Swedish Christmas Food to Explore This Holiday Season!

Looking to explore Swedish Christmas food that’s full of tradition and charm? Sweden has always captured the essence of cozy Christmas celebrations—just look at their enchanting Christmas traditions and charming villages! It’s impossible not to feel the holiday spirit when you see how beautifully they embrace the season. 

And, of course, their Christmas cuisine is nothing short of spectacular. That’s why I’ve put together a listicle showcasing the best Swedish Christmas food recipes you should definitely explore this holiday season!

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Swedish Meatballs

Let’s kick things off with some appetizers—these savory Swedish meatballs are a must-try! With their perfect blend of spices and a rich, creamy sauce, they’re sure to be a hit at any holiday table – trust me! 

Swedish Meatballs

Extra soft, extra juicy, extra tasty Swedish Meatballs with two little tips that make all the difference. Smothered in an epic gravy for Swedish Meatballs!

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Swedish Beetroot Salad (Rödbetsallad)

Time for some salad, and I’m absolutely in love with the vibrant color of this Swedish beetroot salad! The combination of pickled beets and crisp apples in a creamy dressing makes it a standout side that’s as delicious as it is stunning!     

Swedish Beetroot Salad – Rödbetssallad

Swedish Beetroot salad – Rödbetssallad is a classic side dish with diced pickled beets and apple in a savory, creamy dressing.

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Traditional Toast Skagen (Swedish Shrimp Toasts)

Looking to add some seafood to your menu? Try these Swedish shrimp toasts—they’re topped with a creamy shrimp salad and a hint of caviar (yum!), making them an irresistible and elegant appetizer!

Traditional Toast Skagen (Swedish Shrimp Toasts)

Traditional Toast Skagen (Swedish Shrimp Toasts) is a classic Scandinavian appetizer for good reason. Creamy shrimp salad (skagenröra) is spooned on top!

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Vegan Mushroom Pâté

Looking for something new and healthy to add to your menu? This vegan mushroom pâté is not only delicious but also perfect for impressing your guests with a fresh and flavorful option!

Vegan mushroom pâté recipe

Prepare these vegan pâté and candied walnut canapés ahead of time. When the party starts, all you need to do is plate them up!

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Swedish Christmas Ham (Julskinka)

No Christmas menu feels complete without a delicious ham! This classic dish, whether served cold or warm, adds a festive touch that makes any holiday spread truly special.

Here’s How to Make a Traditional Swedish Christmas Ham

This Swedish ham (or Julskinka) recipe is traditional to put on the table during Christmas. It’s often served cold on the Christmas buffet.

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Christmas Gravlax with Dill, Treacle & Cumin

Wow, the flavors of this gravlax are simply heavenly! The combination of dill, treacle, and cumin creates a truly unique and festive taste that’s perfect for your Christmas spread. 

Christmas Gravlax with Dill, Treacle & Cumin

This is a wonderful version of the traditional Swedish gravlax. It is raw salmon cured with salt, sugar and dill in the traditional way, but we also use cumin and treacle in the mix. This gives it a sensational flavour that we think makes it extra Christmassy. Serve with a green salad and traditional dill sauce or simply with a squeeze of lemon. Just the job for Christmas dinner.

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Jansson’s Temptation (Janssons Frestelse)

If you know me, you know how much I enjoy crunchy textures, so when I saw this recipe, I had to give it a try right away! The creamy and crispy layers with anchovies create a deliciously unexpected twist that’s perfect for my taste buds! Definitely a must-try!

Jansson’s Temptation (Janssons Frestelse)

Who Jansson is, we may never know, but this meal is an absolute must on a cold and frigid evening. The anchovies may seem an odd ingredient in what is basically potatoes au gratin, but when they combine with cream and onions, they’ll tempt anyone!

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Smorgastarta Sandwich Cake

No Swedish holiday celebration feels complete without this fantastic sandwich cake! It’s beyond amazing, with layers of savory fillings that make it a standout dish every time.I completely understand why smorgastarta is such a traditional staple! 

