oysters to regional foods such as Socca and Mannele, here’s a list of tasty French street food and dishes you won’t want to miss. Many originate from other countries such as Germany, Spain, and even the USA/
Surprising things about popular Christmas market food in France.
Christmas markets, holiday markets, holiday fairs or whatever you call them are simply a magical experience.
When I first moved to France with my family back in 2011, I was eager to experience the infamous French Christmas market. I was especially looking forward to eating and drinking my way through as many French Christmas markets as I could. The food is often the highlight of the show, especially in Europe.
I had no idea what to expect and was truly surprised at the variety and origins of French market food. Many of which, I would never have associated with France.
What you need to know about French Christmas market food
Most of us are familiar with France’s gastronomic haute-cuisine, gourmet restaurants, meticulous preparation and careful presentation of high priced food.
And of course, everyone knows about French
But what about other French comfort foods?
Christmas markets are a great place to sample inexpensive French comfort food and street food you wouldn’t normally get to try outside of a restaurant.
Christmas market food in France varies by location:
What amazes me every year are the differences in food and offerings, not just region to region, but even between neighbouring towns. They often reveal what people enjoy the most in the local regions. They’re also reflective of the country’s diverse culture and influence from neighbouring countries, such as Spain and Switzerland, but especially Germany, which borders France’s Alsace region.
Alsace has been a huge influence on Christmas market food across France:
The Alsace region, which is home to the Strasbourg Christmas market, France’s biggest, oldest and most famous, is a perfect example of regional foods influenced by German culture.
For centuries, the Alsace region was passed back and forth between Germany and France until it was finally returned to France after WW2.
As a result, Alsatian culture is a unique mix of French and German influences, and many of the foods from the region have infiltrated the French food scene and become a part of everyday French culture.
French Christmas market food you should try in France
You may know a few on this list, but some may surprise you.
You can read about French Christmas markets here.
1) Churros “les churros” or “les chichi”: The not so French Christmas market snack
Churros, not very French, yet you find them at every single Christmas market across France. You can find them at most fairs and other outdoor events right alongside cotton candy and
If you’re not familiar with Churros, it’s a sweet treat adopted from Spain, sometimes called a ChiChi or a “beignet Mexicaine” (Mexican doughnut.)”. These tube-shaped sticks of dough are piped through a giant star-shaped piping machine, deep-fried in oil, and rolled in cinnamon sugar They’re delicious, surprisingly easy to make and a hit at Christmas markets.
2) Mulled Wine “Vin chaud,” aka “Glühwein.”: The German hot wine you’ll always see at a French Christmas market.
Mulled wine or spiced wine is another trendy traditional seasonal drink, especially at Christmas markets in Germany. However, it’s also a staple drink at Christmas markets across France thanks to the Alsace region, which borders Germany. In most of France, it’s called Vin chaud (hot wine) or Glühwein (glow-wine) in many Alsatian Christmas markets.
This spiced wine drink is always served hot, keeps you warm in the winter and packs a punch. Recipes vary, but in general, it’s made with red wine, sugar, cinnamon, herbs and other
3) Hot Apple Cider “Le Cidre Chaud”:
Hot apple cider is an alcoholic drink that is a must-try at French Christmas markets.
Apple cider recipes vary, but the
4) Le Bretzel: The Alsacien Bretzel “
Bretzels, no, that’s not a typo, is a specialty of the Alsacian region and another example of German influence over the area’s foods and throughout France.
The best way to describe it is an Alsatian version of the German pretzel, which you can find at almost every Christmas market across France. You can get sweet bretzels, salty bretzels, cheezy bretzels and bretzel sandwiches.
5) Sauerkraut “La Choucroute”: The German staple at French Christmas markets
6) The Alsacien Pizza with crème fraîche and bacon bits: “La Tarte Flambée” or “Le Flammenkuche”:
Tarte Flambée or Flammenkuche is another Alsacien food influenced by German culture, which you’ll find at most Christmas markets. You can also find it at most grocery stores and restaurant menus across France. It’s extremely popular and inexpensive. The first time I had one was at a small market in La Garde, France, and I instantly fell in love with it.
