The winter holidays are approaching, and soon tables will be laden with traditional delicacies. For those who want to experience new flavours, we suggest trying traditional Christmas dishes prepared in different European countries.
If simply trying Christmas dishes is not enough for you, why not learn how to cook them yourself?
- In Paris, you can immerse yourself in the magic of French confectionery at a macaron-making master class at Galeries Lafayette
- And if you prefer chocolate masterpieces, Brussels invites you to discover the secrets of famous Belgian chocolate
» READ MORE – Paris in December 2025. Christmas and New Year
For gourmets from France
Christmas dinner in France, also known as réveillon, is an eagerly awaited and exciting event… what’s on the menu?
Le chapon is a rooster that is raised in a special way, which makes its meat much tastier and juicier than chicken. It is usually stuffed with chestnuts, vegetables, garlic, and herbs, drizzled with spiced oil – and then baked! The golden cockerel is served with potatoes and washed down with wine – French wine, of course.
The Yule log (bûche de Noël) is a traditional sponge roll. Nowadays, confectioners offer many different decorations and fillings, but the classic recipe calls for chocolate or coffee buttercream inside, and marzipan leaves and glazed roses on top of the sweet crust.
The roll can be enjoyed with hot spiced cider or crémant, a white wine infused with fruit and strong alcohol.
» READ MORE – 10 French dishes worth trying in Paris
German traditions
Herring salad is a popular dish at Northern European feasts. In addition to herring, apples are also included in the recipe. The ingredients vary depending on the region, with some places adding other fish or meat.
After salads, something sweet is in order, and Germans have stollen for this occasion – a cake with raisins, candied fruit, and spices. Each city has its own recipe for this dessert, but the one patented in Dresden is considered the classic. It is baked with a large amount of butter, which gives it a very unusual texture: heavy, yet airy and satisfying. Sometimes rum is added to the pastry.
All of this is washed down with sparkling wine, crémant, punch, and – who would have thought – beer.
Spanish feast
What do they eat in this sunny country besides seafood and tortillas?
Torrone is an almond and honey nougat that comes in many variations. However, it does not necessarily have to be almond; today, it is made from any nuts, with additions ranging from popcorn to liqueur.
In addition to nougat, there is panettone, the twin brother of Easter bread — only the Spanish version is topped with powdered sugar or left plain instead of a glazed cap. It is baked from soft dough with dried fruit and raisins.
Panettone is served with hot drinks or sweet wine – Spumante or Moscato.
The Spanish also have a tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight – one for each month of the year. This ritual is said to bring good luck and prosperity in the new year.
The taste of Portugal
Locals love bacalhau — salted dried cod. It used to be considered a poor man’s food, but now it is an integral part of Christmas in Portugal.
Other festive dishes are also made from dried cod:
- Bacalhau à Bras – fish stewed with onions and potatoes
- Bacalhau com Natas – baked under a creamy blanket
- Pastéis de Bacalhau – the delicacy is turned into pancakes
A sweet treat is the Royal Cake (bolo-rei) in the shape of a crown. A mixture of nuts and raisins is added to the dough, and after baking, it is decorated with pieces of candied fruit and powdered sugar.
- Surprises are placed inside – a bean or a coin. Whoever finds the coin will have good luck in the new year, and whoever finds the bean will be responsible for baking the cake next year
Czech delicacies
Vanochka is a sweet braided bread with poppy seeds and nuts, eaten every year in the Czech Republic. The name comes from the word Vanoče, which means Christmas in Czech, and its shape resembles a swaddled baby, symbolising fertility.
» READ MORE – Czech specialities: what to try so you won’t regret your trip
Vanilla croissants are also popular – shortbread cookies in powdered sugar that melt in your mouth. Walnuts, almonds, and spices are added to the dough, giving the dessert a special taste and aroma. Croissants are often prepared with children in anticipation of the holidays.
Polish treats
What dish is served at Christmas in Poland? Everything stems from poppy seeds, which, like for many other nations, Poles consider a symbol of abundance.
In addition to poppy seed rolls, people eat makowki, a layered dessert made by alternating bread crumbs and poppy seeds mixed with milk and honey. Sometimes dried fruit, nuts, and spices are added. The result is a multi-layered treat with more poppy seeds than dough.
Italian feast
What would a feast be without pasta! At Christmas, Italian tables feature several types of pasta: ravioli, tortellini, lasagne. Most Italians are Catholic and prepare fish for Christmas: they fry it, bake it, and – of course – add it to pasta.
For dessert, there is panforte, a dense gingerbread with almonds and dried fruit.
» READ MORE – 10 Tuscan dishes worth trying
Figs are a must-have ingredient in the filling, while the rest can include chocolate, other nuts (except almonds), and spices.
Austrian Christmas delights
In Austria, Christmas traditions vary greatly from city to city; different dishes are prepared in Vienna and Salzburg. Therefore, we’ll discuss foods that are generally common during the holidays.
Roast pork (Schweinsbraten) is shoulder or loin meat marinated in herbs and spices, then baked until golden brown. It is served with potato dumplings and braised Rotkohl cabbage.
For tea: Linzer shortbread cookies filled with jam or Austrian poppy seed strudel.
Swedish Christmas
Traditional saffron buns (lussekatter) are prepared for Christmas in Sweden, especially for Saint Lucia’s Day (13 December). They are baked in the shape of an inverted letter ‘S’ and decorated with raisins. They are often served with a cup of hot mulled wine or coffee.
Christmas ham (julskinka) is the queen of the table at Swedish celebrations. It is made from pork, baked in mustard and breadcrumbs to achieve a golden crust. It is served sliced thinly with potato or cabbage garnishes and cranberry sauce. In many families, the recipe for this delicacy is passed down from generation to generation.
Belgian sweet
A popular Christmas dish among Belgians is cougnou, a bread shaped like the baby Jesus, with candied fruit and chocolate chips inside.
There is also speculoos, a biscuit eaten with whipped cream or caramel. Cinnamon, ginger, and cloves give it its characteristic flavour. Speculoos are crunchy and often shaped like New Year’s figures, traditionally bought for children on St. Nicholas Day.
Festive treats not only delight the stomach – they also allow you to experience the diversity of peoples and their traditions.
Starting the year by trying Christmas dishes from European countries can be not only delicious, but also healthy!
Denys Nevozhai / unsplach.com 
Jack Hunter / Unsplash 
George Rex / Flickr / CC-BY-SA 2.0 
Diogo Fagundes / Unsplash
lili liu / Unsplash
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!