What are you having for Christmas this year? The staple Christmas ham and gingerbread cookies? Those are all well and good but why not change your menu up a little? Take a page out of the Belgian's culinary book and serve some Cougnou bread for starters. Then go for some scrumptious seafood for your main dish. And for dessert, a slice of a rich and chocolatey Yule Log! These are just some Belgian Christmas food that will have you craving more. Even when it's not Christmas! Moreover, they prove that Belgian cuisine can go head-to-head with other more popular cuisines out there.
Speculoos
Let's start this list with what has become one of the most famous Belgian treats in the world: Speculoos cookies. Thanks to a certain spread called 'Cookie Butter,' the rest of the world has gotten familiar with the spiced-up sweetness of Speculoos. However, the real thing is much more scrumptious. It's made with flour, sugar, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, cloves, ginger, and cardamom, making for quite a complex sweetness. And here in Belgium, they usually bake and eat the cookie on or before Sint Niklaas Day on December 6th. It's one of the more unique and highly anticipated
holidays in Belgium.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Kimberly Vardeman
Cougnou Bread
While most people fuss over what to serve on Christmas Eve and the night of Christmas Day, there's still the morning of December 25th to think about. Arguably, it's the happiest time of the holiday, when everyone gives out warm greetings, opens presents, and welcomes the special day with a smile. Naturally, the breakfast served at this time is also important. And for Belgians, it's all about the Cougnou Bread. It's a soft and fluffy sweet bread baked in the shape of Baby Jesus. Paired with butter, cream, jam, as well as hot chocolate or coffee, it's the perfect treat to start Christmas Day right.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Seafood
Now, what about the main course for Christmas dinner? What do the Belgians usually serve for this? Well, just like in other countries, the people in Belgium serve seafood for the holiday. The staples include mussels, cod, monkfish, scallops, trout, eel, and herring. It's a mix of both saltwater and freshwater delicacies. They're all in season, after all, and Belgian seafood is just as sumptuous as those in the Mediterranean. And when paired with potatoes, either boiled or mashed, they become even more flavorful. You couldn't have asked for a more delicious Christmas than that!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Yule Log
Frankly speaking, the Yule Log isn't exactly exclusive to the Belgians. It didn't even originate in Belgium too. Other countries also serve this famous Christmas cake and have incorporated their own unique, local flavors into it. And truth be told, there are other
Belgian desserts that are even better, whether served during the holidays or not. So why is the Yule Log still on this list? Simple: it's extremely popular in Belgium! Apart from Belgian chocolates and waffles, the Yule Log is the country's dessert of choice every Christmas. You can't celebrate the holiday without it here in Belgium!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Mulled Wine
With all this delicious food on offer, the drink better be on par, right? And mulled wine is exactly that! Called '
glühwein' in German or '
vin chaud' in French, it's a holiday staple in Belgian and other European Christmas menus. It's a particularly popular treat in various
Christmas markets in Europe. compared to the usually chilled wine, this warm version gently dilutes the alcohol, allowing for the natural flavors to pop out. And when served with orange slices, it becomes an even zestier beverage. Mulled wine is perfect for warming you up when the weather gets a little too cold for your taste.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
If you're still not sure what to serve your loved ones this holiday season, consider preparing some Belgian Christmas food instead. You'd be surprised at just how delicious and fulfilling Belgium's traditional holiday cuisine truly is!
