When family abroad ask me 'what do Scottish people eat at Christmas?' I never know where to start! As Scottish Christmas food consists of such a diverse array of dishes and even takes inspiration from other countries. So I've compiled a comprehensive list of what Scots eat at Christmas, from snacks and sides, to turkey and tasty desserts.
Scottish Christmas snacks
Us Scots are serious about snacking. And at Christmastime, this obsession goes into overdrive. So what snacks do we eat, and gift each other, over the holidays?
Mince pies
Contrary to what the name might suggest, these palm-sized pastries are sweet, not savoury. The "meat" inside is a mixture of fruit, mincemeat, and festive spices.
Mince pies are usually enjoyed with a cup of tea. Many Scots stock up on them at Christmastime for when friends or family come to visit. Some even make them at home!
These old fashioned but much-beloved treats are often left out for Santa on Christmas eve along with a carrot for Rudolph and a glass of milk or whiskey.
Lebkuchen
These soft, spiced biscuits, often delightfully decorated, will steal your heart.
As the name suggests, Lebkucken are traditionally a German Christmas treat. An unexpected part of what Scottish people eat at Christmas perhaps, but we just can't get enough of them!
Unlike mince pies, their more uniform texture and taste, makes them popular across generations.
Shortbread
Shortbread is probably the easiest Scottish Christmas snack to make at home. Generally speaking, it only has three ingredients: butter, flour and sugar. And it comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes.
Shortbread biscuits are both a humble, homey snack and a lovely gift. Perfect when dunked in a cup of tea. Just watch out for the shower of crumbs you're sure to leave behind on the sofa!
Frozen Festive Snack Selections
Not all Scottish Christmas food is traditional or wholesome. Sometimes we just want some junk food!
Often, families spend so much time preparing for the season's celebrations that they have less time and energy to cook. So we reach for frozen snack selections. These usually contain a hodge-podge multi-national array of nibbles such as:
- pakora
- spring rolls
- chicken goujons
- mini pizzas
- cheese bites
- mozzarella sticks
- halloumi sticks
- chicken skewers
- pigs in blankets (learn more about these in the 'sides' section below!)
Peanuts, Brazil Nuts, Walnuts and Cashews
Nuts have been a part of Christmas fayre for hundreds of years.
I have fond memories of cracking walnuts with my parents at Christmastime then snacking on them in the evenings. Walnuts are a nice traditional choice, which even make for good decoration when still in their shells. Or if you fancy more of a treat, we also loe giving, and gifting, chocolate-covered Brazil nuts too.
Peanuts are the most economical choice however, and the most popular among children. In particular, you'll often find people putting dry roasted peanuts in their shopping carts on Christmas snack runs.
Cashews, almonds and hazelnuts are other popular additions to Christmas nut selections.
Scottish Christmas Starters
Fish
Salmon is one of Scotland's major culinary exports. And as a nation, we love to whip this fatty, tasty fish out at special occasions.
Smoked salmon in particular is a popular starter at Scottish Christmas dinners, and baked salmon often serves as a good alternative to meat. You'll often see it arranged on crackers with some cream cheese and black pepper as a tasty pre-dinner snack.
Some scots opt for prawns instead as they're easier to cook and often serve as a light appetiser at Christmas parties.
Soup
Christmas dinner is a calorific affair, so a simple bowl soup is very often served as a starter.
Spiced root vegetable soups are popular as they're warming and cheap to make. Leek and potato is a big favourite in Scotland throughout the year too.
Haggis
While more associated with Burns Night and New Year, haggis does appear in the starters section of many Scottish restaurant Christmas menus. This is probably because we view it as a celebratory food, despite its humble beginnings.
The Main Event
Turkey
It goes without saying that if you're going traditional in Scotland, roast turkey is a must. Families usually buy a bigger turkey than they need, so that the leftovers can be served over the few days following Christmas or sliced up and put in sandwiches with butter and salt.
A Scottish Christmas dinner turkey is usually seasoned with one or more of these:
- thyme
- lemon
- garlic
- butter
- sage stuffing
- rosemary
'Boxing Day Curry', beloved across the UK, is a fantastic way to use up your leftover turkey if you're sick of sprouts and gravy. I make this recipe every year and it's always a hit.
If you don't like turkey but still want to replicate what Scottish people eat at Christmas, you can opt for goose instead as this is an accepted alternative. Some families even do roast beef instead.
Ham
While turkey is the star of the show, ham is also treated by many Scottish families as a necessary Christmas staple. It's usually served in slices on one's plate along with one's turkey. It also makes for a stunning centrepiece.
The gamon is usually boiled then roasted with a sweet glaze of brown sugar, mustard and cloves. And it really is a beautiful thing. Its robust flavour contrasts wonderfully with the turkey, and is a delicious addition to one's boxing day sandwiches.
Extra points if the ham is smoked as this makes it extra tasty! I think so anyway...
Gravy
The importance of gravy at a Scottish Christmas dinner cannot be overstated. Usually made with, or at least enhanced by the inclusion of, the cooked turkey juices, gravy is the salty, umami-rich sauce that ties everything together.
Smother generously on everything in sight.
Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce is usually associated with America - the sauce, and the berries themselves - having their origins in the states. Brits seem to have adopted it for their Christmas lunch, however, as it goes so well with turkey.
We also love it on sandwiches too, with turkey and stuffing.
