10 Traditional Finnish Christmas Foods To Try This Year
Christmas is a significant celebration for Finnish families, where food plays a central role. Even before Christmas, many Finns celebrate pikkujoulu with friends or colleagues, and certain special foods are always part of the menu. Each family has its own specialties, and there is some variation across regions, but here are the most traditional Christmas foods to try this year:
1. Joulukinkku
Meat consumption is gradually decreasing in Finland, but ham remains the king of the Finnish Christmas table, chosen by over 80% of people for the festive dinner. It can be purchased boneless or not, and Finns usually top it with mustard for a beautiful golden crust. From choosing the right ham to preparing it and dealing with leftovers, joulukinkku will keep you busy. Check out this guide (in Finnish) for tips and advice.
2. Riisipuuro
In Finland, it’s a tradition to eat rice porridge on the morning of Christmas Eve. The porridge is prepared by cooking porridge rice in milk, and you can add different toppings like cinnamon, luumukisseli, or sugar. Don’t forget to add a single peeled almond to the mix—a fun Finnish Christmas tradition.
3. Joulutorttu
What’s more festive than a star-shaped pastry? Joulutorttu is an easy treat to make (especially with ready-made puff pastry) and is guaranteed to please the whole family. If you want to try something different from the original plum recipe, experiment with different toppings or a savory version.
4. Joululaatikot
Potatoes, carrots, lanttu (swede), sweet potatoes, beetroot, or even liver (!) are often served as casseroles on the Finnish Christmas dinner. While some opt for ready-made options due to the time-consuming nature, if you’re willing to put in the extra effort for that homemade taste, here’s a good recipe for porkkanalaatiko, the most popular in Finnish Christmas tables.
5. Piparkakku
Probably every kid’s favorite item on the Finnish Christmas table. Even if your family has consumed many gingerbread cookies in the weeks before Christmas, don’t skip the fun of baking your own piparkakut and decorating them together with your children. Nowadays, ready-made dough products are available, but if you want to make them from scratch, here’s a good recipe.
6. Glögi
If there’s one thing that smells better than freshly baked gingerbread cookies, it’s glögi. The warm combination of cardamom, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and berry juice is a burst of flavors and scents. For adults, an alcoholic version made with red wine can be served—add raisins and almonds for an authentic experience. Easily make the spice mix at home or buy a ready-made glögi concentrate and add hot water.
7. Graavikala
Graved fish is not exclusively a delicacy served at Christmas in Finland; it’s available year-round. For Christmas, the tradition is to add a special touch to graavikala to make it more festive—think lingonberries, beetroot, or even cognac.
8. Smoked Salmon
Similar to graved fish, smoked salmon is another Finnish food consumed year-round but holds a special place at the Christmas table. Whether it’s kylmäsavustettu or lämminsavustettu, smoked salmon is a staple in most Finnish homes during Christmas dinner.
9. Rosolli
Rosolli, a cold salad served as a side dish, consists of diced root vegetables, especially beetroot and carrot, combined with pickled cucumber, onion, and apple. The colorful mix makes it a great addition to any Christmas table, often served with a creamy topping like kermaviili. Here’s a simple recipe to try this Christmas.
10. Joululimppu
Finnish Christmas is incomplete without rye bread, especially joululimppu—an aromatic version adorned with raisins and a hint of spices like anise and fennel seeds. A perfect addition to any Christmas table!