Easy Sandwich Cake (Swedish Smorgastarta)

This delicious Swedish Smörgåstårta Sandwich Cake makes a wonderful appetizer for your next party! This recipe is so easy and quick to make.

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The Best Oven Baked Country Style Pork Ribs

These slow-baked ribs are cooked at a low temperature to achieve fall-apart tenderness and deep flavor. With minimal effort, they make a hearty and satisfying addition to any festive table.

The Best Oven Baked Country Style Pork Ribs

Just like smoking, baking country-style ribs works best with a low and slow method. These ribs have a lot of internal connective tissue, similar to a whole pork butt, so cooking them at a low temperature over a longer period is key to getting that fork tender, fall-apart texture.

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Swedish Sausage Stroganoff

This creamy sausage stroganoff is a quick and easy dish, perfect for busy weekdays or cozy evenings. Made with pantry staples, it’s a comforting meal that comes together in under an hour.

Swedish Sausage Stroganoff

This Swedish sausage stroganoff is one of my most popular recipes. It’s also one of the simplest. If you are looking for a quick, weekday meal that will please the whole family, look no further. Made with cupboard staples, it is easily adaptable, and takes less than an hour to get it on the table.

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Stekt Strömming

Crispy fried herring is a hearty Swedish classic, often paired with mashed potatoes, pickled cucumbers, and lingonberry jam. It’s a traditional dish with a balance of savory, tangy, and sweet flavors.

Stekt Strömming

A hearty Swedish dish of crispy fried herring, often served with mashed potatoes, pickled cucumber and lingonberry jam.

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Swedish Beef Stew (Kalops)

This slow-cooked Swedish beef stew is infused with warm spices like allspice and bay leaves, creating a rich and comforting dish. It’s perfect for cooler months and showcases the simplicity of traditional Swedish flavors.

Swedish Beef Stew (Kalops)

A classic Swedish dish for cooler months, Kalops (or Swedish Beef Stew) is proof that you don’t need tons of ingredients to make a delicious serving of comfort food. Try and judge for yourself!

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Rødkål (Braised Red Cabbage)

Braised red cabbage offers a perfect mix of sweetness and tanginess, complemented by apple and warm spices. It’s a vibrant and flavorful side dish that pairs beautifully with roasted meats.

Rødkål (Braised Red Cabbage)

This braised red cabbage is a beautiful red and purple color and it tastes super fresh and delicious! Serve alongside a meaty main dish and it provides the perfect balance.

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Swedish Crispbread (Rye Seed Crackers)

These crisp and nutty rye seed crackers are simple to make and packed with healthy ingredients. A versatile snack, they’re perfect with butter, cheese, or as part of a smörgåsbord.

Swedish crispbread (rye seed crackers)

These Swedish crispbread are really easy to make and packed with good-for-you ingredients as well. You’ll find variations of these rye seed crackers across Scandinavia as a crunchy snack or part of lunch.

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Potato Gratin

This creamy and golden potato gratin is a timeless Swedish classic, perfect when served fresh out of the oven. Its rich, buttery layers make it a comforting and indulgent side dish.

Potato gratin

Potatisgratäng (potato gratin) was fashionable in restaurants in the 1970s, but was often a bit of a gooey mess because it had been hanging around for too long. It really is worth revisiting, because when homemade and straight from the oven it is a great classic.

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Fyllda Ägghalvor (Filled Egg Halves)

These Swedish deviled eggs are a creamy, tangy appetizer made with yolks mixed with mayo, cream, and mustard. They’re a staple of Swedish smörgåsbord and a hit at any holiday gathering.

Fyllda ägghalvor (filled egg halves)

Fyllda Ägghalvor, or filled egg halves, are more commonly known to us as deviled eggs. They’re an integral part of any Swedish smörgåsbord and the ultimate party food. If you like eggs, of course. The yolk is scooped out of hardboiled eggs & mixed with cream, mayo and/or mustard before going back in – it’s that simple.

