Top 4 Recipes for Christmas From Around the World
Written: by Vihaan Vyas
Edited by: Jelena Mandic
Designed by: Alessa Zaitseva
Published by: Maryam Khan
The holiday season is a time of joy and togetherness, with each country boasting its unique festive dishes that are cherished and enjoyed by families and communities. I am here to share 4 famous Christmas dishes from around the world.
1. Bûche de Noël (France)
Buche de Noel Recipe (allrecipes.com) – Image credit
Bûche De Noël (Yule Log) – Sally’s Baking Addiction (sallysbakingaddiction.com)
Bûche de Noël Recipe (Yule Log Cake) – Mon Petit Four®
Bûche de Noël, or Yule Log, is a French dessert that is made of a sponge cake rolled with a cream filling and covered with chocolate frosting. It is decorated to resemble a log, with meringue mushrooms, and powdered sugar snow. To make Bûche de Noël, you will need:
- 4 eggs, separated
- 3/4 cup of sugar
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup of all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- A 15×10-inch jelly roll pan
- Parchment paper
- 2 cups of heavy cream
- 1/4 cup of powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup of cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup of butter, softened
- 2 cups of powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup of milk
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- Meringue mushrooms, marzipan holly, and powdered sugar, for decorating
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Grease a 15×10-inch jelly roll pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the longer sides. Grease the parchment paper as well.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks with 3/4 cup of sugar until pale and creamy. Add the teaspoon of vanilla extract and mix well.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour and salt. Gradually fold the flour mixture into the egg yolk mixture until well combined. In another clean mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the batter until fully incorporated.
- Pour the batter into the prepared jelly roll pan and spread it evenly using a spatula. Bake in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes or until the cake is lightly golden and springs back when touched.
- While the cake is baking, lay out a clean kitchen towel and dust it generously with powdered sugar.
- Once the cake is done, immediately invert it onto the prepared kitchen towel.
- Carefully peel off the parchment paper from the cake. Roll the cake, starting from the shorter end along with the towel, into a tight spiral. Let it cool completely while rolled up.
- While the rolled cake is cooling, prepare the filling by whipping the heavy cream with 1/4 cup of powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
- In a separate bowl, mix the cocoa powder, softened butter, 2 cups of powdered sugar, milk, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until smooth to create the chocolate frosting.
- Carefully unroll the cooled cake and spread the whipped cream evenly over the surface. Re-roll the cake without the towel. Place it seam-side down on a serving platter.
- Cut a diagonal slice from one end of the rolled cake and attach it to the side of the main roll with some of the chocolate frosting to resemble a branch.
- Frost the entire rolled cake with the chocolate frosting, using a spatula to create a bark-like texture.
- Use the back of a fork to create a wood-like pattern on the frosting. Decorate the Bûche de Noël with meringue mushrooms, marzipan holly, and powdered sugar to mimic snow.
- Refrigerate the Bûche de Noël for at least an hour before serving. Slice and enjoy!
2. Glazed Baked Ham (Jamaica)
Glazed Baked Ham – Authentic Jamaican Recipe | 196 flavors
Brown Sugar Glazed Baked Ham Recipe (thespruceeats.com) – Image Credit
Jamaican Christmas dinner – HONEY GLAZED HAM | Food | Jamaica Gleaner
Glazed Baked Ham is a popular Christmas dish in Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean. It is made with a cured ham that is studded with cloves, then glazed with a mixture of brown sugar, pineapple juice and rum (optional). The ham is baked until the glaze is caramelized and the meat is juicy. Glazed Baked Ham is often served with rice and peas, roasted vegetables, and fruit salad.
To make Glazed Baked Ham, you will need:
- A 10-pound cured ham, bone-in
- Whole cloves
- 1/2 cup of brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup of Pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup of Orange juice
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons of dark rum (optional) you can use Maple Syrup or Honey
- A baking dish
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Rinse the ham and pat it dry with paper towels. Cut some diamond-shaped patterns on the surface of the ham, about 1/4 inch deep. Insert a clove in the center of each diamond. Place the ham in the baking dish.
- For the Glaze. Combine the brown sugar, mustard, pineapple juice, Orange juice, and rum in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes.
- Brush half of the glaze over the ham, and bake for 1 hour, basting occasionally with the remaining glaze.
- Increase the oven temperature to 400°F and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the ham is golden and the glaze is bubbly. Let the ham rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
3. Lebkuchen – Gingerbread Cookies (Germany)
Authentic German Gingerbread Cookies (Lebkuchen)
Nürnberger Lebkuchen (German Gingerbread) Recipe
Lebkuchen – German Christmas Cookies | 12 Tomatoes – Image credit
- Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/2 eggs
Instructions:
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.
- In another bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Add molasses and egg; mix well.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until combined. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (~175°C). Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut out shapes using cookie cutters (eat some dough in the process).
- Place cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are firm.
- Cool completely before decorating with icing or sprinkles.
4. Tamales (Mexico)
Mexican Tamales – Image Credit
Tamales are a traditional Mexican dish made with masa dough (a corn-based dough) filled with savoury ingredients such as shredded chicken, pork or vegetables, combined with a salsa or sauce. This mixture is wrapped in soft corn husks and steamed until the masa is cooked, resulting in a delicious, and slightly sweet tamale with a tasty filling.
Ingredients for Masa Dough:
- 2 cups masa harina
- 1 1/3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- Shredded chicken, pork or vegetables
- 2/3 cup lard or vegetable shortening
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Salt to taste
Ingredients for Filling:
- Cooked shredded chicken or pork
- Salsa or sauce of choice
Corn Husks for Wrapping
Recipe:
- Soak corn husks in warm water for about 30 minutes until pliable.
- In a mixing bowl, beat lard or vegetable shortening with chicken or vegetables until fluffy. Add masa harina, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add broth and mix until a dough forms.
- Spread masa dough on the corn husks, add a spoonful of filling in the center, and fold the husk to enclose the filling. Tie the ends with strips of husk.
- Steam the tamales for about 1 to 1.5 hours until the dough is cooked through.
- Enjoy with Salsa!