What To Eat And Drink At European Christmas Markets
Christmas Markets are sensory overload in all the best of ways; twinkling lights, holiday tunes, the air bursting with yuletide cheer and then there’s the smells… oh the smells. Every type of heartwarming treat you can imagine from hot mulled wine to sweet pastries and drool-worthy savory dishes there’s no end to culinary delights you’ll encounter.
These days Christmas Markets can be found in nearly every single country in Europe. But the roots of these magical events can be traced back to the 1400s in Germany, and many markets today, no matter what country you find yourself in will feature many of the traditional German foods, in addition to tasty treats from their own countries (we’re looking at you Swiss Raclette and Hungarian Chimney Cakes).
A quick disclaimer before we jump into this list of tasty treats: Follow your nose, follow your heart, and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. This list isn’t an all-in-one guide on what to eat, it’s just a jumping-off point; there’s no wrong choices when it comes to what to eat at a Christmas Market, the only wrong choice is to pass up on something that looks delish.
We’ve taken the list below and compiled it into a downloadable/ printable pdf so you can have it at your fingertips when you need it the most! Download It Here.
Christmas Market Drinks
Glühwein
Glühwein (gloo-vine) is the German variation of hot mulled wine. It should be your first stop at any Christmas Market, you’ll never change our minds on this so don’t even try 😉 The literal translation of Glühwein is glow wine- the two stories behind this is because of the glowing embers beneath the wine while its being made, and the second is because of the warm feeling you get from it.
It comes in lots of variations: red, white, and even topped with a shot. If you’re headed to markets outside of German-speaking countries, you’ll see similar mulled wines listed as Vin Chaud (France), Glogg ( Scandinavian countries and Estonia), and Vin Brule (Italy).
Where To Find It: Everywhere
Fuergazenbowle
Meet Glühwein’s big brother. If you’re strolling around the markets and see flames you’ve probably found the Fuerzangenbowle (foyer-zangan-bowler) stall. The most basic way to describe it is Glühwein paired with overproof rum and a rum-soaked sugar cube set on fire. It’s delicious, and dangerous all at once
Where To Find It: German Christmas Markets
Kinderpunsch
Meet Glühwein’s baby brother, Kinderpunsch (kin-der-punch). This delicious non-alcoholic version of Glühwein is perfect for kiddos or anyone who doesn’t partake. The concept is the exact same as Glühwein with one exception it’s made with juice instead of wine.
Where To Find It: Any stall selling Glühwein or its regional equivalent should have Kinderpunsch
Eierpunsch
A holiday classic everywhere in the world, Eierpunsch (ay-er-punch) is the German equivalent of spiked eggnog. It’s a strong comforting classic that you shouldn’t skip out on.
Where To Find It: Most of the larger German Markets will have this, but it can be trickier to find outside of Germany
Heiße Schokolade
In German heiße (he-say) means hot and schokolade (show-co-lad) means chocolate, put those two words together and you have everyone’s favorite holiday drink. If you’re feeling like getting extra festive you can opt to add a shot of liqueur to it, Frangelica (hazelnut liquor) and Baileys are popular options.
Where To Find It: Everywhere
Schnapps
Schnaps (sha-napps) is a strong distilled liqueur, usually made by fermenting fruit juice with a base liquor. Schnapps comes in a variety of flavors, but hazelnut is a super popular choice, especially at the Salzburg market.
Where To Find It: Most German Markets will have this, as well as markets in German-speaking countries/regions.
Jagertee
Jagertee (yay-ger-tee) is warm black tea spiked with rum and other spices. It’s a super tasty alternative when you’ve had your fill of Glühwein.
Where To Find It: You’re most likely to find this at Southern German markets and in Austria.
Savory Foods
Bratwurst (Rotewurst, Weisswurst, Nurenburgers, Curry Wurst)
It should come as no surprise that as a tradition with deep German roots, one of the shining stars of Christmas Markets would be Würsts or sausages for all the English speakers out there. There’s no limit to the variety of sausages on offer, and they are all delicious and worthy in their own right. Every region will have a special version that you should be on the lookout for. Our personal favorites are; Nürenburgers (Nürenburg), Thuringer Rotewurst (Schwabia, and Southern Germany), Weisswürst (Bavaria), and Currywürst (everywhere)
Where To Find It: Everywhere, but the best ones are found at the German Markets
Maroni
Maroni (ma-row-nee) might just be the king of the classics when it comes to Christmassy food. Maroni are chestnuts quite literally roasted over an open fire. They aren’t for everyone but if you’ve never had one before you should definitely give them a try. In the early days maroni did double duty as both a snack and a way to keep your hands warm when you filled your pockets with them.
Where To Find Them: Everywhere
Reibekucken & Kartoffelpuffer
Who doesn’t love a potato pancake, especially one smothered in delicious garlic sauce. If you’re one of those weirdos well scroll on by, if not, when you see the Kartoffelpuffer (car-toff-el-puff-er) stall stop immediately and get some. Crispy, warm, comforting, we’re drooling just thinking about it!
Where To Find Them: Almost every German Christmas market will have these, at the rosti is what you’ll find at the Swiss markets.
Käsespätzel
If you’re a fan of mac and cheese then you’re going to love käsespätzel (case-a-spat-zull). Käse is the German word for cheese and Spätzel is a doughy eggy noodle that will change your life. This dish is the epitome of warm winter comfort food.
Where To Find Them: Almost every German Christmas market will have these, at the rosti is what you’ll find at the Swiss markets.
Flammkuchen
Flammkuchen (flam-kook-en) also known as Tatre Flambee (tart flam-bae) in French-speaking countries is a deliciously thin flatbread traditionally topped with creme fraiche, bacon, and onions and then baked to perfection. You can mix up the toppings if you’d like but personally, we’re a big fan of the classic!
