Welcome to The Storied Recipe! 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 Pavlovas Wreath
Cooks in 235 minutesThis Christmas theme 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 Wreath
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.
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.
Blow Ya Mind Caribbean Rum Cake
Cooks in 1 hour 10 minutesCaribbean Rum Cake, y'all! During the holidays, my dessert table ain't complete without it. This beauty is unapologetically rum-soaked, buttery, flavorful, nutty, and extra moist. Rum cake is a traditional holiday dessert in a lot of the Caribbean islands. Served up as a dreamy, golden bundt cake that's soaked in a rich rum glaze!
Jamaican Black Cake
Cooks in 150 minutesJamaican Black Cake is a rich, dense, boozy Caribbean dessert made of dried fruit soaked in rum, warm spices, and wine. Some call it rum cake, Christmas cake, wedding cake, or birthday cake. Whatever you call it, this black cake recipe is perfect for any holiday, celebration, or special occasion.
Guyanese Style Fruit Cake
Cooks in 100 minutesGuyanese style fruit cake is far from your traditional Christmas fruit cake; it's moist, boozy, and rich with the flavor of rum soaked fruits! It's a delicious mash-up between pound cake (known as sponge cake in Guyana) and black cake. Enjoy this as an indulgent adult dessert or skip the alcohol for a family-friendly treat during the holidays.
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.
Mkos Guba: Poppy Seed Bread Pudding
Cooks in 25 minutesEasy poppy seed bread pudding from Hungary named Mkos Guba. Made from just 5 simple pantry ingredients. Served with potato soup as a meat-free simple Friday meal or with custard or ice cream for a special treat.
EASY Peanut Raisin Cookies (Polish Mazurka)
Cooks in 30 minutesA super EASY recipe for peanut raisin cookies!! Polish Mazurka have a soft marshmallow-y middle full of peanuts and raisins and a slightly crispy top.
Hungarian Beigli - Christmas poppy seed and walnut roll cake
Cooks in 150 minutesHungarian Beigli is a traditional walnut and poppy seed roll which is served in many Hungarian families at Christmas as a special treat. The Christmas meal table would be incomplete without these rolls.
Polish Babka
Cooks in 2 hours 15 minutesMany different versions of this rich bread, laced with rum syrup and drizzled with icing, are served at Easter in Polish households. It's such a tradition, and so well-loved, that there are probably as many babka recipes as there are Polish bakers! This particular recipe was inspired by one in our 1990 200th Anniversary Cookbook, which includes a wealth of recipes and information from cultures around the world. You'll notice that, despite being made with yeast, it's an easy batter bread; "no-knead" isn't as new a concept as you might think.
Povitica Bread Recipe (with Walnut Cinnamon Swirl)
Cooks in 600 minutesMake this authentic Povitica Bread the old-fashioned way, rolling it out on a tablecloth over a dining room table. Or choose the faster, easier route and split into 4 loaf pans.
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.
Turrn de Jijona Recipe: Soft Almond Nougat
Cooks in 30 minutesTurrn de Jijona is a classic sweet treat in Spain over the Holiday season. This includes two methods: the traditional method, as made by Mar's grandmother and an alternative method Mar suggests for quicker drying.
Chocolate Almond Babka
Cooks in 860 minutesThis Chocolate Almond Babka is the dessert bread of your dreams! It's a sweet brioche bread, filled with a dark chocolate and nut filling! This bread is like a mixture of cake, bread, and chocolate! How could it get any better than that?!
Christopsomo recipe (Greek Christmas Bread with Walnuts)
Cooks in 3 hours 30 minutesA traditional Greek Christmas Bread (Christopsomo) recipe! Discover all the secrets to make the tastiest traditional Christopsomo with this no fail recipe!
Anginetti: Italian Knot Cookies with Lemon or Sprinkles
Cooks in 40 minutesAuthentic 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!
Panettone Italian Christmas Sweet Bread
Cooks in 365 minutesPanettone, an Italian Christmas Sweet Bread Recipe, an easy delicious yeast bread filled with raisins, candied fruit or chocolate chips.
Bolo Rei (Portuguese Christmas Kings Cake)
Cooks in 145 minutesA lightly spiced, fluffy Christmas cake filled with fruit and nuts. A speciality in Portugal, Bolo Rei or Portuguese Kings Cake, is super easy to bake at home, so get ready to make your Kings Cake "crown" this holiday season!
Spanish Almond Cookie Recipe (Polvorones)
My Spanish Almond Cookie recipe, also known as Polvorones, is deliciously nutty and very delicate both the texture and flavor are incredible together!
Dairy-free Italian Custard: Easy Zabaglione (Zabaione) Recipe
Creamy, dairy-free, sweet 3 ingredient Italian custard with boozy flavor. Easy recipe to serve alone or on top of cakes, Panettones, cookies, or with fresh fruit.
Koulourakia Recipe: Traditional Greek Orange Cookies
Cooks in 30 minutesTraditional Greek Koulourakia is a buttery orange cookie with a perfect bite, a crumbly soft inside, and a zesty bright flavor.
