Summary
The Christmas season encapsulates the celebration of life’s joys, and few things evoke joy quite like dessert.
However, have you ever pondered the origins of Christmas desserts? Moreover, how did these delightful treats secure their place within the holiday festivities? This guide offers insight into some of the most delectable traditional Christmas desserts that may not yet be familiar to you, alongside the excitement of discovering where you can sample them firsthand.
1. Bibingka, Philippines
Bibingka is a sweet, glutinous rice cake traditionally consumed during the Christmas season, which commences in September in the Philippines. The batter is typically poured into a terracotta dish lined with banana leaves and steamed in a clay oven, with coals positioned above and below.
Originally, these sticky cakes were presented as offerings to deities or given as gifts to esteemed guests. Today, bibingka remains a cherished delight among Filipinos, who often enjoy it for breakfast or immediately following dawn masses during the holiday period. This renowned delicacy is also savored in certain regions of Indonesia.
Where to try it: Cafe Via Mare in Manila.
2. Buñuelos, Mexico
These light, crispy, sweet discs have become a cherished holiday treat in Mexico. A remnant of Spanish colonial influence, buñuelos are crafted from fried dough, sprinkled with sugar or drenched in piloncillo syrup derived from cane sugar. The specific recipe and form vary across different states. For instance, in Tabasco, a variant resembling the original recipe is created, while in Veracruz, flavors such as sweet potato, pumpkin, or almond are introduced, with options that may manifest as small balls or donuts fried in lard and coated in sugar. In other Latin American nations, such as Colombia, buñuelos are shaped as balls and stuffed with cheese.
Where to try them: Street food vendors across Mexico sell these delightful treats during the Christmas season.
3. Kahk, Egypt
In Egypt, the preparation of kahk (cookies) has been a longstanding tradition, tracing back to the era of the pharaohs. Illustrations depicting women creating kahk have been unearthed on the walls of ancient temples in Thebes and Memphis.
Historically, kahk was frequently filled with dates and figs. Presently, these shortbread-like cookies, often embossed with intricate geometric designs, feature a diverse range of fillings including dates, pistachios, and walnuts, and may be spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and ginger, occasionally enhanced by fennel seeds, anise seeds, or mahlab (ground sour cherry kernels).
Both Muslims and Coptic Christians partake in kahk to celebrate the conclusion of Ramadan and Advent fasting, respectively, as well as various festive occasions. Coptic Christians frequently present a box of kahk as a gesture of goodwill when visiting friends and family during Christmas.
Where to try it: Zack’s Bakery Cafe or the renowned Khan Al Khalili bazaar, both located in Cairo.
4. Rose cookies, India
Rose cookies are particularly favored during Christmas in the Indian state of Goa, which experienced Portuguese rule for nearly 500 years. Known in Portuguese and Goan as rose de coque, these treats are not cookies in the conventional sense. Rather, they consist of fried dough infused with cardamom and vanilla. The distinctive rose shape is achieved using a cast iron mold featuring a rounded, flower-like design. After frying, rose cookies may be garnished with icing sugar.
Where to try them: Nicolau Bakery in Raia, Goa.
5. Malva pudding, South Africa
Malva pudding, referred to as malvapoeding in Afrikaans, is a sumptuous cake deeply ingrained in South Africa’s Cape Dutch cultural heritage, predominantly recognized in Cape Town. While it is not exclusively enjoyed during Christmas, its rich nature makes it a preferred choice for special occasions. This traditional dessert is crafted using apricot jam and a hint of malt or balsamic vinegar to impart a caramelized consistency. Some variations incorporate ginger, brandy, and/or Amarula liqueur. Once baked, the cake is generously soaked with a creamy sauce while it remains hot, allowing the sauce to permeate and transform the cake into a delectably sticky pudding.
Where to try it: De Oude Cafe and Restaurant or Willoughby & Co in Cape Town.
6. Stollen, Germany
This cake-like fruit and nut bread, dusted with icing sugar, originated in Dresden, and its geographical status protection ensures that only stollens baked in or around the city by recognized bakers are deemed authentic.
During the Middle Ages, stollen was a robust bread composed of oats, flour, and water, consumed during the Advent fasting period. In 1490, the pope granted a special exemption for bakers to utilize butter and other rich components like raisins, marzipan, and candied orange peel—ingredients that had been prohibited throughout Advent—to create their Christmas bread. Around 1560, bakers from Dresden began presenting large stollens to the rulers of Saxony every Christmas. In 1730, the Saxon leader Augustus the Strong commissioned a stollen capable of feeding 24,000 individuals, which allegedly required 36,000 eggs and weighed an astounding 1.8 tonnes.
The grand stollen tradition persists today at the annual Dresden Stollenfest, which occurs on the Saturday preceding the second Advent – this year it is on December 9.
Where to try it: Stollenfest or Schlosscafé Emil Reimann, both situated in Dresden.
7. Beigli, Hungary
This sweet, roll-shaped pastry, distinguished by a rich filling of poppy seeds or walnuts, is a quintessential Christmas delicacy in Hungary. The term beigli is derived from the German-Yiddish word meaning “horseshoe” or “to bend.” According to age-old folk beliefs, walnuts are believed to protect against magical ailments, while poppy seeds, introduced by the Ottomans, symbolize wealth. The analogous dessert flódni, a Jewish-Hungarian treat, features layers of apple, walnut, and poppy seeds.
The popular Christmas pastry as we recognize it today reached Hungary in the latter half of the 19th century during the Austro-Hungarian empire. Initially baked exclusively at home as a family activity, beigli eventually proliferated into cukrászdas, or confectioneries.
Where to try it: Available at Christmas markets or try them at Édeském Cukrászda, or on the festive menus of traditional establishments like Rosenstein, both located in Budapest.
This article was first published on October 22, 2019, with an update on November 24, 2023.