This Alsacian pizza is composed of a dough rolled out very thinly into a rectangle or oval shape. It’s then covered in crème fraîche or Fromage blanc (never red sauce) and topped with sliced onions and lardons (similar to bits of bacon but better).
7) Brioche Bread In The Shape of a mini-man: “Manalas or Mannele” de Saint-Nicolas.”
These little guys may look like big gingerbread cookies, but they’re actually made of brioche bread, a classic in French patisserie which is wonderfully tender and light, enriched with plenty of butter and many many eggs.
They’re called Manalas or Mannele, depending on what region of Alsace you’re in, which means “little guy” in Alsation. They’re typically served with hot chocolate/
Mannele has been part of Alsace’s history since the fifteenth century. You can find these in many bakeries in the Alsace region of France beginning in December and at Christmas markets in the Alsace region. In other regions of France, they come in different names such as “les Bonhomme de noel,” which means Christmas guy. But the original and the real name is Mannele or Manalas.
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8) The Alsacian Cookie “Bredele”
Bredele is a classic Christmas cookie or cake traditionally from the Alsacian and Moselle region of France. Many families cook these during the Christmas period and offer them as gifts to friends and family.They come in all shapes, sizes and flavours from cinnamon, vanilla, and chocolate to coconut, nutmeg and anise. It’s really up to the baker’s imagination.
9) The huge assortment of grilled meats and sausages
Grilled meats and sausages are a familiar sight at all Christmas markets, especially Bratwurst. Other meats you’ll typically find include, Alsacian hot dogs, boudin blanc. Magret de Canard (duck breast), Foie Gras ( goose or duck liver) and many more.
10) Meaty sandwiches on baguettes
Sandwiches with charcuterie galore on a tasty baguette. An affordable and convenient treat at all French Christmas markets. The varieties are endless; it just depends on the vendor and Christmas market. I’ve seen Magret de canard sandwiches and
11) Belgian Waffle “Une gaufre.”
I doubt waffles need any introduction. These thick Belgian waffles are not only a Christmas market favourite but also a popular street food. Common toppings include Nutella, or whipped cream (à La Chantilly) dusted with sugar.
12) Nougat: The white chewy, sticky French market treat
Nougat pronounced [Noo-GAW], an Occitan word, pan nogat, probably from Latin panis nucatus ‘nut bread’is a type of candy made with sugar or honey, roasted nuts, whipped egg whites, and sometimes chopped candied fruit. Generally considered a French treat, it exists in other cultures. The Italians call nougat as torroneand the Spanish call itturrón. This sweet treat is extremely chewy, sticky and gets stuck in your teeth similar to a chocolate candy bar.
13) Calisson: The strange French cookie
Calissons are a regional delicacy from Aix en Provence, believed to have its origins in medieval Italy. These petal-shaped specialty candies are made with finely crushed almonds, candied fruits (melons, orange peels), honey and orange blossom. Since 1991, local manufacturers who make Calisson must follow strict methods that only apply in France, so every bite into this chewy cake-like candy tastes perfect.
These are popular at Christmas markets in Southern France, but you can also find them all year round in grocery stores, airports and weekend markets. The most famous brand of Calisson is “Calisson d’Aix. “
14) Rum and vanilla flavoured French pastry: Canelé aka Cannelé de Bordeaux:
Originally from Bordeaux, Canelé [Cah-Nuh-Lay], this small, rum, and vanilla flavoured French pastry is a regional pride which you can find throughout France all year round and at Christmas markets. It has a crisp exterior with a soft custard center that you can enjoy for breakfast, dessert or as an accompaniment for tea or coffee.
Surprisingly simple pastries, they need only a few basic ingredients: milk, flour, eggs, butter, sugar, and vanilla (rum optional). They get their unique fluted shape because they are baked in a special cylindrical fluted mould, usually made of copper, which yields the best result because copper is a highly conductive metal that helps create that caramelized exterior.
15) Candied apple “Une Pomme D’Amour.”: An American invention in France
Invented over 100 years ago by American candy maker American William W. Kolb, Candy apples or les pommes d’amour (apples of love) are a common treat found at many festivals in France, including Christmas markets.
16) Crepes “Crêpes”: A classic street food and popular French Christmas market food.
17) The French gingerbread: Spiced Bread, “Pain d’épices.”
