Christmas sweet treats across Europe

Each nation is specific with its traditions, customs and tastes. It's not the same at Christmas either, some open presents on Christmas Eve, others on Christmas Day. While Santa brings gifts to our children, elsewhere it is Santa Claus, Santa Claus, Father Christmas or even the Christmas goat. How do we differ in sweet Christmas desserts?

Slovak philanthropist

Who does not know a typical Slovak Christmas cake, which was supposed to be a sample of what people have at home. Some considered it a symbol of abundance, not only in the past year, but it was supposed to bring abundance in the next one as well. Thanks to the various fillings, everyone can find what they like in it, whether it's cottage cheese, poppy seeds, nuts or plum jam. You can find the recipe for a great gluten-free Christmas cake here .

German Christmas stole

Known as Christstollen in Germany, it was once baked completely pure without any other additions, as it was used as a traditional Lenten food. Even milk and butter could not be used in its baking. The ban on the use of butter and milk was abolished only by Pope Innocent VIII, from that moment the Christmas stole became a typical Dresden Christmas pastry. Gradually, bakers began to add dried fruits and various nuts to it. The traditional stole is richly covered in powdered sugar, if you want it to last as long as possible, we recommend using our Decorative insoluble powdered sugar . You can find a great recipe for Gluten Free Christmas Stole here .

Italian Panettone vs. Pandora

Panettone resembles bishop's bread in taste, as it is prepared from leavened dough full of dried fruit. It is not only a specific dessert for Christmas time, it is also baked on New Year's Eve, when combined with sparkling wine, it represents a talisman for good luck. February 3, on the feast of St. Blažej, the protector against throat diseases, is also a traditional panettone to protect the throat. In Italy, this dessert is also known as Pan de ton, which means luxury bread.

Pandora is more like our cake. Its origin is in Verona, it is prepared from the finest flour, eggs, butter and sugar. Almost like our cake, right? The Christmas flavor is given by the vanilla scent, as the entire pandoro is covered in vanilla sugar. Its name Pan d'oro - Golden bread, comes from its distinctive golden color thanks to the use of high-quality eggs. It is baked in the traditional form of a truncated 8-pointed star. If you decide to prepare this Italian delicacy this Christmas, you can find a high-quality pandoro mold here .

French Christmas log

To be more precise, the name of the traditional French dessert is Bûche de Noël. It is a traditional roll made of sponge dough with chocolate cream, the basis is to resemble a wooden log as much as possible. The tradition of preparing Christmas logs is connected with the ancient tradition of burning olive or cherry wood, when the ashes scattered over the fields were supposed to bring luck and a rich harvest. With modernization, the French began to use wood less and less as a source of heat, so they invented another Christmas tradition that everyone can afford.

English Christmas pudding

If you imagine our delicious pudding with fruit and biscuits under this name, it was not like that at all, especially in the past. Its roots go back to the Middle Ages, when fat, spices and fruit were mixed with meat, grains and vegetables, then animal stomachs and intestines were filled with this mixture to make the pudding last as long as possible. Only at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries did they change the salty delicacy to a sweet one. Everyone can add whatever they like to it, that's why the recipes differ from family to family, different types of spices, fruit and alcohol. During preparation, a coin was to be added to the dessert, which was supposed to bring wealth to the lucky finder in the coming year.