Christmas Desserts You Can Find in Beijing
Christmastime is here again, and if you’re keen to impress at any holiday gatherings this year, one way to wow is with a specialty dessert made right here in the capital. We’ve got a list of treats you can give to friends or take home with you.
Panettone by Bottega & Forno
Think of panettone as the better version of fruit cake – it’s the kind of Christmas cake you’d want as a gift, even if it is more of a bread and worlds apart from fruit cake regarding how it’s made. Originating in Milan, panettone is a dome-shaped loaf with a cake-like crumb and fluffiness akin to brioche that is today enjoyed across Italy and the world. The Christmas bread is studded with bits of candied fruit or chocolate and is a labor of love that can take days to make properly.
Hands down, our favorite places to get panettone every year in Beijing are Bottega and Forno. Their panettone is massive, able to be shared among six people, made fresh right here in the capital and available for RMB 168 at all Bottega and Forno locations or for delivery.
Bottega (Xinyuanli)
01, 1/F, 20 Xinyuanli Xi, Xindong Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区新东路新源里西里20号1层01室
Hours: Noon-midnight
Contact: 010 6410 9800
Bottega (CBD)
Unit E116B and E118, 101, 1/F, Block E, Zhongjun World City, Jinhui Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区金汇路中骏世界E座1层101内E116B, E118单元
Hours: 11am-11pm
Contact: 010 6591 5348, 186 1048 9047
Forno (Sanlitun)
S6-33, 3/F, Taikooli South, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯路19号太苦里南区3层 S6-33
Hours: 11am-11pm
Contact: 01064627448
Stollen & Marzipan Stollen by Michael’s German Bakery
Now for something a little closer to fruit cake: Stollen bread. Stollen is a Christmas specialty originating from Dresden consisting of rich and dense yeasted bread loaded with dried fruits, nuts and warming spices like cardamom and nutmeg, kneaded and baked into an oblong shape meant to resemble the swaddled baby Jesus. Marzipan Stollen takes things a step further with the addition of marzipan, a sweet confection made from ground almonds and sugar, in the center, adding an extra bit of richness to the whole affair.
No other place comes close to the Stollen and marzipan Stollen of Michael’s German Bakery, which has been churning out the baked goods in northeast Beijing for over 13 years now. See the above image for prices for the two breads and the poster below for a few other Christmas offerings from Michael’s German Bakery. You can find these delicious treats at their shop (address below,) or you can order online with the telephone number provided.
Michael’s German Bakery 麦客天成德国面包房
8-1 Laiguangying Donglu, Cuigezhuang Diqu, Chaoyang District (near Western Academy of Beijing)
朝阳区崔各庄地区来广营东路8-1号(近京西国际学校)
Hours: 7am-5pm (closed Wed)
Contact: 130 1100 0501 (doubles as WeChat contact)
Christmas Cupcakes by Arwen Bread
Although not all that traditional, we can never say no to cupcakes, especially considering how decorative these ones from Arwen Bread are. Handmade by Fiona, the one-mom team behind Arwen Bread, these cupcakes come in a pack of six with special Christmas decorations atop white frosting for a holiday touch.
Arwen Bread’s Christmas cupcakes are available in a pack of six for RMB 218, with pre-orders available until Dec 19. Add Fiona on WeChat (ID: fionayaoxi) to order today.
Pies by HuTong’er Pie
While apple, pumpkin and pecan pie are more associated with American Thanksgiving than they are with Christmas, a sweet pie is still a welcome addition to any Christmas meal spread. The one place you should be getting your pies from in Beijing is arguably from the folks at HuTong’er Pie, who have been making stellar pies in the capital for years, no matter how often they move location.
Pies are baked to order, full or by slice, and are RMB 45+ for a slice or RMB 360+ for full pies, excluding delivery. You can see all HuTong’er Pie’s options on the menu below and order yours via WeChat (ID: hutongerpie201707) for delivery until Christmas.
Mince Pies & Xmas Pudding by Breakfast Champion
Mince pies and Christmas pudding are British Christmastime staples that both date back to medieval England – fun fact: Both used to contain meat, hence the name. Today, both are made with a combination of dried fruits, nuts and spices, and they took their present, non-meaty forms around the Victorian era.
You can get your mince pies and Xmas pudding from Breakfast Champion, purveyors of British breakfast goods, pantry items and more. Mince pies come in a pack of four and are RMB 58 per pack, whereas one Xmas pudding is RMB 128. Both can be ordered via Breakfast Champion’s official WeChat (just search the name, go to their official account and click on the “order” button in the bottom right corner).
READ: Ten Spots to Dive Into Cheese Fondue
Images: Unsplash, courtesy of the venues
