If there is something that drives the magic of Christmas, it is the repetition of luxurious and delicious traditions. Christmas is a time of year where we can enjoy, indulge, and take more pains in preparation. The anticipation of these long-kept practices is part of the joy of Christmas. There is comfort in doing the same thing you have always done, of knowing the delight they will bring, and getting it right. These 9 Traditional Christmas Desserts will not surprise you – but their origins and variations might!
Classic Christmas Pudding
Pudding, as Americans know it, is a soft, dairy type dessert, like custard, but to Brits, it simply means, “dessert”. Christmas Pudding, therefore, is translated to “Christmas Dessert”. You’ve probably also heard it called plum pudding as in Charles Dicken’s classic, A Christmas Carol.
Christmas Pudding is a quintessential Christmas Dessert. It is steamed, rather than baked, then doused with brandy and set alight before serving with brandy sauce or brandy butter. This is part of the Christmas dinner tradition in Britain. It really is a fun way to end the Christmas meal!
Yule Log Cake (Bûche de Noël)
Yule Log Cake is a chocolate sponge cake spiraled around a fluffy chocolate filling & frosted with whipped ganache. For Christians, this Yule Log represents the need to keep the stable warm for Christ. But the origin of burning the yule log is rooted in paganism, possibly German or Scandinavian. The log was burned on the winter solstice, the shortest and darkest day the year, when ancient peoples would worry that the light may cease to exist.
I’m so glad that the tradition now encompasses eating a chocolate version of the log as well as burning it. This is way more enjoyable, in my humble opinion!
Fruitcake: A Timeless Tradition
Christmas fruit cake is so moist and flavorful, perfectly spiced and studded with a variety of nuts and fruits that were soaked in rum. This is the perfect recipe to make a big fruit cake that you can share with your friends and family!
Christmas Cake is special for a variety of reasons. First, the fruit is soaked in alcohol for weeks before mixing the cake batter to really infuse all that flavour. Second, the cake is made at least a week in advance, because the flavours mature as the cake ages. It can be stored for up to a month if you brush it every week with alcohol leftover from the fruit soaking.
Gingerbread Delights
Gingerbread is a must-know recipe for creating Christmas delights. The classic gingerbread recipe can be used to make cookies for gifts, snacks, Christmas Tree ornaments, or even to make the frame for a gingerbread house. Gingerbread lasts a long time, and creates the perfect canvass for decorating – the kids will love doing this.
This gingerbread recipe is fool proof, and can be chilled or frozen until ready to use.
German Stollen
German Stollen has been around for nearly 700 years and is prized throughout the world as one of the most famous and beloved of all Christmas pastries. Flaky, moist, and divinely flavorful, this homemade German Christmas Stollen is incredible.
Christmas stollen, known in Germany as Christstollen, is a yeast bread that is baked with dried fruits, candied citrus peel, nuts and spices. Variations include Mandelstollen (almond), Mohnstollen (poppy seed), Quarkstollen (quark), Nuss-Stollen (nuts), Butterstollen (high butter content), Dresdner Stollen and Marzipanstollen. Stollen are famously dusted with a thick coat of powdered sugar, reminiscent of the snowy German landscape, and baked with spices conveying the warmth of the Christmas season.
Mince Pies: A Taste of Christmas Past
In Britain especially but also in several other countries around the world, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the New England region of the U.S., it’s hard for many people to imagine Christmas without mince pies.
Mince pies, originally called “Christmas pies, “crib cakes” or “shred pies”, can be traced back to the 13th century. This was the time of the Crusaders, and mince pies were fashioned as symbols of Christ’s birth. Cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg symbolised the gifts of the three Magi. Mince pies were originally larger and shaped into ovals to represent the manger. Often, a pastry was made that was shaped in the form of the infant Jesus and was placed on top of the pie. The mince pie would then be eaten in celebration of the birth of Christ.
Over time mince pies got smaller and rounder and today they’re made in small tart tins as convenient “hand pies” that are consumed within a few bites.
Eggnog: A Creamy Christmas Classic
Christmas Eggnog is a sweet drink made with whole milk, heavy cream, cinnamon, and spiced rum.
While no one knows who invented eggnog, most historians and foodies generally agree eggnog originated in medieval Britain. Only the upper classes had access to the milk, sherry, and eggs required to make the first version of eggnog. So, it began as an exclusive beverage.
The use of “luxury” ingredients such as cream and alcohol, was thought to invite prosperity into the household for the coming year. In most households today, a cup of eggnog ushers in the good cheer of the holiday more so than any belief in impending wealth.
Tiramisu
In essence, tiramisu is a coffee-flavored dessert comprised of ladyfinger cookies that have been dipped in coffee and layered with an egg and mascarpone cheese mixture. It’s then topped with cocoa powder and chilled for several hours.
Italians love to make their most famous and beloved Tiramisu dessert on Christmas day. This is because it is rich, luxurious and boozy. It is the perfect thing to end a decadent day of eating. Tiramisu in Italian means “pick me up”, and is an all-time-favourite, crowd pleasing dessert.
Pavlova
Pavlova is a favourite dessert in New Zealand and Australia. Around Christmas time and the summer months you’ll find it on every dessert table at BBQs and get-togethers! There are many different variations of flavours and toppings, such as passionfruit, lemon curd, kiwifruit, strawberries, and chocolate flake. Whipped Cream is definitely a non-negotiable.
Since Christmas happens during the summer months in these countries, Pavlova is the perfect dessert to serve. It is light, refreshing, cold, and usually gets a “wow” when it is brought to the table.
Conclusion
Traditional Christmas desserts have an enduring appeal because they usually carry a lot of symbolism and history. Traditional Christmas Desserts are traditional for a reason: they are luxurious, delicious, and require a bit more effort (which one is usually prepared to make at Christmastime). I hope you enjoy these traditional desserts and their histories, and may you have a delightful and delicious Christmas season.
