From home, found here · 41 cultures · 133 dishes · 25 holidays
Holiday Foods From Home
The pan de muerto, the opłatek, the struffoli, the Diwali sweets: the foods that make a holiday feel like home, and the Skylands bakeries, butchers, markets, parishes and temples that make them.
Open now
The season
Each holiday opens about three weeks before its day, once we’ve checked who is making what this year.
- NovemberDía de MuertosPan de muerto and hot chocolate on the ofrenda for loved ones.Mexican · EcuadorianOpen now · in 13 days
- Diwali, Dhanteras and Bandi Chhor DivasBoxes of mithai, lamps in the window, a feast with family.Indian · SikhOpen now · in 20 days
- Annakut and Gujarati New YearA “mountain of food” of hundreds of dishes for the Hindu New Year.IndianOpen now · in 21 days
- St. Martin's DayRoast goose with red cabbage opens the German holiday season.German, Austrian, SwissOpens Oct 21
- Stir-up SundayThe day British families stir the Christmas pudding.English · IrishOpens Nov 1
- AdventStollen, lebkuchen and spice cookies, one week at a time.German, Austrian, Swiss · Dutch · Scandinavian · PolishOpens Nov 8
- St. Andrew's DayScotland’s day: shortbread, whisky and a Scottish supper.ScottishOpens Nov 9
- DecemberHanukkahEight nights of latkes, jelly doughnuts and brisket.JewishOpens Nov 13
- SinterklaasSpeculaas, chocolate letters and almond banket for Sinterklaas.Dutch · German, Austrian, SwissOpens Nov 14
- Día de las VelitasNatilla and buñuelos by candlelight to open a Colombian Christmas.ColombianOpens Nov 16
- Our Lady of GuadalupeTamales and champurrado for the Virgin of Guadalupe’s feast.MexicanOpens Nov 21
- St. Lucia DaySaffron buns at dawn for St. Lucia.ScandinavianOpens Nov 22
- Simbang GabiBibingka and puto bumbong after nine evenings of Mass.FilipinoOpens Nov 24
- Las Posadas and Novena de AguinaldosNine nights of posadas: tamales, buñuelos and warm ponche.Mexican · Central American · Colombian · EcuadorianOpens Nov 25
- Yalda NightPomegranates, watermelon and nuts on the longest night.PersianOpens Nov 30
- Christmas EveWigilia, the Seven Fishes, Nochebuena, Noche Buena: the night of the big meal.Polish · Slovak, Czech, Rusyn · Hungarian · Ukrainian · +16Opens Dec 3
- Christmas Day, Boxing Day and St. Stephen's DayRoasts, puddings, black cake and the Christmas table.English · Irish · Scottish · Greek · +5Opens Dec 4
- KwanzaaThe karamu feast on the sixth night of Kwanzaa.African AmericanOpens Dec 5
- New Year's EveOliebollen, black bun and soba to see the year out.Scottish · Dutch · Japanese · Russian and Orthodox SlavicOpens Dec 10
- JanuaryNew Year's DayVasilopita with a hidden coin, and osechi boxes for luck.Greek · JapaneseOpens Dec 11
- Three Kings Day, Epiphany, Little Christmas, Armenian ChristmasRosca de reyes, bolo rei and galette des rois: who finds the figure?Mexican · Puerto Rican · Spanish · Portuguese · +3Opens Dec 16
- Orthodox Christmas and GennaThe Holy Supper, kutia and doro wat to break the fast.Ukrainian · Russian and Orthodox Slavic · Ethiopian and EritreanOpens Dec 17
- Burns NightHaggis, neeps and tatties, piped in with a poem.ScottishOpens Jan 4
- FebruaryDía de la CandelariaWhoever found the baby in the rosca makes the tamales.MexicanOpens Jan 12
- Lunar New Year, Seollal and TếtDumplings, whole fish, rice cake soup and bánh chưng for the new year.Chinese · Korean · VietnameseOpens Jan 16
Find your tradition
Pick a culture to see its dishes below.
Africa and African diaspora
Doro wat for Genna, jollof for Christmas, the Kwanzaa karamu.
Central and Eastern Europe
Opłatek, pierogi, poppy seed rolls and the meatless Christmas Eve.
East and Southeast Asia
Bibingka after Simbang Gabi, dumplings and rice cakes for the new year.
Latin America
Pan de muerto, tamales, buñuelos and rosca de reyes.
Middle East
Ma’amoul for Christmas, Armenian anoushabour, the Yalda table.
Southern Europe
The Seven Fishes, struffoli, panettone, vasilopita and bolo rei.
Western and Northern Europe
Stollen, speculaas, lefse, Lucia buns and the bûche de Noël.
Every dish
133 of 133 holiday foods, with the names your family uses.
