Try These Global Holiday Food Traditions in Minneapolis
Given the rich international diversity of Minneapolis’ vibrant food culture, it will come as no surprise that the holiday season brings a global buffet of time-honored food traditions to local restaurants, markets, delis, and shops. Here, we offer a taste of some of the most popular holiday food traditions in Minneapolis, from Scandinavian sweets to Ethiopian stews to Central American tamales. Get ready to feast, festively!
Bûche De Noël or Yule Log Cake (France)
This French Christmas staple harkens to an ancient tradition of burning a large log in the hearth of the home around the Winter Solstice by bringing a delicious log-shaped, rolled sponge cake to the holiday table. Patrick’s Bakery & Café on Lyndale offers several varieties of Bûche De Noël every year, including Coeur de Neige (vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream and raspberry jam) and Mocha (vanilla cake with coffee buttercream, coffee syrup, and a flourless chocolate cake center). Southwest Minneapolis’s celebrated French bakery Patisserie 46 offers a chic and modern spin on the Bûche De Noël every year—past flavors include vanilla cream with raspberry and chocolate on a flourless biscuit, chocolate and marmalade, and chocolate with vanilla caramel and caramel crémeux.
Rosca de Reyes (Mexico)
This traditional oval-shaped Mexican sweet yeast bread is studded with candied fruit and decorative sugar to symbolize the crowns of the three wise men who arrived in Bethlehem twelve days after Christmas—a day known as Día de Reyes, Kings’ Day, or Epiphany. A small plastic baby is hidden inside, and according to tradition whoever finds the baby in their slice has to host a tamale fiesta for the crowd on February 2nd, known as Día de la Candelaria. To sweeten the tradition of this Christmas treat even more, Rosca de Reyes is often served with Champurrando, a thick Mexican hot chocolate with masa and plenty of cinnamon. You can typically find Rosca de Reyes in Minneapolis at La Mexicana Supermercado, Panaderia El Mexicano inside Mercado Central, and Durango Bakery.
Kanelbullar or Swedish Cinnamon Buns (Sweden)
Head to FIKA Cafe at the American Swedish Institute for a wide selection of Swedish Christmas treats—think Kanelbullar (Swedish cinnamon buns), cardamom buns and bread, and more than a half-dozen varieties of traditional Swedish Christmas cookies from Kokostoppar and Pepparkakor to Chokladbollar and Mandelflarn. You can also stock up on loaves of Fika’s housemade danish rye for your own Swedish-style open-faced sandwiches.
Yebeg Wot (Ethiopia)
This rich berbere-spiced lamb stew is a common sight on the Ethiopian Christmas dinner table—typically served with a vibrant spread of lentil stews, vegetable curries, and salads atop communal platters of tangy injera flatbread. For many Ethiopians, the days before Christmas are spent fasting (without dairy or meat) so the main event often highlights lamb, chicken, and/or beef dishes. Enjoy Yebeg Wot and other savory Ethiopian dishes at Dilla Ethiopian on Riverside Avenue, Katar Restaurant on Minnehaha Avenue, or The Red Sea on Cedar Avenue.
Panettone and Pandoro (Italy)
Whether you prefer the buttery star-shaped Veronese pandoro or the raisin and candied fruit-studded Milanese panettone, his duo of Christmas cakes will bring a taste of Italy to your holidays. Head to Broders’ Cucina Italiana in Southwest Minneapolis for a wide variety of Italian holiday treats—perfect for gifting—from panettone and pandoro to tiramisu caramels and fine vinegars and oils for the foodie in your life.
Mince Pie (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
These small spiced fruit tartlets are a common festive treat throughout the UK in December—so common, in fact, that nearly 800 million are eaten throughout the region every year. Nana Tay Tay’s Pies (operating out of Merlins Rest Pub on Lake Street) offers classic mince pies made with Makers 46 bourbon, raisins, currants, ginger, apricots, cherries, and spices—as well as a gluten-free version so everyone can celebrate.