Where To Find Them: This is traditionally a dish found in the Alsace region ( think Strasbourg, the Black Forest, Colmar, and Basel) but keep an eye out for it everywhere.
Champignons
Champignons (champ-in-ons) is the fancy French word for sauteed mushrooms; the dish might be simple but the flavor is not! If you’re a fan of mushrooms and you see a stall selling these immediately stop whatever you’re doing and get some, they might just be the best thing you’ll ever eat!
Where To Find Them: Most markets in Germany and France will have these, but you might have to do some searching.
Brezels Mit Buter
Brezel (bret-zell) is pretzel as German food words go, it’s a pretty easy one! There are a lot of variations out there on the classic pretzel, but personally coming from two people who called Germany home for four years we can say with confidence that the only proper way to eat a German pretzel is mit buter (with butter).
Where To Find Them: Everywhere
Semmelknödel or Speckknödel
Speckknödel (speck-noodle) are bread dumplings made from stale bread, herbs, and bacon rolled together and steamed to perfection. It doesn’t sound appetizing but we promise they are delicious!
Where To Find Them: You might run into these at any German market but you’re most likely to find them in Bavaria
Kiachl
Kiachl is an Austrian specialty and another take on fried dough. Unlike many of the other fried dough variations, kiachl is shaped into a bowl and the center is filled with the topping of your choice- sauerkraut, cranberry sauce, and other goodies.
Where To Find Them: An Austrian specialty, keep and eye out for them there.
Frikadelle
Germans love pork, from sausages to roasted pork knuckles, there’s no limit to the amount of pork dishes you’ll stumble upon. Frikadelle is really more of a flattened meatball than a traditional burger, served on a small bun, smother in sauerkraut and mustrard, it’s so different and so delicious!
Where To Find Them: Most of the larger German Markets
Langos
Langos is arguably one of the most delicious dishes you can devour at a Christmas market, it also has a really interesting history. This Hungarian delicacy consists of deep-fried pillowy bread dough topped with an assortment of savory goodies (bacon, sour cream, cheese, mushrooms). The origins of Langos dates back to the Middle Ages when bread was made once a week, as the week wore on the staler the bread became so to give it fresh life it was fried and then topped to perfection to hide it’s less than freshness. Pretty cool, huh?
Where To Find Them: They are the easiest to find at the Hungarian markets however due to their popularity you find them at almost any of the larger markets across Europe.
Chäsbängel
Bread stuffed to the brim with melted cheese. That’s it, and that’s all it needs to be, because its perfection.
Where To Find Them: Basel, Switzerland is your best bet at finding this, but markets in other French-speaking regions may sell them as well.
Raclette
Raclette is a French word derived from, racler, meaning “to scrape”, which is exactly what this is. Ooey, gooey, melted and then scraped off cheese. If you’re a cheese fan this is one Christmas market food you do not want to pass up on. Raclette is usually served with the same type of foods that accompany fondue- fingerling potatoes, cornichons, and other veggies. However, if you want to keep things from getting too messy look for raclette being served onto a baguette and made into a sandwich, it’s a much less messy option and honestly stays warmer longer in the cool air.
Where To Find Them: This is a traditional Swiss dish so you’ll want to keep an eye out for it at the Swiss markets, but you can also find it at most French-speaking markets
Sweet Treats
Mandeln
Sweet, crunchy almonds and other nuts coated in cinnamon and caramelized sugar. These little tasty treats are a staple of Christmas markets across Europe and are one of the major contributors to the incredible smells of the markets.
Where To Find Them: Everywhere
Lebkuchen
Lebkuchen (leb-coo-chen) is German gingerbread, and even though you may think of it as a cookie it’s best to think of it as more of a cake. Lebkuchen has a very different textures than many other gingerbreads around the world, and it can be pretty polarizing, some people love it, and others, not so much. A bit of advice if you’re planning on picking up some lebkuchen at the market, you’ll see lots of ornately decorated options hanging in bags, a common mistake among tourists is to buy these to eat, they are not meant for eating but are for gifting as decoration. Your best bet is to look for a vendor with rows of loose cookies on display and choose from those.
Where To Find Them: Everywhere
Schneeballen
Schneeballen (sh-knee-ball-en) translates to snowball and that is exactly what these tasty little treats look like. Made out of strips of shortcrust gathered into a ball then deep fried and topped with anything from powdered sugar, hazelnuts, chocolate and marzipan. They taste as good as they look!
Where To Find Them: These originated in the ancient German town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, but you can usually find them at most markets in Southern Germany.
Baumstriezel
Also known as kürtőskalács or chimney cakes, these spiral-shaped pastries originated in Hungary, and have spread like wildfire across Europe. They’re nearly possible to resist when they’re freshly made over open coals and then rolled into cinnamon and sugar. If you spot an excessively long line at a market there’s a good chance people are waiting for this super popular treat!
Where To Find Them: Everywhere, but the best ones can be found at the Hungarian markets.
Dampfnudeln
Dampfnudlen is a hotly debated dessert, some people love it and other people find it kind of blah. Dampfnudlen is a yeast dumpling that’s been steamed to pillowy perfection and then covered in a creamy dreamy vanilla sauce. It’s big on flavor but pretty flat on texture if that’s your thing.
Where To Find Them: Christmas markets throughout Germany
Schaumkuss or Schokokuss
Schokokuss literally means chocolate kiss and that’s exactly what you’ll feel biting into one of these delectable treats. These are so popular around Germany that they’re sold year-round at grocery stores, but the best time to buy them is from a baker when the marshmallow filling is freshly made.
Where To Find Them: German Markets, at stalls selling candy and chocolate dipped fruits.
Helpful Tips For Eating At The Christmas Markets
Trackbacks/Pingbacks