Showing
pan de muerto / hojaldras
Pan de muerto and hojaldras
Found here: Azul Poblano (Newton), Laura’s Coffee & Restaurant (Dover) and 1 more
दिवाली भोज
Diwali dinner
Found here: Festival of Lights (Bridgewater) and Morris County Indian Association Diwali Dinner (Parsippany)
kaju katli, ladoo, barfi, jalebi, soan papdi
Mithai (Diwali sweets)
Found here: Royal Indian Market (Flemington), Sri Venkateswara Temple Cafeteria (Bridgewater) and 1 more
અન્નકૂટ
Annakut offering
Found here: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Parsippany) and Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Vadtaldham (Franklin Township)
colada morada, guaguas de pan
Ecuadorian colada morada and guaguas de pan
Still looking: know who makes it?
Weihnachtsgans / Martinsgans
Christmas goose
3 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Oct 21
plum pudding
Christmas pudding
Still looking: know who makes it?
chruściki / faworki
Angel wings
Still looking: know who makes it?
æbleskiver
Danish pancake balls
Still looking: know who makes it?
kolaczki / kolache / kifli
Filled pastries
Still looking: know who makes it?
piernik / pierniczki
Honey gingerbread
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Nov 8
Lebkuchen
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Nov 8
Glühwein / gløgg
Mulled wine
3 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Nov 8
Panettone
Still looking: know who makes it?
Speculaas / spekulatius
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Nov 8
Springerle, Pfeffernüsse
Springerle and pfeffernüsse
Still looking: know who makes it?
Christstollen
Stollen
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Nov 8
Vanillekipferl, Linzer
Vanilla crescents and Linzer cookies
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Nov 8
haggis, neeps and tatties
Haggis, neeps and tatties (Burns supper)
3 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Nov 9
בריסקט
Brisket
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Nov 13
חלה, באבקה, קוגל
Challah, babka and kugel
3 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Nov 13
לביבות levivot
Latkes
6 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Nov 13
רוגלך
Rugelach
Still looking: know who makes it?
סופגניות
Sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts)
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Nov 13
banketstaaf / banketletter
Almond letter and banket
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Nov 14
pepernoten, kruidnoten, chocoladeletters
Sinterklaas treats
Still looking: know who makes it?
natilla, buñuelos
Natilla and buñuelos (Colombian)
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Nov 16
champurrado, atol de elote, ponche navideño
Champurrado, atole and ponche
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Nov 21
tamales
Tamales (Mexican)
11 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Nov 21
lussekatter
Lucia saffron buns
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Nov 22
Bibingka
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Nov 24
Puto bumbong
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Nov 24
buñuelos
Buñuelos (Mexican)
3 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Nov 25
tamales colorados, paches, nacatamales, montucas
Central American tamales, paches and nacatamales
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Nov 25
Pozole
Still looking: know who makes it?
انار، هندوانه، آجیل
Yalda table
Still looking: know who makes it?
Alcapurrias
Still looking: know who makes it?
Arroz con gandules
Still looking: know who makes it?
bacalhau da consoada
Bacalhau for Consoada
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Dec 3
vánočka / pletenka
Braided Christmas bread
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Dec 3
Calamari
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
Χριστόψωμο christopsomo
Christ's bread
Still looking: know who makes it?
karp, śledzie / kapor / kapr
Christmas Eve carp and herring
3 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
zeppole di Natale
Christmas Eve zeppole
Still looking: know who makes it?
Christmas ham / hamon / glazed ham
Christmas ham
3 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
opłatek / opłatki
Christmas wafer
3 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
vongole
Clams and other Seven Fishes seafood
3 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
barszcz / borshch
Clear red beet soup
5 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
lechona, tamal tolimense
Colombian lechona and tamal
3 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
Coquito
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Dec 3
cerdo asado, telera, pastelitos
Dominican Christmas table
Still looking: know who makes it?
kompot z suszu / uzvar
Dried fruit compote
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Dec 3
queso de bola
Edam cheese ball
Still looking: know who makes it?
halászlé
Fisherman's soup
Still looking: know who makes it?
filhós / rabanadas
Fried dough and French toast
Still looking: know who makes it?
kuswar, bebinca, kulkuls, neureos
Goan kuswar and bebinca
Still looking: know who makes it?
spiced beef
Irish spiced beef
Still looking: know who makes it?
pączki / pampushky
Jam doughnuts
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
クリスマスケーキ
Japanese and Korean Christmas cake
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
plum cake, achappam, unniyappam
Kerala plum cake and snacks
Still looking: know who makes it?
leche flan
Leche flan and fruit salad
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Dec 3
lechón asado / lechon baboy
Lechón (whole roast pig)
3 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
Lutefisk
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Dec 3
uszka / vushka
Mushroom dumplings for borscht
4 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
kolach / kalács / bejgli
Nut and poppy seed rolls
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
Pancit
Still looking: know who makes it?
