Do you spend your December days staring at the rain and wonder, “What if there was a perfect, cozy, guaranteed white Christmas feeling right in my own kitchen?” Well, yes, obviously us too.
Maybe you didn’t know that you needed Finnish Christmas food in your life until this very moment, but we’re here to tell you that you do!
And that once you have it, it will take up residence in a tiny little nook of your heart and you will not charge it rent because you will just be so happy it’s there.
1. Lihapullat (Traditional Finnish Meatballs)
Hello, hi. We need to talk about meatballs. You’ve definitely had the Swedish kind, but these are a big deal all over the Nords and Baltics, too.
The Finnish style is pretty similar: just simple, seasoned, and served up with mashed potatoes and that amazing lingonberry jam.
I’m a big fan of using a beef and pork mix for a richer taste. You could try chicken or turkey if you want something leaner, but they’re just not quite as tasty, even with all the herbs and jam.
I swear, finding lingonberry jam is a quest (unless I’m at Ikea, obviously), so I usually just grab cranberries instead. They have that same great sweet-and-tart thing going on.
2. Honey Baked Ham
Okay, so in Finland, the big Christmas dinner happens on the 24th. And instead of turkey (which, let’s be real, is overrated), they go for a juicy, sticky-sweet honey-baked ham. Why not break tradition this year and try this?
Here’s the secret: you cook it in pineapple juice. The flavor infuses right into the meat, and the acidity helps keep it all so tender. Such a great trick. Orange juice works too, if that’s what you have.
3. Joulutorttu (Finnish Christmas Star Cookies)
I am just obsessed with these. If you ever get to visit Finland during the holidays, you’ll see why. It is a total winter wonderland, and these fruity, buttery pastry stars are worth the trip all by themselves.
The traditional filling is prune jam, but you totally don’t have to stick with that. Use whatever jam you have in the fridge! I think making a bunch of different flavors would be so fun and make the plate look extra colorful.
4. Finnish Spice Cake
You just have to have a spiced cake for a Christmas feast, right? Whether it’s a deep, dark, fruity one or something on the lighter side, it’s an essential.
This Finnish version is so wonderfully fluffy and gets its flavor from gingerbread spices.
You’ll need molasses for that signature depth. Honestly, the cake is so tender you could eat it plain. But… let’s be honest, a good drizzle of salted caramel sauce is always a win.
5. Glögi (Finnish Hot Wine)
Oh my gosh, Glögi. This stuff is SO popular in the Nordics. You’ll find it at pretty much every Christmas market stall.
It’s everything you want in a winter drink: warm, spiced, sweet, and just packed with flavor, like the mulled wine we know.
But the Finnish version has a special twist: blackcurrant juice. It adds this amazing deep berry flavor that will have you coming back for more.
I’m a fan of using Zinfandel for this, but a Merlot would be great too. You just want a wine that’s deep, flavorful, and has those fruity berry notes.
6. Rosolli (Finnish Beetroot Salad)
This salad is a classic! You’ll see some version of it on just about every European Christmas table. I’ve seen it in France, Germany, Sweden, and Finland. While they’re all a little different, the main ingredients are always there.
This one has the traditional beetroot, potatoes, and pickles, but also adds crisp apples and sweet carrots. You get to choose here: use either boiled or pickled beets.
I personally find the pickles add plenty of acidity, but if you’re like me and love things extra sharp, grab the jar of pickled beets.
7. Cardamom Bread (Finnish Pulla Wreath)
Cardamom. People definitely have strong feelings about this one, right? It’s got that unique piney, floral, and licorice-like flavor. I happen to be a big fan.
The Fins and Swedes love licorice, so you see cardamom in a ton of their treats. This wreath is super traditional.
Making the braids is surprisingly easy (it’s just three pieces), but I have to say, the little buns are so cute, especially with that sweet jam in the middle. Whichever style you pick, it’s a total win.
8. Piparkakut (Traditional Finnish Gingerbread Biscuits)
These are spiced, orange-infused ginger cookies that have a really lovely crunch. They’re a bit lighter and way less sticky than other gingerbread cookies I’ve had. But don’t let that fool you, they are SO tasty!
With cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and mixed citrus peel, these cookies have big flavor. They’ll definitely hold their own on any cookie plate.
A simple dusting of powdered sugar is perfect, but they also look just gorgeous with some fun royal icing designs.
9. Finnish Rice Porridge Recipe
Serving rice pudding at Christmas is a major tradition in Finland. There’s a fun game where they hide an almond in it, and whoever finds it in their bowl gets good luck for the next year! How fun is that?
While this is delicious all year, it’s such a lovely thing for a holiday table. This recipe is a little different because there’s no sugar in the pudding itself. That makes it pretty neutral and super easy to customize.
The best way to serve it is with a little butter and a good sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. YUM.
10. Kaalilaatikko (Cabbage Casserole)
I am a huge fan of cabbage, in all its forms. My favorite part is how versatile it is. Plus, you can feed a whole crowd of people for barely any money.
Because it’s pretty mild on its own, you definitely need to cook it with lots of yummy extras. This recipe calls for chicken stock, ground beef, and onions. It also uses rice to bulk it out even more.
Here’s a pro-tip: if you want to guarantee big flavor, swap the ground beef for sausage meat.