Christmas comes once a year (twice, if you're considering Christmas in July celebration), and this festive season brings an opportunity to celebrate with friends, family and of course a decadent dessert. For many people around the globe, this is the favourite time of the year.
If you’re looking for some mouthwatering dessert ideas for the upcoming festive season, you’ll be pleased to hear there’s plenty of options. Different countries celebrate Christmas in very different ways, especially when it comes to food!
Let’s take a look at some iconic festive desserts from around the world.
A sweet bread that originated in Milan, Panettone is a common Christmas sweet for many Italians and has influenced similar desserts throughout Europe and Latin America. The Pan de Pascua, for example, is one of Chile’s most iconic Christmas foods and is something of an adaptation of the Panettone.
While there are many variations in terms of which ingredients are used, the classic Panettone usually contains fruits like oranges, lemons and sultanas. Stories of Panettone’s origin go back to the Roman period, and the cake is renowned for its distinctive shape.
Eggnog is not a big part of Australian culture yet, but it has been tied to Christmas in the US and Canada for a very long time. In fact, Americans and Canadians will often enjoy it from Thanksgiving all the way through to Christmas time. Basically, eggnog is a creamy, chilled, punch that contains brandy or some other dark spirit. Its key ingredients are milk, eggs and sugar.
No doubt the first Christmas dessert that comes to mind, Christmas pudding has a long history in Australia! Its history and cultural significance have naturally resulted in a number of traditions that surround it. Plum puddings make the perfect dessert for many reasons, but what you often forget is just how well they keep.
In fact, the best puddings are usually prepared 4-5 weeks before Christmas! So, if you’re going to buy traditional Christmas puddings online, ordering now isn’t going to be a problem.
Christmas cookies are enjoyed in many different cultures, usually with only slight variations. This is particularly true of vanilla cookies, which are popular in various places around the world at Christmas. Germans, for instance, eat the Vanillekipferl; crescent-shaped vanilla cookies that are topped with icing sugar.
In neighbouring Austria, the Linzer cookies are very similar but filled with raspberry jam. Meanwhile, the Danes have their Vanijekranse (or ‘vanilla wreaths’), which are all the rage through the festive season. There are even popular Christmas cookies in the Dominican Republic that are quite similar.
The Yule log cake originated in France but is now served in various European countries, and the French parts of Canada. This is a log-shaped sponge cake, but it’s not just about the shape. When done properly, the cake truly resembles a tree branch, covered in grooves which are intentionally made to look like bark and icing sugar on top which gives looks like snow and adds to the Christmas feeling.
While Christmas puddings always have a big role to play in your festive celebrations, don’t be afraid to spice things up and serve some of these traditional Christmas sweets. Keep an eye here for more tips to make this Christmas one to remember!