Bread Sauce
Bread sauce is one of those Scottish Christmas foods that tastes much better than it sounds. With its origins dating back to Medieval England, it looks like a simple bread-thickened milk sauce but it actually packs a lot of flavour.
Bread sauce often includes:
- onions
- thyme
- peppercorns
- bayleaves
- cream / mascarpone
- nutmeg
- garlic
- cloves
All of these aromatics come together to make a delicious and warming accompaniment to Christmas dinner. Pour over your turkey, ham, carrots and potatoes, and enjoy!
Scottish Christmas Sides
Pigs in Blankets
Pork sausages wrapped in bacon and cooked in the oven to crispy perfection. Arguably one of the most beloved elements of what Scottish people eat at Christmas.
Generally, pigs in blankets are made with small chipolatas (short pudgey sausages). However, many people make them with longer, thin sausages for a more rustic feel. The thing almost all pigs in blankets have in common though is the American style streaky bacon they're wrapped in, which differs from the classic British bacon usually favoured by Scots.
Roast Potatoes / "Roast Tatties"
The UK as a whole are very serious about roast potatoes. At Christmastime in particular, they are roasted in goose fat and seasoned with thyme. The crispier the better.
Some people will even peel and par-boil their tatties ahead of time, coat them in goose fat, and freeze them. This way, they can be prepared faster on the day without skipping any essential steps.
Carrots, Parsnips and Sprouts
Roasted root vegetables like carrots and parsnips are often seen at Scottish Christmas dinners. They go very well with gravy and turkey and keep for a long time in the fridge, meaning less trips to the shops over the holidays.
The parsnips - an underrated Scottish Christmas food - are usually served sliced into battons, glazed with something sweet like honey, then roasted.
Brussel sprouts usually steal the show however, as they are almost only ever eaten at Christmastime. In fact they're second after turkey in what comes to mind when I'm asked what Scottish people eat at Christmas.
Are you even from the UK if you haven't had a festive argument over whether or not to put little crosses on the sprouts before boiling them?
Stuffing
Stuffing balls, be they homemade or store-bought, are a popular side dish for those wanting a more filling and indulgent Scottish Christmas dinner.
The most traditional choice of stuffing seasoning is probably sage. However, some include nuts or even fruit like apple.
What Desserts do Scottish People Eat at Christmas?
Roulade / Swiss Roll / Yule Log
The raisin-laden and bitter 'Christmas pudding' usually associated with the UK is steadily being replaced with sweeter, chocolate-based alternatives favoured by the younger generations.
A chocolate roulade in any form, associated with celebrations and dinner-parties, is a great example of this. Often, you'll find Christmas dinners ending with a Belgian "yule log" in particular. Chocolate sponge and refreshing cream all rolled up into a heavenly slice!
Chocolate or fudge are popular flavours, but white merigne versions are also used.
Pannettone
Especially in recent years, Christmas aisles in Scottish supermarkets have been lined with pannettone. These towering half-bread-half-cake Italian deserts come flavoured with chocolate or fruit.
Their impressive size and pretty packaging mean they make excellent festive gifts. Many Scots give them to family, neighbours, colleagues and loved ones at Christmastime.
You can even purchase mini versions which make great low-budget gifts to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee.
Profiteroles
Borrowing from mainland Europe again, profiteroles are an exceedingly popular dessert choices in Scotland at both Christmas and New Year. Usually covered with chocolate sauce...
They're delicious, pretty to look at, and easy to serve. You can even buy them frozen! Making them the perfect choice for busy families or those hosting large parties.
Fruit Puddings / Cakes
While dwindling in popularity, the most traditional Scottish dessert is of course a fruit pudding. These come in many forms, including the well-known British Christmas Pudding, which can be aged for months and months to develop its rich boozy flavours.
Any cake with fruits like raisins, sultanas and apricots is associated with Christmas in Scotland though. Maybe that's why we love pannettone!
In Scotland specifically, plum pudding is another option. It's flavoured with alcohol just like Christmas pudding, but with a lighter texture and colour.
Scottish Christmas Dessert Alternatives
Cheese and Port
A selection of British and French cheeses are usually served either after dessert or in place of a dessert. Some examples of cheeses commonly eaten at Christmastime in Scotland include:
- mature cheddar
- brie
- camembert
- blue cheeses like blue stilton or roquefort
- wensleydale
- comté
- goats cheese
These cheeses are usually served with a small glass of port. Port is a thick, sweet dessert wine from Portugal which Scottish people love to drink, and gift each other at Christmas. Beloved largely by Dads, uncles and Grandads.
However, port is just one of the many Scottish Christmas drinks and it's not to everyone's taste due to its deep flavour. I personally prefer a glass of prosecco!
Baileys
I would be amiss not to mention Baileys in this blog, as it's inextricably connected to the Scottish nation's Christmas spirit. We love it so much, we even add it to sponges, whipped cream, cheesecakes and mousses!
It's a silky cream liqueur, made with Irish whiskey and flavoured with cocoa. And yes, it's as indulgent as it sounds.
A glass of it serves as a perfect alternative to dessert if you have simply no room after your turkey.
So there you have it! A comprehensive list of what Scottish people eat at Christmas! I'll be writing a follow up article on what Scottish people drink at Christmas too so stay tuned for that.
Can you think of a Scottish Christmas food I missed? Fire me an email and let me know!
