Welcome to The Storied Recipe, a podcast about food, culture, and love.
As you try these delicious traditional Christmas desserts from around the world, I invite you to listen to the many stories my global guests have shared about their beloved Christmas cultural and family traditions. Click here to listen to the Christmas Traditions Around the World series and follow links throughout the post to read or listen to even more memories centered around these holiday desserts!
Listen to Holiday Episodes of The Storied Recipe
While you make these sweet treats from around the world, listen to these holiday episodes of The Storied Recipe Podcast.
Australia & New Zealand
Fun fact! Pavlova, one of the most famous Christmas classics around the world, was first made in New Zealand (or Australia, accounts vary). This sweet, pillowy dessert, made with egg whites and sugar and topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit, is now a fixture on Australian Christmas tables.
Christmas Pavlova Wreath | Veena Azmanov
This Christmas Pavlova is a light and refreshing dessert. The pavlova can be made ahead of time and assembled in less than 10 minutes. I dressed this one with strawberries, blueberries, and mint leaves to resemble a wreath
Lamington Christmas Dessert Wreath | Oh So Busy Mum
My viral Lamington Wreath is the easiest "no bake" Christmas dessert you will make. Best of all, it will take under 10 minutes to put together using just a few store-bought ingredients. When I say
Caribbean
By far, the most popular Christmas dessert across the Caribbean is this Christmas cake - also known as Black Cake or Rum Cake. Whatever the name, all are a version of a rum filled fruit cake.
Caribbean Rum Cake | Butter Be Ready
This Rum Cake is unapologetically rum-soaked, buttery, flavorful, nutty, and extra moist...a traditional holiday dessert in the Caribbean!
Jamaican Black Cake | Seasoned Skillet Blog
Jamaican Black Cake, also known as Jamaican rum cake, wedding cake or Christmas cake is a rich and decadent traditional Caribbean dessert!
Guyanese Style Fruit Cake | Metemgee
Guyanese style fruit cake is far from your traditional Christmas fruit cake; it's moist, boozy, and rich with the flavor of rum soaked fruits!
Eastern Europe
Many of Eastern Europe's most famous and typical Christmas desserts feature breads made from rich, sweet dough and filled with dried fruit, poppy seeds, and nuts, making them easy to make ahead.
Povitica Bread with Walnut Cinnamon Swirl | The Storied Recipe
Povitica Bread is a sweet bread dough, rolled very, very thinly featuring the traditional filling of ground walnuts and cinnamon. The result is a warm, comforting bread. When cut, you'll see the characteristic look of a beautiful cinnamon swirl, as gorgeous as it is fragrant and delicious.
Mákos Guba: Hungarian Poppy Seed Bread Pudding | The Storied Recipe
An easy poppy seed bread pudding from Hungary, made from just 5 simple ingredients. Served as a simple Friday meal or with custard or ice cream for a special treat.
Peanut Raisin Cookies: Polish Mazurka | The Storied Recipe
A super easy recipe for peanut raisin cookies!! Polish Mazurka have a soft marshmallowy middle full of peanuts and raisins and a slightly crispy top.
Beigli: Hungarian Nut & Poppy Seed Roll | Chef's Pencil
Beigli with walnut and poppy is a cake that has always fascinated me. I admit that at first I always chose the poppy version. The bittersweet taste
Polish Babka | King Author Baking
A moist, cake-like yeast bread, often served at Polish Easter celebrations.
Mediterranean
It's no surprise that many of the best Christmas desserts in the world come from Mediterranean countries, famous for their produce and sweet breads like Italian Panettone.
Listen to Catalonian native Mar Lozano talk about growing up as a free spirit in a tiny Catholic town, new traditions on her Christmas dinner table, and the significance of January 6th to many cultures around the world.
Turrón de Jijona (No Cook Spanish Soft Almond Nougat) | The Storied Recipe
Famous at Christmastime in the Xixona (Jijona) region of Spain, this authentic recipe for soft almond nougat (Turron Jijona) is simple, rich, and delicious.
Anginetti: Italian Knot Cookies with Lemon or Sprinkles | The Storied Recipe
Authentic Anginetti recipe. These Italian Knot cookies are super soft and topped with a simple glaze, then sprinkles or a delicious lemon zest. Fun, festive, and super kid friendly!