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 Recipe
Cooks in 105 minutesCrumbly, buttery 3 ingredient Middle Eastern shortbread cookies.
Pecan Pie Shortbread Crust Bars Without Corn Syrup
Cooks in 60 minutesA 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
Butter Tarts Recipe
Cooks in 40 minutesButter Tarts are a quintessential Canadian treat that are a decadent, delicious and surprisingly easy addition to anyones holiday dessert tray. Theyre so easy that Ive made two batches already this year. Learn how to make this classic decadent tart.
Note: I have recently tested a bunch of different butter tart recipes and tweaked them to get the best possible version. The new version is above for you under the title "Gooey Maple Butter Tarts (New Recipe!). I urge you to give a try. But I'm leaving the original recipe below for those of you who already make it and love it. I would hate to take it away from you!Creamy Frozen Cranberry Salad Bites
Sweet, creamy, refreshing, frozen alternative to traditional cranberry sauce with pineapple.
Fresh Spiced Cranberry Tea (for Thanksgiving)
Cooks in 35 minutesThis spiced cranberry-orange Thanksgiving Tea is bright from the natural tartness of cranberries, cut with a little sweetness, and made complex by spices.
Vegan Frosted Cookies {Best Christmas Vegan Cookies}
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)
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.
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
Cooks in 100 minutesSmall peppermint chocolate truffles from Norway with a solid chocolate exterior and creamy, minty interior. Tastes just like an Andes mint. Super EASY to make, perfect Christmas project for kids!!!
Risalamande (Danish Christmas Rice Pudding)
Cooks in 50 minutesI 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 (Danish Christmas Cookies)
Cooks in 6 hours 22 minutesYou'll love these crunchy, nutty, carmel-y traditional Danish Christmas cookies!
Julekake: Norwegian Christmas Bread
Cooks in 75 minutesThis delicious Norwegian bread is a traditional treat served at Christmas. Its full of raisins and citron, and has a fluffy texture. Youll enjoy the festive aroma and taste of this Scandinavian dessert!
Risgrt (Norwegian Rice Porridge)
Cooks in 45 minutesSimple, creamy and packed with little bits of soft rice, risgrt (rice porridge) is the epitome of Norwegian comfort food.
Rosette Cookies
Cooks in 11 minutesPaper-thin deep-fried cookies with sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.
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!
Peppermint Crisp Tart
Cooks in 260 minutesPeppermint Crisp Tart (or pudding) is a dessert made from South African pantry ingredients. It can be made in advance and frozen. It is not served frozen, but rather left to defrost into creamy deliciousness. 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 Recipe
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!
Ecuadorian Pristios with Piloncillo Syrup Recipe
Cooks in 75 minutesThin, crispy, fried Ecuadorian Pristinos pastries for Christmas along with a Piloncillo (Panela) Syrup spiced with citrus zest and all the Christmas spices - cinnamon, anise, and cloves.
Coconut Natilla Recipe
Cooks in 45 minutesNatilla is a sweet custard that is traditionally served during Colombian Christmas gatherings. There are many variations of this dish throughout the country but this Natilla is my grandmothers recipe and is very special to me. I called my mom and one of my aunts for the recipe, but they didnt have it because they
Pan de Pascua Recipe
Pan de Pascua is a type of spiced fruit cake that is a staple during the Christmas season in the South American country of Chile.
Chileans use both “Navidad” and “Pascua” words interchangeably for Christmas so this bread might literally translate to “Easter bread” but it is enjoyed at Christmas time.
Budin (Puerto Rican Bread Pudding)
Cooks in 330 minutesMexican Bunuelos
Cooks in 55 minutesOften served during the Christmas and New Years holidays, this Mexican Bunuelos 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!
How to make an Austrian Linzer Torte
Cooks in 1 hourLinzer Torte has a crumbly hazelnut crust and raspberry jam filling and is topped with a lattice. It is a delicious Austrian-German pastry and a favorite treat at Christmas.
Linzer Tart Cookies
Cooks in 147 minutesBaking Linzer cookies is a delicious holiday tradition in Austria, where they originated. These buttery and soft sandwich cookies are popular for centuries for their sweet taste and tender texture. Although they're considered Christmas cookies, they're usually enjoyed all year round!
Best Old Fashioned Butter Toffee Recipe (AKA English Toffee)
Cooks in 105 minutesThis melt-in-your-mouth classic English Butter Toffee is rich, smooth, buttery, and snappy. This post contains ALL the tips for novice (and experienced) toffee-makers!
British Christmas Pies: Mincemeat Tarts 3 Ways
Cooks in 100 minutesClassic 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 Recipe
Cooks in 105 minutesAs this classic pudding slowly steams, the light sponge absorbs the sweet, rich unmistakeable flavor of Lyle's golden syrup.
Traditional English Trifle
Cooks in 65 minutesIf I had to choose one dessert as the most nostalgic for me, that would be a traditional English Trifle. I love the flavor combinations!
Traditional British Christmas Pudding (a Make Ahead, Fruit and Brandy Filled, Steamed Dessert)
Cooks in 16 hours 24 minutesOne of the most traditional British Christmas recipes.
