The holiday season wouldn’t be complete without a classic array of Christmas desserts. Accompanying savory holiday meals with indulgent sweets is a tradition all over the world. From the German stollen to the American candy cane, the treats may differ, but the camaraderie they represent stays constant. In this post we describe some of the most popular holiday desserts from places across the globe, hopefully inspiring you to try something new and learn more about traditions elsewhere. If you’re passionate about holiday treats, consider carrying the theme into your decor with lighted candy canes.

The German Stollen

The stollen is closely associated with the city of Dresden in Germany, where it has been baked for centuries. Early records connect it to the 14th century, when the Bishop of Naumburg is said to have been presented with Christmas stollen by local bakers. The stollen is a fruit bread often containing raisins and other dried fruits, topped with powdered sugar. The stollen holds great symbolic meaning: its long, narrow shape is said to represent the baby Jesus swaddled in a blanket. It quickly became a holiday staple in Dresden.

The New Zealand/Australian Pavlova

The pavlova is a meringue shell topped with whipped cream and fruit. The meringue consistency is crucial to the success of this dish because it acts as its foundation. This light and airy dessert is a staple in both New Zealand and Australia, where it is a summertime Christmas favorite. In a friendly rivalry, the two countries both claim credit for creating the pavlova. The dessert was named for the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, who toured New Zealand and Australia in 1926. New Zealand traces the pavlova’s origin to a hotel kitchen in Wellington, where its shape was said to be inspired by Pavlova’s tutu. Australian tradition holds that the dessert was created in Perth and named after the ballerina because it was as light as her dancing.

The Italian Panettone

The panettone is a Christmas bread that gained popularity in Milan, Italy. Known for its light and buttery consistency, panettone is often filled with raisins and candied fruit. The name is generally traced to the Italian word panetto, meaning a small loaf. Sweet breads of this kind have a long history in Italy, and in 1919 a Milanese baker named Angelo Motta began producing panettone in the tall, domed shape it still sports today. Since then, the panettone has become an Italian holiday staple, enjoyed for both breakfast and dessert.

The American Candy Cane

Arguably one of the most popular holiday treats in America today, candy canes have a much-told origin legend set in Cologne, Germany. As the story goes, in 1670 a choirmaster handed out sticks of sugar to keep young singers quiet during a long ceremony, bending them to resemble a shepherd’s crook. In the U.S., a German immigrant in Wooster, Ohio, is credited with decorating a Christmas tree with candy canes in 1847. Early candy canes were all white; red stripes and peppermint flavoring became common around the turn of the 20th century, and in the 1950s machines were developed to automate their production, making them the affordable holiday treat we know today. Keeping with tradition, try using candy canes to decorate your tree, or use lighted candy canes to decorate your yard for the holiday seasons to come.