Zabaglione (Zabaione): Easy Italian Custard With Eggs | The Storied Recipe
Creamy, dairy-free, sweet Italian custard dessert with boozy flavor. Easy recipe made with just 3 ingredients. Serve alone warm or on top of cakes, Panettones, cookies, or with fresh fruit.
Koulourakia: Traditional Greek Orange & Butter Cookies | The Storied Recipe
Traditional Greek Koulourakia is a buttery orange cookie with a perfect bite, a crumbly soft inside, and a zesty bright flavor.
Chocolate Almond Babka | Coffee Fit Kitchen
This Chocolate-Filled Almond Babka is a definite decadent treat! It’s worth every single calorie! Chocolate and bread lovers will be in love!
Christopsomo recipe (Greek Christmas Bread with Walnuts) | My Greek Dish
A traditional Greek Christmas Bread (Christopsomo) recipe! Discover all the secrets to make the tastiest traditional Christopsomo with this no fail recipe!
Panettone Italian Christmas Sweet Bread | An Italian In My Kitchen
Panettone, an Italian Christmas Sweet Bread a not too sweet yeast bread, filled with raisins, candied fruit or Chocolate Chips. A delicious way to celebrate the Holidays. Panettone, is a much easier and quicker Italian Christmas Sweet Bread Recipe to make, everyone will love it.
Bolo Rei: Portuguese Christmas Kings Cake | Wander Cooks
A lightly spiced, fluffy Christmas cake filled with fruit and nuts. A speciality in Portugal, Bolo Rei or Kings Cake, is super easy to bake at home.
Spanish Almond Cookies (Polvorones) | Bigger Bolder Baking
My Spanish Almond Cookie recipe, also known as Polvorones, is deliciously nutty and very delicate — both the texture and flavor are incredible together!
Middle East
Although the Middle East is not known for its celebrations of Christmas, Mai Kakish explains in her episode, Christmas in Palestine, how the Muslims in her town supported her Christian community's Christmas celebrations. She also shares her memories of attending the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem for Christmas mass and her family's many traditional Christmas recipes. Listen to Mai here and try her Ghraybeh cookies using the recipe below.
Ghraybeh Cookies: Middle Eastern Shortbread-Butter Cookie | The Storied Recipe
My extraordinary friend Mai of the blog Almond and Fig shared the recipe for these soft Middle Eastern cookies with me for the Christmas in Palestine episode.
Pecan Pie Shortbread Crust Bars Without Corn Syrup | The Storied Recipe
A tastier, healthier alternative to Pecan Pie, this Pecan Date bar recipe pulls from Middle Eastern, Parisian, and American influences.
North America
We love our Christmas desserts here in North America, don't we? There's only a small section on North American recipes here since I'm concentrating more on global recipes in this post.
I knew I had to make Butter Tarts since there weren't any Canadian homes here in Florida... I missed the instruction that said to fill the tart shells halfway full. I filled them fuller. Full, full, full. And they boiled over in the oven, turning the sugary syrup to candy that stuck the tart shells to the muffin tins. So, don't overfill! But don't worry if you do since it's really easy to make a second batch - you just might have to go out and get a new muffin tin first!
Christine Pittman of Cook the Story
Creamy Frozen Cranberry Salad Bites with Pineapple | The Storied Recipe
Sweet, creamy, refreshing, frozen alternative to traditional cranberry sauce with pineapple for your holiday table.
Fresh Spiced Cranberry Tea (for Thanksgiving) | The Storied Recipe
Fresh spiced Cranberry Tea is easy to make by boiling cranberries with orange juice, cinnamon, and cloves. Sometimes called Thanksgiving Tea or Christmas Tea for its festive flavors and bright red color.
Best Vegan Frosted Cookies (Vegan Christmas Cookies) | The Storied Recipe
Soft, thick vegan sugar cookies generously frosted with vegan buttercream frosting. The classic Vegan Christmas cookies for every gathering and holiday baking projects!
Nesselrode Pie Recipe (Vintage New York Dessert) | The Storied Recipe
Nesselrode Pie is a nostalgic New York dessert that's rich and indulgent. A light and smooth chestnut custard filling is spiked with dark rum and studded with sweet cherries, then topped with fluffy whipped cream and decadent chocolate shavings.