Hanukkah Treats
When it comes to food, Hanukkah is all about enjoying fried delights including sufganiyot (sugared jelly doughnuts) and latkes (fried potato pancakes). Bogarts Doughnut Co and Glam Doll Donuts will both be selling their versions of sufaniyot for a limited time this season. Get them quick before they sell out! Yum! Kitchen and Bakery—which offers matzah ball soup and challah year round—will offer fresh latkes and sugar cookies decorated for Hanukkah.
Eggnog (England and Beyond)
This ubiquitous wintertime drink—typically a combination of milk and/or cream, eggs, sugar, and spices, often with a splash or two of rum, brandy, or bourbon—can be enjoyed in many different ways in Minneapolis. Sebastian Joe’s scoops eggnog ice cream as fall gets chillier, Caribou Coffee can sweeten your cold brew with eggnog cold foam, Sift Gluten Free will be offering celiac-friendly eggnog cupcakes for holiday pre-orders, and Cardigan Donuts and Glam Doll Donuts have been known to fry up eggnog-filled bismarks and eggnog crullers, respectively. To lean into the boozier side of the holiday tradition, pop into Hola Arepa for an Horchata Eggnog cocktail made with rice and coconut milk with plenty of festive spices.
Eastern European Snacks and Treats (Ukraine, Poland, and Beyond)
Northeast Minneapolis favorite Kramarczuk's Deli transforms into a winter wonderland around the holidays, featuring Eastern European Christmas specials of all kinds—seasonal sweet cheese pierogi by the dozen, pfeffernusse cookies, plus a giftable selection of imported chocolates, marzipan fruits, and other edible delights.
Risalamande (Denmark)
This creamy Danish almond rice pudding is traditionally served with a warm cherry sauce at Christmas dinner and julefrokost (Christmas lunch). For the past few years, North Loop restaurant Borough has served a full Danish Christmas dinner for takeout, complete with pickled herring, holiday cookies, glögg (mulled wine), Medisterpølse sausage, duck leg confit, braised cabbage, and, of course, risalamande for dessert.
Tamales (Mexico and Central America)
For millennia, maize/corn has been considered the substance of life in Mesoamerica—and perhaps no tradition celebrates that essential ingredient like tamale making parties (known as tamaladas) that often take place around Christmas and other celebratory seasons. Find tamales in Minneapolis at Cafeteria La Loma inside Mercado Central, Maya Cuisine in Northeast Minneapolis, Andale Taqueria in Richfield, and El Burrito Mercado in St. Paul. You can also find hallacas, the Venezuelan take on celebratory tamales featuring a wrapper of smoked plantain leaves, at Arepa Bar.
Lefse or Soft Potato Flatbread (Norway)
Norwegian-style lefse, a traditional, pliable flatbread made with potatoes and flour, leans into the near-universal seasonal affection for carby, satisfying foods when the temperatures drop. Ingebretsen's Scandinavian Gifts & Foods on Lake Street is quite popular for their housemade lefse, Swedish sausage, and other Scandinavian holiday staples. Heading to the cozy shop in December is a Christmas tradition for many local families (read: prepare for a line out the door). They even offer lefse cooking classes in conjunction with Norway House every winter!
Stollen (Germany)
Stollen, a delightful yeasted bread studded with dried and candied fruits, nuts, and spices and coated in a generous blanket of powdered sugar, is a German Christmas tradition dating back to the 15th century. Aki’s BreadHaus on Central Avenue in Northeast Minneapolis offers a variety of German-style holiday treats every winter. Take note: they’re only open on Wednesdays and Saturdays and sell out quickly, so arrive early for the best selection. You can also find stollen seasonally at Patisserie 46 and Kramarczuk’s.
Peppermint and Candy Cane Treats
Sure, peppermint may not be tied to one specific place or food culture, but we’d be remiss not to mention ways to enjoy this classic holiday flavor. In years past, Bellecour Bakery has baked up flaky Milk Chocolate Peppermint Croissants topped with candy cane pieces, Sebastian Joe’s scooped candy cane ice cream, Cardigan Donuts offered chocolate peppermint donuts, and it’s a pretty safe bet that you can enjoy a peppermint mocha at nearly every coffee shop around town.
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