Alsace Christmas Food Guide: Mulled Wine, Bredele and Gingerbread
In December, Alsace smells of cinnamon, aniseed and orange. At the Christmas markets and in every bakery, each treat comes with its own story. Here’s a short guide to what to taste, and where, during your stay.
Vin chaud: the star of the markets
You can’t stroll round an Alsace Christmas market without passing a mulled wine stall. “Vin chaud” is made with wine, citrus fruit and a blend of spices such as cinnamon, star anise and cloves.
In Alsace you’ll find both red and white mulled wine, the white one made with Alsace white wine. Try both and pick your favourite.
If you don’t drink alcohol, you’ll often find hot apple juice or hot chocolate too.
Good to know In Strasbourg, drinks come in a reusable cup with a small deposit. Hand it back, or keep it as a souvenir.
Bredele: little Christmas biscuits
Bredele (or bredala) are small biscuits that Alsatian families bake during Advent. There are dozens of kinds, flavoured with cinnamon, orange, aniseed, chocolate or walnuts, and recipes are handed down through the generations. Every family has its favourites.
Look out too for springerle, very old aniseed biscuits decorated with carved wooden moulds that press little scenes into the dough.
You can buy bredele by the bag at the markets and in pastry shops. They make a lovely gift to take home, and travel well in a tin.
Mannele: the St Nicholas brioche
Around 6 December, bakeries sell mannele: small brioches shaped like little men, plain or with chocolate chips. They’re perfect with a hot chocolate in the afternoon.
According to the City of Strasbourg, they recall the three children rescued by St Nicholas. The full story is in our post on St Nicholas Day in Alsace.
Gingerbread and the village of Gertwiller
Alsatians have been eating pain d’épices, a honey and spice bread, since the Middle Ages. It comes plain, iced, filled, or cut into pretty shapes.
To learn more, head to Gertwiller, a Wine Route village known for its gingerbread. There are two places to visit:
- the Palais du pain d’épices (Fortwenger), an 800 m² walk-through of legends and traditions, with a decorating workshop;
- the Musée Lips, displaying around 10,000 objects linked to gingerbread: moulds, cutters, furniture, toys and pottery.
Check opening hours on their websites before you go, especially over the holidays. Gertwiller fits easily into a day on the Alsace Wine Route or a Christmas wine-village tour.
Berawecka: the fruit loaf
Berawecka is a dense loaf packed with dried and candied fruit soaked in fruit brandy. It’s sliced thinly, served with tea or alongside foie gras. It keeps for a long time, so it’s another good one to take home.
Foie gras for festive meals
Foie gras is a symbol of Alsatian fine dining. It’s served chilled or pan-fried, often with a slice of gingerbread or berawecka. You’ll find it at delicatessens and at some market stalls.
Where to taste it all
- In Strasbourg: the “Quai des Délices” (Rohan terrace and Place du Marché-aux-Poissons) is all about food to taste, and the “Irréductibles Petits Producteurs d’Alsace” market on Place Louise-Weiss showcases local produce (2025 market list, to be confirmed for 2026). See our Strasbourg Christmas market page.
- In Colmar: a gourmet food market on Rue de la Montagne-Verte, open until 3 January 2027, and Place Jeanne-d’Arc for local produce. See our Colmar Christmas market page.
- In the villages: every market has its bredele and mulled wine stalls. It’s all in our Alsace Christmas markets guide.
Good to know After a mulled wine or two, it’s better not to drive. With a driver, everyone can enjoy themselves, and you get home with your shopping without carrying it on the tram.
A foodie evening, no car needed
An evening at the Strasbourg Christmas market by van, return trip from your hotel: from €105 for the whole vehicle, up to 8 passengers. Our drivers speak English, French and Arabic.
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