Butter Tarts | Cook The Story
Want to learn how to make a quintessential Canadian treat? Butter Tarts are decadent, delicious and a surprisingly easy addition to anyone's holiday dessert tray.
Scandinavia
Most of our ideas about the look and feel of "the most magical time of year" come from Scandinavia. The silent snow, candles in the dark, songs around a community fir tree. To hear about Christmas memories from a dream, listen to Alexandra's episode, Christmas in Norway. Then try her Peppermint Christmas truffles!
Easy Christmas Truffles: Chocolate Mint Balls from Norway | The Storied Recipe
Norwegian recipe for minty truffles covered in chocolate and snowy coconut. The perfect bite of yummy goodness for your Christmas boxes.
Ris a La Mande (Danish Rice Pudding) | Fav Family Recipes
I love the tradition of serving Ris a La Mande (Danish Rice Pudding) on Little Christmas Eve! A delicious, traditional dessert if you have Danish roots!
Danish Brunkager: Christmas Cookies | International Desserts Blog
Your Christmas cookie tray needs these Danish brunkager cookies! Crispy, crunchy, nutty, and caramel-y, these cookies are absolutely delicious.
Julekake: Norwegian Christmas Bread
| Savor the Flavour
This delicious Norwegian bread is a traditional treat served at Christmas. It’s full of raisins and citron, and has a fluffy texture.
Risgrøt | The Simple Sweet Life
Simple, creamy and packed with little bits of soft rice, risgrøt (rice porridge) is the epitome of Norwegian comfort food.
Rosette Cookies | Preppy Kitchen
Swedish rosette cookies are a delicious treat thats so easy and fun to make!
South African
Many favorite Christmas recipes in South Africa, as well as New Zealand and Australia, descend from British traditions. Listen to Kate Jack talk about Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere, and definitely try her Peppermint Crisp Tart!
South African Peppermint Crisp Tart (with Substitution Ideas) | The Storied Recipe
Peppermint Crisp Tart (or pudding) is a dessert made from South African pantry ingredients. It is made from layers of tennis biscuits (sweet coconut cookies), lightly whipped cream, caramelized condensed milk, and chopped up peppermint crisp chocolate.
South African Malva Pudding | Bigger Bolder Baking
This Malva Pudding recipe is a sweet and moist cake recipe straight from South Africa made with incredible apricot jam and heavy cream.
South America
Christmas is a major holiday in South America. Many Latin American countries have kept the religious overtones of the holiday, mainly lost in North America, Western Europe, and Scandinavian countries.
Christmas desserts in South America tend to embrace the flavors of coconut milk and in this cuisine, we find even more fruit cakes! If you'd like a fuller menu, look at this post for The Best 27 Peruvian Christmas Foods!
Pristiños & Syrup: Traditional Ecuadorian Christmas Pastries | The Storied Recipe
Thin, crispy, fried Ecuadorian pastries for Christmas along with a Piloncillo (Panela) Syrup spiced with citrus zest and all the Christmas spices - cinnamon, anise, and cloves.
Natilla Colombiana (Colombian-Style Pudding) | My Columbian Recipes
Coconut Natilla is a popular dessert in Colombia during the Christmas season. This dessert is creamy and delicious.
Pan de Pascua, Chilean Fruitcake for the Holidays | Amigo Foods
Pan de Pascua is Chile's traditional holiday fruitcake. Find out what makes it so special and how to make Pan de Pascua.
Budin (Puerto Rican Bread Pudding) | Delish Dlites
Budin, or Puerto Rican Bread Pudding is a bread dessert that's very popular in Puerto Rico, especially during the holidays. Unlike American bread pudding, Puerto Rican budin is served at room temperature or preferably cold. It is delicious, inexpensive, and easy to make!
Mexican Bunuelos | Isabel Eats
Often served during the Christmas and New Years holidays, this Mexican Buñuelos recipe makes the perfect fried dough covered in cinnamon sugar!
Western Europe
Much like North Americans, Western Europeans embrace Christmas with lights, concerts, and Christmas markets - possibly the most famous of which are in German cities. Here are some of the best traditional Christmas desserts Europe has to offer!
