Finnish Christmas Recipes

Finnish Christmas recipes celebrate simple ingredients, comforting flavors, and long-held traditions. In this collection, I bring together some of my favorite Finnish Christmas dishes in one place. From savory classics to festive baked treats, each recipe highlights the warmth of the season. You can enjoy cooking, sharing, and celebrating with these dishes throughout the holidays.

Breads

Christmas breads are a delicious and essential part of the holiday table. They appear throughout the meal, complementing starters, mains, and festive spreads. Additionally, soft, tender loaves and crisp, crunchy breads bring warmth and texture. Along with their flavor, these traditional recipes add authentic character to every holiday gathering.

Finnish Archipelago Bread on a wooden cutting board, with several dark, moist slices cut and visible.

Finnish Archipelago Bread is a rich, syrup-sweetened rye loaf.

Crispy homemade seed crispbread stacked on a wooden board, showing their golden-brown color and rustic texture.

Crispy homemade seed crispbreads are packed with a mix of crunchy seeds, and baked golden.

Rustic no-knead bread in a basket, on a linen kitchen towel, filled with fresh homemade rolls.

Warm, golden No-knead bread rolls fresh from the oven. Crusty on the outside and soft inside, ideal for pairing with creamy sauces or soups.

Finnish Archipelago Bread: A soft, tender loaf with a slightly sweet flavor, perfect for holiday breakfasts or serving alongside starters. Read recipe →
Crispy Seed Crispbread: A crunchy Nordic classic topped with sesame, poppy, and sunflower seeds, ideal for snacking or with cheeses and spreads. Read recipe →
Rustic No-Knead Bread Rolls: Easy-to-make, golden rolls with a tender crumb, perfect for serving warm with fresh butter at the Christmas table. Read recipe →

Seafood Starters

Finnish seafood starters introduce the meal with fresh, flavorful bites. For example, egg salad and smoked or cured salmon highlight classic flavors and textures. Meanwhile, cucumber salad and Rosolli provide color and balance. Together, these dishes create a festive beginning and set the tone for the Christmas feast.

Traditional Finnish Isoäidin Salaatti served in a bowl with chopped egg on top, lettuce, and creamy dressing

Grandmom’s Salad – a creamy and classic Finnish egg salad, a beloved holiday starter.

Smoked salmon fillet on a serving plate, garnished with fresh dill and lemon wedges.

Hot-smoked Finnish salmon, beautifully served with lemon and dill.

Thinly sliced Finnish gravlax (graavilohi) in a clear glass bowl, garnished with fresh dill.

Delicate slices of homemade Finnish gravlax garnished with fresh dill, perfect for a festive appetizer or brunch.

Traditional Finnish pickled cucumbers with dill in a bowl with pickling liquid

Traditional Finnish pickled cucumbers. Crisp, tangy, and with fresh dill flavor. Perfect as a summer side!

Freshly cooked Finnish new potatoes in a pot, topped with chopped dill.

Finnish new potatoes with dill — just out of the pot, warm and ready for the table.

Mixed Finnish rosolli salad with diced beets, potatoes, carrots, apples, and pickles in a frosted bowl, served with creamy beet sauce on the side.

Festive mixed Finnish rosolli served in a frosted bowl with creamy beet sauce on the side, perfect for a Christmas table.

Egg Salad: A creamy, classic Finnish starter, perfect for Christmas. Read recipe →
Smoked Salmon: Thinly sliced and elegantly served for a festive spread. Read recipe →
Cured Salmon (Graavilohi): Traditional cured salmon, perfect for spreading on bread. Read recipe →
Cucumber Salad: Lightly pickled cucumber slices that add a refreshing crunch. Read recipe →
Boiled Potatoes: Simple, tender, and perfectly cooked to balance the flavors. Read recipe →
Rosolli Salad: A beetroot and vegetable salad, served as a starter and with the main course. Read recipe →
Dill and Horseradish Sauce: A creamy Finnish sauce that pairs beautifully with seafood. Read recipe →

Main Course

Classic Finnish Christmas mains take center stage at the holiday table. The tender, oven-roasted joulukinkku pairs beautifully with rich ham sauce and traditional salads. Moreover, these dishes combine savory flavors and comforting textures. As a result, they bring both tradition and celebration to every Christmas meal.

Sliced Finnish Christmas ham with mustard and breadcrumb crust, ready to serve

Ready baked Finnish Christmas ham with a golden mustard–breadcrumb crust, sliced and ready to serve.

Apple and Dijon-based Christmas ham sauce in a saucer.

Silky Finnish Christmas ham sauce made from pan juices, applesauce, cream, and Dijon mustard, served in a small saucer.

Creamy Finnish wild mushroom salad garnished with fresh parsley.

Traditional Finnish Wild Mushroom Salad made with salted wild mushrooms and cream, garnished with parsley.