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Swedish Jellied Veal (Kalvsylta)

This delicate and savory jellied veal dish is surprisingly easy to make, similar to preparing a broth. It’s a traditional Swedish delicacy that’s perfect for holiday platters.

Swedish Jellied Veal (Kalvsylta)

This is a terribly easy recipe. If you can make chicken broth, you can make Jellied Veal!

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Brunkål (Swedish Brown Cabbage)

This Southern Swedish specialty is a sweet and savory cabbage stew that melts in your mouth. Traditionally served at Christmas, it’s a flavorful and comforting side dish.

Brunkål-Swedish brown cabbage

This yummy cabbage stew is traditional in Southern Sweden -in Skåne, especially at the Christmas table. It is sweet, flavorsome, and melts in your mouth.

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Swedish Herring Salad (Sillsallad)

This colorful salad combines pickled herring, beets, potatoes, and other veggies for a tangy and savory dish. It’s a festive and flavorful addition to any holiday meal.

Swedish Herring Salad, AKA Sillsallad

Sillsallad translates from Swedish as Herring salad. It is considered to be the ancestor of the Soviet Herring Under a Fur Coat.

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Apple, Celery, and Walnut Salad

This refreshing salad balances the crunch of celery and walnuts with the sweetness of apples. It’s an excellent accompaniment to rich meats like venison, pheasant, or pork.

Apple, celery and walnut salad

Swedes often serve salads with hot food. The most famous example is pressgurka (pressed cucumber) and rårörda lingon (lingoberry sauce) with köttbullar (meatballs), but there are many other examples. This particular salad goes very well with venison, pheasant and pork.

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Risgrynsgröt (Swedish Christmas Rice Porridge)

This creamy rice porridge is a beloved Swedish Christmas tradition, often baked in the oven for a rich, comforting texture. It’s served warm and sometimes hides a single almond for a fun holiday surprise.

Risgrynsgröt—Swedish Christmas rice porridge

Once she’s added the milk, my Mum usually lets the porridge cook in the oven instead of on the stove. Do it however you please—the result will be delicious.

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Traditional Swedish Sourdough Wort Bread

There’s always room for bread, and this Swedish sourdough wort bread is a fantastic addition to your menu! It has a unique and subtly sweet flavor that pairs perfectly with any holiday spread.

Traditional Swedish sourdough wort bread

Wort bread is a traditional Swedish Christmas bread. It’s loaded with tastes from spices, wort, and sourdough. It tastes Christmas.

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Cinnamon Buns

There’s no traditional Swedish dinner without cinnamon buns! Don’t you agree?

Delicious Swedish cinnamon buns

Do you need an excuse for devouring another cinnamon bun? Don’t worry. Science comes to the rescue.

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Swedish Saffron Cake (Saffranskaka)

One of my favorites has to be this saffron cake! Just look at how stunning it is, and I can already tell it’s going to be a hit with fellow cake lovers like me!

Swedish Saffron Cake (Saffranskaka)

A no-fuss saffron dessert for the holidays! Swedish Saffron Cake (Saffranskaka) is a moist and deliciously soft cake that tastes even better the day after (if there’s any left). Great for breakfast, snack or dessert!

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Swedish Gingerbread Cookies (Pepparkakor)

No better way to wrap this up than with these Swedish gingerbread cookies! They’re sure to make your menu more festive and sweet, adding that amazing Christmas spirit and holiday touch.

Swedish Gingerbread Cookies (Pepparkakor)

Create a Christmas tradition with Swedish gingerbread cookies, Pepparkakor. A hint of orange flavor make them extra ordinary delicious.

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Swedish Christmas Buns with Saffron and Raisins

Craving sweet dough? Then these Swedish Christmas buns are one wonderful idea to bake!

Swedish Christmas Buns with Saffron and Raisins

These delicious Swedish Christmas Buns with saffron and raisins are traditionally served on the 13th of December, the feast day of Saint Lucia.

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Super thankful to the original creators of these recipes – they are all so good and will surely elevate my holiday table!