Best Old Fashioned Butter Toffee (AKA English Toffee) | The Storied Recipe
This melt-in-your-mouth classic English Butter Toffee recipe is rich, smooth, buttery, and snappy. This post contains ALL the tips for novice (and experienced) toffee-makers!
Traditional Mincemeat Tarts 3 Ways (British Christmas Pies) | The Storied Recipe
Classic Christmas Pies!! Learn how to make Mincemeat tart filling, the perfect pastry, and all the fun ways to shape your mince pies.
Classic British Golden Syrup Steamed Sponge Pudding | The Storied Recipe
As this classic British pudding slowly steams, the light sponge absorbs the sweet, rich unmistakeable flavor of Lyle's golden syrup.
Austrian Linzer Torte Made with Hazelnuts | Gitta's Kitchen
Linzer Torte is a delicious Austrian pastry with nuts, spices, and raspberry jam. It is the perfect pastry to serve during the holidays.
Best Linzer Cookies (Original Austrian Family Recipe) | Also The Crumbs Please
Learn how to bake original Linzer Cookies like I learned from my mother in Austria! These jam-filled sandwich cookies are soft and buttery.
English Trifle | Amanda's Cookin
Learn how to make a traditional English trifle. Layers of delicious cake soaked in sherry, vanilla custard and berry jam topped with homemade whipped cream. Perfect for any holiday!
Traditional British Christmas Pudding | Christinas Cucina
Traditional British Christmas Pudding is a make-ahead, steamed, fruit filled dessert which is set alight when served. It is beautiful culmination of many British Christmas dinners.
Easy English Plum Pudding | Savor The Flavour
English plum pudding is a traditional Christmas dessert made with dried fruit. It’s an impressive dessert the whole family will love!
Christmas Sticky Toffee Pudding | My Gorgeous Recipes
Christmas Sticky Toffee Pudding made with dates and brandy-soaked mixed dried fruit, and served with a lush toffee sauce.
Christmas Cake: British Fruit Cake | Recipe Tin Eats
Speedy Christmas Cake that requires no overnight fruit soaking! An easy fruit cake that's rich with a velvety texture, super moist and full flavoured.
French Chestnut Cake | Petit Porcini
Chestnut cake, or Ardéchois, is a light and moist cake. Made with chestnut spread, this is an amazing treat for your coffee or tea!
Bûche De Noël (Yule Log) | Sally's Baking Addiction
Use this recipe and video tutorial to make a beautiful from-scratch yule log Christmas cake, also known as a Bûche De Noël in French.
Stollen (German Christmas Bread) | Curious Cuisiniere
This German Stollen recipe makes a rich, fruit-studded loaf that is a festive and tasty Christmas bread, perfect for bringing to a holiday party!
Lebkuchen Recipe: German Gingerbread Cookies | LeelaLicious
If you are not familiar with lebkuchen, they are basically soft German gingerbread cookies. Like other gingerbread, they are delicious!
Southeast Asia
Sweet treats are not as popular for Christmas in Asia as they are in the United States. Read here all about bibingka, a savory Christmas classic in the Philippines. Machi, a Storied Recipe community member submitted the recipe and says about the flavor, "Slightly smokey, sweet, salty, cheesy and coconutty. So many amazing flavors and aromas."
She also says, "We have this thing called Simbang Gabi, where people attend a series of daily mass at 4 am in anticipation of Christmas... You’ll see these bibingkas sold just outside of church, and people flock to them after mass to buy a few bibingkas as a pasalubong (a gift you bought for those back home)."
Indonesian Butter Cookies with Pandan, Cheese, and Coconut | The Storied Recipe
Popular Indonesian cookies with a crispy melty texture, featuring pandan, coconut, and crunches of cheese.
Bibingka | Woman Scribbles
This is a soft, tasty and special bibingka done the easy way. You will love this sweet rice coconut cake topped with salted eggs and cheese.
Recipe
55 Traditional Christmas Desserts Around the World
Description
Recipes by friends and guests of The Storied Recipe.
Recipes for traditional Christmas desserts from every continent around the world. Pictured starting top left, clockwise: Butter Toffee, Italian Zabaglione, Sherry Trifle, Catalonian Almond Nougat.
