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Christmas Traditions in Portugal: a sweet foodie road trip from North to South.
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Christmas traditions in Portugal mean abundant tables, family gatherings, and flavours passed down through generations. Among the savoury dishes and family recipes, it's the Christmas sweets that truly define this festive season.
From North to South, including the islands, each region preserves its own secrets and specialties. Join us on this irresistible road trip through Portuguese Christmas sweets.
A unique Christmas foodie road trip awaits.
Christmas sweets are more than just treats. They are a deep part of each region's cultural identity. So why not bring more variety to your Christmas table with a delicious road trip in search of the best Portuguese Christmas sweets? With Guerin, you can start your journey at your own pace.
Northern Portugal: the home of rabanadas and sonhos.
In the North, Christmas tastes like rabanadas (a kind of French toast) soaked in Port wine or sugar and cinnamon syrup. They're often served alongside sonhos, fluffy pumpkin or carrot fritters.
It’s a region where tradition remains strong, and every family keeps its own twist on these typical Christmas sweets.
Other typical Christmas sweets from Northern Portugal.
- Pão-de-ló de Ovar: a moist, creamy sponge cake, a Christmas classic.
- Bolo-rei: found throughout the country, but with strong tradition in Minho and Douro; often fruitier or drier versions.
- Mexidos (or formigos): a convent-style dessert made with bread, dried fruits, honey and Port wine.
- Bolinhos de jerimu: small pumpkin fritters made with flour and sugar.
- Wine or olive oil biscuits: dry, aromatic, and perfect with coffee or Port.
- Toucinho do céu: a rich almond and egg yolk cake, traditional in Douro and Minho.
Central Portugal: the sweetness of aletria.
In Central Portugal, no festive table is complete without aletria, a traditional Portuguese Christmas sweet made with fine pasta, milk, sugar and cinnamon. One cherished tradition is decorating the top with cinnamon patterns, a family ritual as beloved as eating the dessert itself.
Other Christmas sweets you’ll find in Central Portugal.
- Pão-de-ló (Margaride, Alfeizerão or Ovar styles): each place has its moist version.
- Lampreia de ovos: a fish-shaped egg-based sweet, typical of Coimbra and Santarém.
- Tigelada da Beira: caramelised egg and milk pudding baked in clay pots.
- Pumpkin fritters (filhós): deep-fried and dusted with sugar and cinnamon.
- Bolo Rei and Bolo Rainha: common in Lisbon-Centre and Beira Litoral, but now found all over the country.
- Cavacas (from Pinhel or Resende): sweet, crunchy biscuits that go well with coffee.
- Nevadas and escarpiadas: lesser-known regional sweets that appear in local Christmas food guides.
Lisbon and surroundings: the land of broas castelares.
In the capital, Christmas sits proudly on the table in the form of broas castelares. Golden sweet potato biscuits with intense cinnamon aroma. Perfect with hot coffee during the holidays and ideal for sharing with family and friends.
Other traditional Christmas sweets from the Lisbon área.
- Arroz-doce (rice pudding): simple and essential, with cinnamon and lemon zest.
- Sonhos de Natal: light dough fritters, dusted with sugar and cinnamon.
- Rabanadas: also called fatias douradas here, a staple in many Lisbon households.
- Trouxas de ovos: egg rolls from Sintra, filled with sweet egg threads.
- Pão-de-ló de Alenquer: a light and airy sponge cake.
- Encharcada: an egg yolk dessert from Ribatejo, very popular in Lisbon.
- Sweet potato pastéis from Torres Vedras: small pies filled with sweet potato paste.
Alentejo: where filhós meet azevias.
In Alentejo, Christmas is abundant and full of flavour. Two of the most loved typical Christmas sweets are filhós, dusted with sugar and cinnamon, and azevias, filled with chickpeas or sweet potato.
Other traditional Christmas desserts in Alentejo.
- Honey cakes: small, spiced cakes with rich aroma.
- Encharcada alentejana: a convent-style egg yolk dessert with sugar syrup.
- Sericaia: a baked custard from Elvas, often served with local plums.
- Nogados: fried dough pieces coated in honey.
- Olive oil biscuits: crispy, perfect after dinner.
- Pão de rala: almond and gila squash cake.
- Bolo podre: literally "rotten cake”, but delicious – made with honey, dried fruits and spices.
Madeira: the island of bolo de mel.
In Madeira, the star of the season is bolo de mel, a rich cake made with cane honey, spices and dried fruit. It’s usually baked well in advance and can last for weeks.
Other Christmas sweets to try in Madeira.
- Broas de mel: mini versions of bolo de mel.
- Broas de açúcar: sugar-topped biscuits, also very traditional.
- Sonhos de Natal: similar to those on the mainland.
- Rabanadas: always present at Madeiran tables.
- Madeiran queijadas: small cheesecakes eaten especially at Christmas.
- Coscorões: thin fried dough dusted with sugar and cinnamon, shared between families and neighbours.
The Azores: home of the malassadas.
No Christmas foodie road trip would be complete without the Azores. On São Miguel Island, malassadas – fried doughnuts rolled in sugar, are the stars of the season.
Other Christmas sweets from the Azores.
- Coscorões: thin fried dough strips covered with cinnamon and sugar.
- Baked filhós (Terceira Island): fluffy and spiced with cinnamon and fennel.
- Azorean arroz-doce: creamier than usual, with extra cinnamon.
- Raisins and dried figs: traditional at Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
- Bolo lêvedo: not exclusive to Christmas, but often served with butter or jam.
- Queijadas da Graciosa: not strictly festive, but very popular at this time of year.
- Rabanadas and sonhos: also common in many islands, with local adaptations.
A foodie road trip to explore and taste Portugal at Christmas.
Travelling through these Christmas traditions in Portugal is a way to discover the best of our cultural diversity. And what better way to taste all these typical Christmas sweets than by road with Guerin?
With our rented cars, you’ll have the perfect partner for any adventure, in any season. Our fleet is ready for all kinds of weather, and we offer convenient services such as:
- Toll Service: automatic toll payment device already included in the hire price. Simply activate it when you pick up the car and pay only the usage fee.
- Out-of-hours delivery: collect or return your car at the time that suits you best.
- 100% digital process: no queues, no paperwork! It only takes 9 minutes to complete your booking with Guerin.
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