Finnish Christmas Ham (Joulukinkku): The star of the Finnish Christmas table, this oven-roasted ham is tender, flavorful, and perfect for holiday celebrations. Read recipe →
Finnish Christmas Ham Sauce: A creamy, slightly sweet sauce made from the pan juices of the ham, ideal for drizzling over the joulukinkku. Read recipe →
Wild Mushroom Salad: A savory salad combining tender mushrooms and fresh herbs, adding earthy flavor to the main course spread. Read recipe →
Rosolli Salad: A vibrant beetroot and vegetable salad served alongside the Christmas ham, bringing color and refreshing flavor to the table. Read recipe →

Casseroles

Finnish Christmas casseroles are a beloved part of the holiday spread. Rutabaga, carrot, sweetened potato, and macaroni casseroles complement the mains while adding color and texture. Furthermore, they infuse the meal with festive flavor. Together, these recipes make the table feel complete and comforting.

Finnish Christmas Rutabaga Casserole (Lanttulaatikko) – golden baked casserole

A spoonful of Lanttulaatikko reveals the creamy, buttery interior beneath the golden breadcrumb topping — a classic Finnish Christmas favorite.

Close-up of a spoonful of Finnish carrot casserole showing its creamy, soft texture.

A spoonful of creamy Finnish carrot casserole, highlighting its soft and velvety texture.

Traditional Finnish sweetened potato casserole baked until golden brown in a ceramic dish.

A warm and cozy Finnish Christmas classic straight from the oven.

Baked Finnish macaroni casserole in a white ceramic dish with a golden, crispy top.

Baked Finnish macaroni casserole with a golden breadcrumb crust.

Rutabaga Casserole: Classic Finnish rutabaga baked with a hint of sweetness, perfect alongside Christmas ham. Read recipe →
Carrot Casserole: Tender carrots baked into a lightly sweet and aromatic casserole, a traditional family favorite. Read recipe →
Sweetened Potato Casserole: A subtly sweet casserole that adds comforting flavor to the holiday spread. Read recipe →
Classic Finnish Macaroni Casserole: A vegetarian macaroni casserole that’s always a hit on the Holiday table. Read recipe →

Baking & Desserts

Finnish Christmas sweets end the holiday meal on a delicious note. Gingerbread cookies, prune tarts, cinnamon rolls, and blueberry mini cakes offer warmth, sweetness, and festive cheer. In addition, mulled wine pairs perfectly with these treats. Finally, each recipe invites you to bake, share, and celebrate the season.

Glass of steaming red glögi, a traditional Finnish spiced drink made with cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves, served warm with raisins and almonds.

A glass of traditional warm Finnish Christmas drink, glögi, spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves, perfect for enjoying with holiday cookies.

Rustic Finnish gingerbread cookies decorated with white royal icing, arranged on a linen napkin with a cozy, homemade feel.

Crisp, buttery Finnish gingerbread cookies — simply decorated with white icing for a classic, rustic look. Perfect with coffee or a mug of hot glögi.

Two Finnish joulutortut on a green plate, one whole and one halved to reveal the tender pastry and smooth plum filling inside.

Two traditional Finnish joulutortut on a green plate, one halved to show the delicate pastry and creamy plum filling. Perfect for Christmas celebrations!

A pile of freshly baked Finnish cinnamon rolls, korvapuustit, arranged on a glass cake stand with candles around on a white tablecloth.

Freshly baked Finnish cinnamon rolls — korvapuustit — served on a glass dish, ready to enjoy with coffee or cold milk.

A blueberry mini cake on a glass plate, topped with a glossy blueberry glaze and surrounded by whipped cream, with fresh blueberries around the cake.

A Finnish mini layered blueberry cake with lemon curd and whipped cream.

Mulled Wine: A spiced, warming drink that sets the tone for a cozy Finnish Christmas celebration. Read recipe →
Gingerbread Cookies: Crisp, spiced cookies with a classic Finnish flavor, perfect for nibbling throughout the holidays. Read recipe →
Christmas Plum Tarts (Joulutortut): Tender half-moon-shaped pastries filled with lightly spiced prune filling, a beloved holiday classic. Read recipe →
Cinnamon Rolls: Soft, aromatic rolls that bring warmth and sweet flavor to any festive table. Read recipe →
Blueberry Mini Cakes (Mustikkaleivos) : Bite-sized fruity treats with tender pastry and fresh blueberry filling, perfect for a light dessert. Read recipe →

A Festive Note from Our Kitchen

Black Labrador Ella on a beach at sunrise, looking happy.

Together, these recipes bring the flavors, traditions, and warmth of a Finnish Christmas straight to your kitchen. As you prepare the breads, starters, mains, casseroles, and sweet treats, you can enjoy the festive aromas and the joy of sharing food with family and friends. Additionally, trying these dishes encourages you to explore new flavors and celebrate the season in a meaningful way. Finally, each recipe invites you to bake, cook, and savor the spirit of Christmas, making your holiday table truly special. From our kitchen, and with a little cheer from Ella, my beloved Labrador and kitchen companion, wishing you a joyful and delicious Holiday season!