Ingredients
Australia And New Zealand
- Christmas Pavlova from Veena Azmanov
- Lamington Wreath from Oh So Busy Mum
Caribbean
- Rum Cake from Butter Be Ready
- Jamaican Black Cake from Seasoned Skillet Blog
- Guyanese Style Fruit Cake from Metemgee
Eastern Europe
- Povitica Bread from Marlene Leap guest of The Storied Recipe
- Poppy See Bread Pudding from Dora Hurley guest of The Storied Recipe
- Peanut Raisin Cookies from Marina Lukyanchuk guest of The Storied Recipe
- Hungarian Beigli from Chef's Pencil
- Polish Babka from King Author Baking
Mediterranean
- Turron De Jijona from Mar Lozano guest of The Storied Recipe
- Anginetti Cookies from Tina Zaccardi guest of The Storied Recipe
- Italian Custard Zabaglione from Frances guest of The Storied Recipe
- Koulouakia Cookies from Regina Frances guest of The Storied Recipe
- Chocolate Almond Babka from Coffee Fit Kitchen
- Christopsomo Bread from My Greek Dish
- Panettone from An Italian In My Kitchen
- Bolo Rei from Wander Cooks
- Polvorone Cookies from Bigger Bolder Baking
Middle East
- Ghraybeh Cookies from Mai Kakish guest of The Storied Recipe
- Pecan Date Bars from Nermine Mansour guest of The Storied Recipe
North America
- Frozen Cranberry Salad from Marybeth Wells guest of The Storied Recipe
- Cranberry Tea from Laura Clark guest of The Storied Recipe
- Vegan Frosted Christmas Cookies from Carol Clayton guest of The Storied Recipe
- Nesselrode Pie from Geraldine DeRuiter guest of The Storied Recipe
- Butter Tarts from Cook The Story
Scandinavia
- Norwegian Chocolate Mint Truffles from Alexandra Taylor guest of The Storied Recipe
- Danish Rice Pudding from Fav Family Recipes
- Danish Brown Cookie from International Desserts Blog
- Julekake from Savor The Flavor
- Risgrot from The Simple Sweet Life
- Rosette Cookies from Preppy Kitchen
South Africa
- Peppermint Crisp Tart from Kate Jack guest of The Storied Recipe
- Malva Pudding from Bigger Bolder Baking
South America
- Pristinos from Sofia Alarcon guest of The Storied Recipe
- Natilla Colombiana from My Columbian Recipes
- Pan De Pascua from Amigo Foods
- Budin from Delish Dlites
- Bunueloes from Isabel Eats
Western Europe
- Chocolate Covered Toffee from Aimee, Theresa, Amanda, And Their Mother guests of The Storied Recipe
- Mincemeat Tarts from Diana Rutherford guest of The Storied Recipe
- Golden Syrup Pudding from Tilda Bourne guest of The Storied Recipe
- Linzer Torte from Gitta's Kitchen
- Linzer Cookies from Also The Crumbs Please
- English Trifle from Amanda's Cookin
- Christmas Pudding from Christinas Cucina
- Plum Pudding from Savor The Flavour
- Sticky Toffee Pudding from My Gorgeous Recipes
- Fruit Cake from Recipe Tin Eats
- Chestnut Cake from Petit Porcini
- Buche De Noel Yule Log from Sallys Baking Addiction
- Stollen from Curious Cuisiniere
- Lebkuchen Gingerbread Cookies from Leelalicious
Southeast Asia
- Indonesian Butter Cookies from Emily Ho guest of The Storied Recipe
- Bibingka from Woman Scribbles
Instructions
Pick one or several Christmas desserts to add to your festive season!
Mar Lozano says
Thank you so much for this amazing Christmas dessert collection! It is a really great idea! I'm grateful to take part in it XX
admin says
Oh Mar, thank YOU for participating and sharing Turron de Xixona!!! Can't wait for all of us to learn more about Christmas in Spain from you!
Marybeth says
This is such a beautiful collection, Becky! My freezer is already full of Cranberry Frozen Salad, but I'm looking so forward to trying some of these other recipes soon.
admin says
Oh thanks Marybeth!!! We're going to enjoy your Cranberry treats this season - and I'm still working on some of these to both photograph and enjoy!!! Xoxoxo.