Every December, like clockwork, the world collectively decides it’s time to eat cake again—proper cake, proud cake, cake that isn’t pretending to be something it’s not. And while fairy lights come and go, and someone inevitably burns the pigs in blankets, one Christmas tradition has somehow survived centuries of chaos: the humble, wildly misunderstood Christmas cake.

People are often surprised by how varied Christmas cakes are around the world. Not everything is a dense British fruitcake that could double as a paperweight. Some nations go flaky and buttery; others go boozy and bold; some go almondy and elegant. But wherever you look, there’s always a story. A cake is never just a cake at Christmas—it’s heritage, superstition, pride, and in some cases… an excuse to soak fruit in alcohol for half a year.

Below are ten of my favourite traditional Christmas cakes from around the globe—each with its own quirks, flavours, and festive charm. No listicle vibes here; just pure cake joy.

1. Galette des Rois — France

The French don’t do things by halves. Their “King’s Cake”, eaten on Epiphany, is a glorious puff-pastry masterpiece filled with sweet almond frangipane. Crisp, golden layers on the outside; buttery marzipan-kissed softness on the inside. Traditionally, a tiny charm is hidden within—find it in your slice, and you’re crowned roy(al) for the day. Try explaining that to British relatives without starting an argument.

2. Jamaican Rum Cake — Jamaica

If Christmas had a smelling-salts equivalent, it would be Jamaican rum cake. Dark, fragrant, unapologetically boozy, and packed with spices, raisins, currants, and prunes soaked in rum. Sometimes for months. Sometimes for years. It’s rich, deep, and wonderfully alive—a cake with a pulse.

3. Black Forest Cherry Cake — Germany

Germany’s beloved Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte is Christmas romance in cake form: dark chocolate sponge, wild cherries, clouds of cream, and that signature snowfall of chocolate flakes. It’s indulgence without pretence, and honestly, I’ve never met a slice I didn’t like. We even make our own Black Forest cake, because some things are simply too iconic not to honour.

4. Panettone — Italy

Italy brings us the skyscraper of Christmas baking: Panettone. Feather-light, ridiculously fluffy, dotted with raisins and candied citrus. You tear it apart with your hands and eat it standing up in the kitchen—trust me, that’s the correct way. Toast it the next day, slather it in butter, and suddenly Christmas feels like a lifestyle.

5. Revani — Turkey

Revani has been loved since Ottoman times—a semolina cake drenched in fragrant lemony syrup. Light, bright, softly spongy and never too sweet. It’s the kind of cake you could eat after a massive Christmas feast and still convince yourself it was “just a little something”.

6. Mochi — Japan

Japan’s Christmas treat is less cake and more soft, chewy nostalgia. Mochi is made from glutinous rice pounded into a smooth, elastic dough that can be shaped, filled, dusted with sugar, or coated in cocoa. Festive, fun, and unexpectedly calming to eat—like a tiny edible stress ball.

7. Allahabadi Cake — India

India’s take on Christmas is colourful, aromatic, and deeply comforting. This cake is packed with ghee, dried fruits soaked in rum, candied ash gourd (petha), warm spices, fennel seeds and that unmistakably Indian festive spirit. The flavour is rich, fragrant, and joyfully different.

8. Tarta de Santiago — Spain

A simple, almond-rich beauty from Galicia. No flour, no fuss—just ground almonds, citrus, sugar and eggs baked into a fragrant, tender cake. Finished with the iconic cross of St. James dusted on top with icing sugar. Proof that a cake can be both austere and completely irresistible.

9. Dundee Cake — United Kingdom

Our very own Scottish queen of fruit cakes. Light, orangey, studded with almonds, and just boozy enough to feel celebratory. Dundee cake is dignified and delicious—the reserved cousin of the flamboyant fully-soaked Christmas fruitcake. It’s tradition at its gentlest.

10. Pandoro — Italy

The golden star of Verona. Pandoro is soft, silky, gently sweet, dusted in icing sugar like a snowy Alpine roof. Tear it open and it releases the warm vanilla scent of childhood Christmas mornings. If Panettone is the party guest, Pandoro is the elegant friend who arrives in cashmere.

Celebrating Christmas the Delicious Way

Wherever you are in the world, Christmas cakes carry stories—of families, rituals, tiny kitchen triumphs, and generations passing on recipes scribbled on faded paper. Whether you prefer something boozy, buttery, almondy or chocolatey, there’s a Christmas cake out there waiting to be part of your own traditions.

If you’d rather leave the baking to someone who does it for a living (and absolutely loves it), our Christmas cake collection is made fresh to order and ready to give your festive table a little extra sparkle.

Love, Reshmi xoxo

Celebrate joyfully this season with one of our handcrafted Christmas cakes—freshly baked and ready for your table.