Easy English Plum Pudding
Cooks in 280 minutesEnglish plum pudding is a traditional Christmas dessert made with dried fruit and served with hard sauce. Its an impressive sweet treat the whole family will love. Best of all, its easy to make ahead and enjoy on Christmas Day.
Christmas Sticky Toffee Pudding
Cooks in 80 minutesChristmas Sticky Toffee Pudding made with dates and brandy-soaked mixed dried fruit, and served with a lush toffee sauce, an indulgent Christmas dessert that is incredibly easy to make. A lot lighter than a traditional Christmas fruit pudding, this variation combines the best flavours from the 2 classic desserts.
Christmas Cake - EASY moist fruit cake
Cooks in 285 minutesRecipe video above. This is an easy Christmas Cake that requires no overnight fruit soaking. It's a fruit cake that's incredibly easy to make, with a rich, velvety texture that's full flavoured and so moist it can be eaten plain. (But no one turns away a slosh of custard!) Just as good made on the day - or weeks later.
Chestnut cake
Cooks in 40 minutesChestnut cake is an amazing Fall recipe that will surprise your guests. It is easy and uses canned chestnut puree.
Bche De Nol (Yule Log)
Cooks in 10 hoursThe meringue mushrooms and sugared cranberries & rosemary are completely optional garnishes. The recipe below includes both. For all make-ahead instructions, see recipe notes. I recommend watching the video tutorial above and reading the full recipe below before beginning. There's a lot of cooling down, chilling, and other moving parts here!
Stollen (German Christmas Bread)
Cooks in 4 hours 10 minutesThis German Stollen recipe makes a rich, fruit-studded loaf that is a festive and tasty German Christmas bread, perfect for celebrating with family or bringing to a holiday party!
If one 14-15 in loaf is too large for your family, feel free to make two smaller loaves and freeze or gift one. If baking half loaves, check them after baking around 30-35 minutes (but they may take close to the full time).
Lebkuchen - German Gingerbread Cookies
Cooks in 45 minutesIf you are not familiar with lebkuchen, they are basically soft German gingerbread cookies. Like other gingerbread, they have an array of flavourful spices like ground cinnamon, cloves, and ginger.
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)."
Easy Bibingka
Cooks in 45 minutesThis 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.
Indonesian Butter Cookies with Pandan, Cheese, and Coconut
Difficulty: MediumPopular Indonesian cookies with a crispy melty texture, featuring pandan, coconut, and crunches of cheese.
55 Recipes for Traditional Christmas Desserts Around the World
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.
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Ingredients
Christmas Pavlova from Veena Azmanov
Lamington Wreath from Oh So Busy Mum
Rum Cake from Butter Be Ready
Jamaican Black Cake from Seasoned Skillet Blog
Guyanese Style Fruit Cake from Metemgee
Poppy Seed Bread Pudding from Dora Hurley on The Storied Recipe
Peanut Raisin Cookies from Marina Lukyanchuk on The Storied Recipe
Hungarian Beigli from Budapest Cooking Class
Polish Babka from King Author Baking
Povitica Bread from Marlene Leap on The Storied Recipe
Turron de Jijona from Mar Lozano on The Storied Recipe
Chocolate Almond Babka from Coffee Fit Kitchen
Christopsomo Bread from My Greek Dish
Anginetti Cookies from Tina Zaccardi from The Storied Recipe
Panettone from An Italian In My Kitchen
Bolo Rei from Wander Cooks
Polvorone Cookies from Bigger Bolder Baking
Italian Custard Zabaglione from Frances from The Storied Recipe
Koulouakia Cookies from Regina Frances from The Storied Recipe
Ghraybeh Cookies from Mai Kakish from The Storied Recipe
Pecan Date Bars from Nermine Mansour from The Storied Recipe
Butter Tarts from Cook The Story
Frozen Cranberry Salad from Marybeth Wells from The Storied Recipe
Cranberry Tea from Laura Clark from The Storied Recipe
Vegan Frosted Christmas Cookies from Carol Clayton from The Storied Recipe
Nesselrode Pie from Geraldine DeRuiter from The Storied Recipe
Norwegian Chocolate Mint Truffles from Alexandra Taylor from 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
Peppermint Crisp Tart from Kate Jack from The Storied Recipe
Malva Pudding from Bigger Bolder Baking
Pristinos from Sofia Alarcon from The Storied Recipe
Natilla Colombiana from My Columbian Recipes
Pan de Pascua from Amigo Foods
Budin from Delish Dlites
Bunueloes from Isabel Eats
Linzer Torte from Gitta's Kitchen
Linzer Cookies from Also The Crumbs Please
Chocolate Covered Toffee from Aimee, Theresa, Amanda, and Their Mother from The Storied Recipe
Mincemeat Tarts from Diana Rutherford from The Storied Recipe
Golden Syrup Pudding from Tilda Bourne from The Storied Recipe
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 Sally's Baking Addiction
Stollen from Curious Cuisiniere
Lebkuchen Gingerbread Cookies from Leelalicious
Bibingka from Woman Scribbles
Indonesian Butter Cookies from Emily Ho from The Storied Recipe
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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.