If I am completely honest, I don’t go to the Christmas markets for the shopping. And while yes, I may find a cool item or two to gift, or a beautiful decoration for our home, essentially I go to any market for the food. Oh, how I love the Christmas market treats! Crisp apple doughnuts, creamy raclette, washed down with a warm drink, set under the magical setting of Christmas lights, an indulgence I look forward to all year. But what to do when all your favourite Christmas markets have either been cancelled or have moved online? It’s time to think outside the box and channel my 2020 motto “be creative and be flexible”: So clean up that kitchen, and let’s start cooking!
I have scoured the internet high and low to find recipes from fellow Swiss content creators, and have collated them all in one blog post to help you bring the Swiss Christmas market vibe into your own home. Think of this as your one-stop, DIY Christmas market stop! All that is missing is an annual “Christmas-at-home” collectors mug ;-).
1. Öpfelchüchli
These are my very very very favourite Christmas market treat, so much so, that I have had made the rule only to enjoy them in December, otherwise I would be indulging all year long. What is not to love? Perfectly steamed apple slices thanks to the deep-fried crunchy golden batter, and dusted with a generous sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. The traditional way to serve is with a spoon full of hot vanilla custard, but I prefer them on their own. Or if I break my rule and enjoy them in a restaurant, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- I didn’t find an English recipe for my favourite treat (must try to make it myself) but you can use google translate for this german recipe.
- Look out for Öpfelchüchli at your local restaurant or sometimes sold in the freezer section of your local supermarket
2. Raclette
My husband is raclette obsessed, and while we have raclette at home almost weekly, he will still head straight to the raclette stand at a Christmas market. There is something special watching the half a wheel of raclette bubbling under the specially designed heating element and then scraped over potatoes or bread. But you don’t need any fancy equipment to enjoy raclette at home. Just pop a slice of raclette on a piece of bread (or some pre-boiled potatoes) and pop it under the grill. If you want to go all out with your raclette obsession, why not spoil yourself with half a wheel and a heating element just like at the market. Although, I will though stick to my oven and our personal raclette oven.
3. Glühwein and co
What is a Christmas market without needing the excuse to grab a warm drink to warm up your icy hands? Glühwein is, of course, is most widely found, (you can find a great recipe here) but there are warm drinks to consider for your “at home” Christmas market. I love a sweet orange punch (no alcohol), as well as any coffee drink that adds a bit of something special like schnapps or baileys.
- Swiss Winter Warming Drinks
- Shona’s Glühwein Recipe
- Just add boiling water to this Orange Punsch sirup from the store
- Maybe make an Egg liquor or buy a local Eierkirsch
4. Magenbrot, Gebrannte Madeln, Rahmtafeli & Co
Your typical sweet treats that found year-round at markets all over the country also have a home at a Swiss Christmas market. And lucky for us all, they are easily made at home. You’ve got your chocolate covered gingerbread called Magenbrot, your sugar roasted almonds called Gebranntne Mandlen and your melt in your mouth caramels Rahmtafeli.
- Magenbrot recipe from Helvetic Kitchen
- Cusine Helvetica has added to the traditional Rahmtäfli some peppermint
- Helvetic Kitchen also has a recipe for Gebrannte Mandlen
- Sprüngli sells amazing cinnamon coated almonds too
5. Gingerbread
You will find gingerbread in all it’s forms this time of year, from cookies to more cake-like slices. But my VERY favourite way to enjoy gingerbread is in its cake form, a speciality from Luzern. Slice it, warm it up even and then slather it with butter, or better yet, double cream. Oh my, I am hungry just thinking about it. You can make your own (see recipe below) or keep your eye out for them in your local Migros or bakery.
6. Grittibänz doughnuts
Whenever we visit the Einsiedeln Christmas market, no matter how long the line is, I always will line up for a Grittibänz Berliner doughnut. I am not sure what it is I love about it, perhaps its the freshness, they make them right in front of you, or maybe its the unique shape, but it’s not Christmas for me without one! A Grittibänz Berliner is probably the most challenging to recreate at home, but I am willing to give it a go. I am going to start with the recipe below for Berliners from Fooby and then take my own tips with how to shape them. Lucky hubby made a batch of strawberry Gelee (its jam without the bits) that would be a perfect filling! Wish me luck
- A Fooby recipe for Berliners
- How to shape a Grittibanz
7. Crepes
No need to stand in the long line in front of the crepe stand this year, because we are going to make them at home! My sweet-crepe of choice will always be cinnamon and sugar, but my kids prefer, of course, Nutella. The bonus of making them myself? I can be generous with the filling or go for a second round with perhaps melted raclette cheese and ham!
Making crepes at home is simple, but owning a large non-stick flat pan will make things a little easier. But there is no need to go out and buy a new pan. Use what you got; it just needs to be non-stick.
- Fooby has a simple crepe recipe to start you off
8. Sausages
No Swiss event would be, well Swiss, if there weren’t a sausage stand or two. Lucky for us, this traditional market food is probably the easiest to recreate at home. Simply, cook a St. Gallen Bratwurst or Cervelat over a hot pan or grill and serve with a crispy roll or slice of bread (usually a loaf like a Halb-Weiss bread).
But a word of advice, not all sausages are created equally, so why not support your local butcher and buy one of their more artisan sausages that taste in my opinion way better than those that come vacuum-packed at the supermarket.
9. Chestnuts
Glühwein isn’t the only thing I buy at a Christmas market to warm up my cold hands, a packed of roasted chestnuts can do the trick just as well. While we don’t have to move this one market treat “home” entirely, you will find chestnuts stands in many cities despite covid, knowing how to roast chestnuts is an excellent skill to have.
Firstly find chestnuts at the supermarket, located usually around the mandarins this time of year. At home firstly soak them for an hour in cold water before carefully make a small cross insession into the shell with a sharp knife. Pop on an ovenproof tray and roast at 250C for about 30 minutes, shaking them once in a while. To keep them moist, you can sit a cup of water alongside the tray for half of the roasting time. I am going to try them on an open fire this year and will report back!
10. Fischknusperli
I don’t know if it is because we live near a lake, but even at our local Christmas market in Zug, you will find the local fisherman (often my husband’s 3rd cousin) selling their catch battered. Swiss battered fish is a little lighter than the English version, and the size of the filets are smaller too thanks to using the local lake fish such as Egli.
- Here is a starting point for your Fisch Knusperli recipe
Now tell me, what is your must-have Christmas Market treat? Do you have a version you can make at home?
