Christmas Food Traditions & Treats From Around the World

Germany: Indulge in Stollen, Lebkuchen, & Pfeffernusse

German Christmas traditions are filled with richly spiced cookies, marzipan sweets, and festive baked goods. One of the country's best-known holiday treats is Stollen, a fruit-filled sweet bread traditionally made with dried fruit, nuts, and spices and often finished with a generous dusting of powdered sugar. Serve slices with coffee or tea for a cozy after-dinner treat or Christmas morning breakfast.

You'll also find Lebkuchen, a classic German gingerbread-style cookie, along with Pfeffernusse, spiced cookies whose name translates to "pepper nuts." Marzipan is another beloved German sweet, appearing in candies, chocolates, and holiday confections. During the Christmas season, German Christmas markets are especially known for festive sweets, gingerbread, and warming drinks like Glühwein.

Our German-inspired holiday treats make delicious additions to dessert spreads, stocking stuffers, and food gifts. Advent calendars filled with chocolate are another fun way to count down to Christmas Eve.

Sweden: Ginger Cookies, Glogg, & Cozy Christmas Traditions

Swedish Christmas is a celebration of cozy gatherings, candlelight and seasonal sweets. One of the country's most beloved holiday treats is pepparkakor, thin, crisp ginger cookies flavored with warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. These classic Swedish Christmas cookies are enjoyed throughout the holiday season, often alongside coffee or tea.

For an authentic taste of Swedish tradition, reach for Nyåkers Pepparkakor, a beloved Swedish ginger cookie known for its delicate, crisp texture and warm blend of spices. Nyåkers has been baking its traditional pepparkakor in Sweden for generations, making these cookies a delicious addition to Christmas cookie platters, holiday gatherings and seasonal gift baskets.

Another favorite is glögg, a warm, spiced drink that's especially popular during the Christmas season. Serve it alongside ginger cookies for a cozy Swedish-inspired holiday treat, or add Swedish sweets to your Christmas dessert spread for a taste of Scandinavian tradition.

Italy: Celebrate with Panettone, Pandoro, & Classic Christmas Sweets

In Italy, Christmas wouldn't be complete without panettone. This tall, airy sweet bread is traditionally studded with raisins and candied citrus and is enjoyed throughout the holiday season, often alongside coffee or after a festive meal. Panettone is also a popular Italian holiday hostess gift, and a bottle of prosecco is often served alongside it after the feast.

Pandoro is another beloved Italian Christmas cake. Unlike fruit-filled panettone, this golden, star-shaped cake has a rich, buttery flavor and is traditionally finished with powdered sugar. Italian holiday tables also feature sweets like amaretti cookies, torrone, and other regional Christmas confections.

Serve panettone or pandoro as part of a Christmas breakfast, dessert spread, or holiday gift basket—or pair an Italian sweet with coffee for a simple after-dinner treat.

The British Isles: Christmas Pudding, Fruitcake, & Shortbread

Across the British Isles, Christmas traditions are filled with rich fruit desserts, buttery cookies, and festive bakes. Christmas pudding is one of the most iconic, made with dried fruit and warming spices and traditionally served as part of the Christmas meal. Mince pies are another holiday staple, filled with a warmly spiced mixture of dried fruit.

Christmas cake, a rich fruitcake often decorated for the season, is another traditional favorite. And, of course, no British holiday spread would be complete without shortbread. Made with a simple combination of butter, sugar and flour, this crumbly cookie has become a beloved Christmas treat and a popular holiday gift.

Serve shortbread with tea or coffee, add mince pies to a Christmas dessert spread, or package an assortment of British treats for an easy hostess gift.

The Netherlands: Stroopwafels & Traditional Dutch Christmas Treats

Dutch holiday traditions are filled with crisp cookies, warming spices and sweets made for sharing. Stroopwafels are among the Netherlands' most recognizable treats: two thin, crisp waffle cookies sandwich a layer of caramel syrup. For a cozy serving tradition, place a stroopwafel over a hot cup of coffee or tea and let the steam gently soften the cookie and warm the caramel filling.

During the holiday season, Dutch treats such as speculaas and kruidnoten bring warming notes of cinnamon and other spices to the dessert table. Add a taste of Dutch Christmas to your holiday coffee table with stroopwafels and other spiced sweets that are perfect for sharing.

France: Savor Madeleines & French Holiday Treats

French Christmas celebrations are known for elegant pastries, rich chocolate desserts, and beautifully presented sweets. If you want a classic French taste over the holidays, look no further than our selection of madeleines. These small cakes are made by Maison Colibri, a historic workshop that’s been creating baked goods from authentic French ingredients for over 120 years. A tasty treat anytime, madeleines pair perfectly with coffee or tea—dipping encouraged!

One of France's most iconic Christmas desserts is Bûche de Noël, or Yule log cake. Traditionally made from a rolled sponge cake filled and decorated to resemble a wooden log, it's a festive centerpiece for a Christmas dessert spread. French holiday celebrations may also include chocolate truffles, fruit-filled confections and other petits fours.

Serve Maison Colibri madeleines with coffee or tea for a simple taste of French tradition, or take inspiration from the elegant look and rich flavors of a classic Bûche de Noël for a more festive Christmas dessert table.

Scotland: Share Traditional Buttery Shortbread & Christmas Treats

Scottish shortbread has a long history as a special-occasion treat, making it especially fitting for Christmas. For over a century, the Walker family has been crafting exquisite shortbread in the village of Aberlour. Rooted in tradition, this delicious treat harks back to 16th-century Scotland, when shortbread was reserved for special occasions like weddings and Christmas celebrations.

Take part in a Scottish Christmas custom by leaving out some Walker's Shortbread for Santa alongside a single malt and a slice of mince pie. With its rich, buttery flavor and delicate crumb, Walker's makes a festive addition to Christmas cookie platters, holiday gatherings and seasonal gift baskets.

Shortbread isn't the only Scottish holiday favorite. Dundee cake, a rich fruitcake traditionally made with dried fruit and almonds, is another classic to look for during the festive season. Mince pies and other fruit-filled sweets also have a place in Scottish Christmas celebrations.

Serve Walker's Shortbread with tea or coffee after dinner, add it to a holiday cookie spread, or package it in a festive tin for a thoughtful Christmas gift. For a distinctly Scottish touch, pair it with other traditional holiday treats for a taste of Christmas in Scotland.

Denmark: Discover Danish Butter Cookies & Christmas Sweets

Danish Christmas traditions are filled with buttery cookies, warming spices, and cozy gatherings. Danish butter cookies are perhaps the most recognizable treat, prized for their delicate, crisp texture and rich buttery flavor. They're especially popular during the holidays and are often presented in decorative tins that make them easy to share or gift.

For a taste of Danish tradition, try our Jacobsens Beautiful Denmark Danish Butter Cookies. Baked in a family-owned bakery in Denmark, these delicately crunchy butter cookies have been a favorite for more than 50 years. The beautiful reusable tin also makes them a festive addition to a holiday dessert table or a thoughtful Christmas gift.

For a deeper taste of Danish Christmas, look for traditional treats such as pebernødder, small spiced cookies enjoyed throughout the holiday season, and klejner, a twisted fried pastry. Risalamande, a creamy rice pudding with chopped almonds and cherries, is another classic Danish Christmas dessert.

Set out Jacobsens Danish butter cookies with coffee for an easy holiday gathering, or add a selection of Scandinavian sweets to a Christmas dessert spread for a taste of Nordic tradition.