Christmas is just around the corner, and many families are planning to bake together for the holidays, filling the whole neighborhood with the aroma of fresh baking.
Panettone
Instantly recognizable by its unusually tall dome shape, panettone is a classic of the Italian Christmas table. Made with candied fruit, raisins and honey, it is sweet and fragrant with a soft, fluffy texture. The recipe is said to have originated in Milan, Italy, before becoming popular throughout Europe. Panettone is usually enjoyed as a snack with tea or coffee, and on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve it is paired with the sparkling white wines Moscato d'Asti and Asti Spumante.
Bûche de Noël (Yule Log)
The Bûche de Noël was born from a wish to preserve an old French village custom: cutting a large log and burning it from Christmas through to the New Year, in the belief that it would bring the family good luck. Although its cylindrical shape resembles a log, this cake is soft and sweet, coated in rich chocolate that pairs beautifully with smooth buttercream. It is as lovely to look at as it is to eat.
Pavlova
A dessert with stunning looks and a story to match, pavlova is famous as the national dessert of both New Zealand and Australia. Similar to a French meringue, it is crisp on the outside and soft and light inside, then topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit. The story goes that its creator was inspired by Anna Pavlova, the celebrated Russian ballerina who performed in New Zealand and Australia in the early 20th century, which is why the dessert is so especially elegant.
Christmas Stollen
Germans know stollen as their Christmas bake. The original stollen had very simple ingredients, just flour, oats and water, in a recipe believed to date back to the 14th century. Later, a new version was created with butter, candied fruit, dried fruit, nuts and spices, turning stollen into a much more flavorful fruit cake. It is finished with a snow-white dusting of icing sugar, yet it brings a warm, comforting feeling with every bite.
British Christmas Pudding
This traditional treat is something the British proudly regard as part of their culinary heritage. Christmas puddings are usually made several weeks in advance and kept somewhere cool until they are served on Christmas night. In the past, a Christmas pudding could contain as many as 13 ingredients, representing Jesus and the 12 Apostles.
Today there are many more variations on the recipe, but the pudding is still rich, sweet and indulgent, and it never fails to evoke this joyful season.
Gingerbread
Gingerbread is believed to date back to ancient times as a honey cake created by the Egyptians and Greeks, before spreading across Europe. It is made with honey and spices such as ginger, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom and nutmeg, and it comes in many regional styles. The most popular shape is the gingerbread man, which historical records say was first made in the time of Queen Elizabeth I of England, to be presented to royal guests and important visitors. Hearts, snowflakes and pine trees are also popular shapes to welcome Christmas.