Pain d’épices is a popular spiced bread, especially during Christmas time. It’s very similar to gingerbread, and many online recipes refer to it as French gingerbread. There are a variety of ways to make French spiced cake, but the main ingredients are usually rye flour and honey with various
French gingerbread made with rye flour, 57% pure honey and spices
18) Paella: The Spanish dish popular in France
Paella, one of the most famous dishes in Spanish cuisine, is a popular dish on the Mediterranean coast of Spain and France. This dish is eaten all year round along the southern region of France, but you can usually find it at Christmas markets in the south, often with mussels and prawns still in the shell.
19) Tartiflette: The potato, bacon and cheese dish you need to try
Tartiflette is another delicious cheese and potato dish that is extremely popular in the winter and at Christmas markets in France. Originally from the Savoy region in the Alps, it’s a fairly new dish invented in the 1980s to increase the sales of French
20) Raclette : Better than cheese fondue?
Racletteis a semi-hard cheese made using ancestral methods with unpasteurized milk from cows that graze on alpine pastures. It’s made on both sides of the French and Swiss Alps and enjoyed in a variety of ways.
If you head to a Christmas market in France and other locations such as Switzerland and even Germany, huge blocks of
Imported from Switzerland and made from pure Swiss milk. Raclette cheese is an excellent melting chees most often served as part of the Raclette meal, with a raclette machine.
21) Oysters “Des Huitres”: The classic French Christmas market food
You might be interested in reading: French New Years’ Eve Food Traditions: Is It Too Weird For You?
22) Chickpea Pancake “Socca”: A Nice France specialty
Socca, pronounced [Soo-KA], is a chickpea flatbread or pancake from Nice in the Côte d’Azur region of southwestern France and Italy. This savoury and inexpensive street food is made with chickpea flour, water, olive oil and salt, then mixed to form a batter that is poured into a copper pan and heated. Similar to a pancake.
I’ve rarely seen Socca offered in other regions of France, but it’s an absolute must-try if you can make it to a Christmas market in the south, especially in Nice.
23) Aligot: The stringiest mashed potatoes you’ve ever eaten
Chances are, you’ve never heard of Aligot, pronounced [Ah-Lee-Go], but if you like mash potatoes and cheese, you’ll love it. This French dish, traditionally from the Aubrac and Aveyron region in Southern France, is available in markets all year round, mainly in the southwestern parts of France.
I first discovered it at the Montpellier Christmas market and fell in love with it instantly. This highly addictive stringy dish is half mashed potatoes, half Tomme fraîche cheese with Crème fraîche and garlic. It’s all mixed together and churned in huge vats with a wooden paddle and usually topped with sausage. Sometimes you can find Truffle Aligot, which is heavenly. Home cooks can easily cook this at home even if you don’t have Tomme Fraîche by substituting with another meltable cheese.
24) elgian Style French Fries “Des Frite Belgique”: A staple at French Christmas markets in France
French fries (frites) are extremely popular in France, especially with steak, known as (steak frites.)
No exaggeration here; fries are everywhere, all year round. And at Christmas markets, you’ll often find the lines the longest at French fry stands.
If you’re lucky enough to come across a stand selling Belgian fries, it’s worth a try. They are thicker than regular fries and crispier because they are often deep-fried twice. French fry stands usually have multiple types of sauces too: mayonnaise (the classic, most popular sauce for fries in France), Algerian sauce, white sauce, samurai sauce, curry sauce and, of course, Ketchup.
Here is a short video clip (in French) talking about its popularity at the Strasbourg Christmas market.
25) Roasted Chestnuts “Les Marrons Chauds”: A Christmas market food you have to try
And finally, roasted chestnuts. This traditional festive snack is widely available during the end-of-the-year holiday season at French Christmas markets and street corners. These sweet and earthy treats are easy to find. Just follow the unique smell of chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Or keep an eye out for vendors selling their roasted chestnuts in little locomotive trains. I have no idea why the train motif is so popular amongst chestnut vendors.
Eat responsibly at French Christmas markets.
Depending on the region and the Christmas market, you’ll find a cornucopia of food to try. These were just a small sampling of what you can eat and drink at a Christmas market in France. Other things I’ve had are
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