its conical mould, attached to a permanently rotating spit.
In Annecy or Chambéry, try rissoles, or r’zules in the Savoyard dialect. These little puff pastry turnovers, filled with a compote of late pears, apples or quinces, and enhanced with spices, bring warmth to every bite.
Emblematic of the Alsace region, Bredele are little cakes with a multitude of flavours: cinnamon, aniseed, pepper, ginger, dried and candied fruit, nuts, brandy, etc. Enjoy them with a glass of mulled wine at the Christmas markets in Strasbourg or Colmar.
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A taste of la Dolce vita in Italy
Italy: its warmth, its gesticulating hands explaining the route to take, its enchanting landscapes… and its gastronomy!
In Italy, the must-have Christmas dessert is of course the Panettone from Milan. Legend has it that the “pan di Toni” emerged from the ovens of the cook of the famous Sforza family where Toni, a kitchen boy who had inadvertently burnt the planned dessert, hastily prepared another cake made from flour, eggs, sultanas, candied fruit and sugar.
In Siena during the festive season, you can enjoy a panforte, a dessert halfway between cake and nougat, made with honey, candied fruit, almonds and, above all, spices!
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Honey and almonds in Spain
As the festive season approaches, discover Spain and savour its simple yet generous cuisine.
The iconic Turrón will be found on every table! Depending on your tastes, try the hard one (Alicante), or the soft one (Jijona).
An original Christmas sweet with hints of almonds and sugar, don’t leave without trying marzipan, created by the nuns of Seville following the famine caused by the Battle of Las Navas.
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A family Christmas in Portugal
Set your table with the doilies of Lisbon and garnish it with the local Christmas cake, the Bolo Rei, or King’s Cake, which recalls the gifts given to baby Jesus by the Magi. The cake’s crust symbolises gold, the fruit and nuts represent myrrh, and its characteristic aroma evokes incense.
Another gourmet speciality, sonhos are little golden doughnuts that are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, awakening your senses with their scent of cinnamon and orange zest.
Finally, you’ll be comforted by the scents of cinnamon, sugar and milk in rabanadas (the Portuguese version of French toast), which will take you back to your childhood!
Spice things up in Germany
Indulge in the traditional German Yule log: stollen (or Christstollen). A speciality of Dresden, you’ll love the hints of dried and candied fruit and marzipan that flavour this dessert.
You’ll find lebkuchen on every market stall in Berlin. These gingerbreads, baked here since the 13th century, reveal notes of aniseed, coriander, cardamom, ginger, peppercorns, candied fruit and cloves. Topped with icing sugar or chocolate, they’re even more delicious!
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Celebrate Saint Nicholas Day in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the Christmas festivities begin on St Nicholas Day. The story goes that Nicholas of Myre arrived from Spain on a ship laden with spices and sweets, and gave them to the children as gifts. It’s a tradition that has been carried on down the centuries, with chocolate letters handed out to the most well-behaved. In the streets of Maastricht or Amsterdam, don’t be surprised to see pepernoten being thrown around during the 6 December festivities. These little biscuits are aptly named (‘pepper nuts’): enjoy the explosion of spice and pepper from the very first bite!
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Prolong the festive cheer in Belgium
Like its neighbours, Belgium kicks off its Christmas festivities on 6 December. As you stroll through the streets of Namur, you’ll find Cougnou or ‘Jesus bread’ on the shelves of every bakery. Dating back to the 16th century, the shape and decoration of this brioche evoke a baby in swaddling clothes. A festive dessert par excellence, it is bursting with flavours: raisins, chocolate chips or pearl sugar.
Feel like getting away from it all?
See our suggestions for novel trips and must-see places to visit near your home or holiday destination.