Pernil
3 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
panetón
Peruvian paneton with hot chocolate
Still looking: know who makes it?
pierogi / pirohy / varenyky
Pierogi (sauerkraut and mushroom, potato and cheese)
13 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
bobaľky / opekance / pupaky
Poppy seed bread balls
Still looking: know who makes it?
makowiec / makivnyk / makovnik
Poppy seed roll
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
pasteles
Puerto Rican pasteles
Still looking: know who makes it?
réveillon
Réveillon feast
Still looking: know who makes it?
baccalà
Salt cod
3 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
pan con pavo
Salvadoran pan con pavo
Still looking: know who makes it?
kapustnica
Sauerkraut Christmas soup
Still looking: know who makes it?
Scungilli
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
sperlani
Smelts
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
Struffoli
3 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
gołąbki / holubtsi / holubky
Stuffed cabbage
7 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
Tembleque
Still looking: know who makes it?
kutia / kutya
Wheat berry and poppy seed pudding
3 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 3
bûche de Noël
Yule log
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Dec 3
bairín breac
Barmbrack
Still looking: know who makes it?
κουραμπιέδες kourabiedes
Butter cookies
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Dec 4
Cannoli
4 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 4
Christmas cake
Christmas cake (English and Irish)
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 4
Clootie dumpling
Still looking: know who makes it?
crown roast
Crown roast of pork
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Dec 4
kerststol
Dutch Christmas bread
Still looking: know who makes it?
Ensaymada
Still looking: know who makes it?
cuccidati
Fig cookies
Still looking: know who makes it?
rashers, bangers, black and white pudding
Full Irish and full English breakfast
3 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 4
μελομακάρονα melomakarona
Honey cookies
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Dec 4
arán sóide
Irish soda bread
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 4
whiskey cake, porter cake
Irish whiskey and porter cake
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Dec 4
black cake
Jamaican black cake
Still looking: know who makes it?
jollof
Jollof rice
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Dec 4
kiełbasa / kovbasa / klobása / kiszka
Kielbasa and holiday smoked meats
15 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 4
Lefse
Still looking: know who makes it?
معمول، غريبة، كعك
Ma'amoul, ghraybeh and ka'ak
Still looking: know who makes it?
Mince pies
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 4
julekake, krumkake
Norwegian Christmas bread and krumkake
Still looking: know who makes it?
torrone / turrón
Nougat
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Dec 4
Pandoro
Still looking: know who makes it?
Pizzelle
Still looking: know who makes it?
roast beef and Yorkshire pudding
Prime rib with Yorkshire pudding
4 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 4
tricolore
Rainbow cookies
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 4
shortbread
Scottish shortbread
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 4
Sorrel
Still looking: know who makes it?
Sticky toffee pudding
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Dec 4
pastelles
Trinidad pastelles
Still looking: know who makes it?
karamu
Kwanzaa karamu dishes
Still looking: know who makes it?
Black bun
Still looking: know who makes it?
oliebollen
Dutch doughnut balls
Still looking: know who makes it?
おせち, 餅, 年越しそば
Osechi, mochi and toshikoshi soba
Still looking: know who makes it?
Βασιλόπιτα vasilopita
St. Basil's cake
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 11
անուշապուր, չորեկ, գաթա
Anoushabour, choreg and gata
Still looking: know who makes it?
galette des rois
Kings' cake (French)
2 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 16
bolo rei
Kings' cake (Portuguese)
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Dec 16
roscón de reyes
Kings' ring cake (Spanish)
Still looking: know who makes it?
Rosca de reyes
4 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Dec 16
Doro wat
Still looking: know who makes it?
饺子 jiaozi
Dumplings
3 Skylands sources checked so far · opens Jan 16
月饼
Mooncakes and New Year treats
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Jan 16
年糕 nian gao
New year cake
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Jan 16
떡국 tteokguk, 전 jeon
Rice cake soup and jeon
1 Skylands source checked so far · opens Jan 16
bánh chưng / bánh tét
Sticky rice cake in leaves
Still looking: know who makes it?
汤圆 tangyuan
Sweet rice balls
Still looking: know who makes it?
鱼, 长寿面
Whole fish and long-life noodles
Still looking: know who makes it?
Nothing matches yet. Tell us what we’re missing.
How this guide works
- Every listing is checked. We quote the business, parish or temple’s own post or page, with its date, and say whether it’s from this season or last.
- Sections open with the season. Each holiday opens about three weeks before its day, when the bakeries post their orders.
- Skylands only, independent only. Sussex, Morris, Warren, Hunterdon and Somerset counties; no chains.
- You fill the gaps. Home bakers, parish kitchens and family shops often never post online. Tell us who makes it, and we’ll check it and add it, with credit.
Questions
What is Holiday Foods From Home?
A guide to the holiday foods of every tradition in the Skylands of New Jersey: 133 dishes from 41 cultures and 25 holidays, from Día de Muertos and Diwali to Wigilia, the Feast of the Seven Fishes, Three Kings Day and Lunar New Year, with the bakeries, butchers, markets, restaurants, parishes and temples that make them.
How do you decide who is listed?
Places must be in Sussex, Morris, Warren, Hunterdon or Somerset County and independently owned. Every listing quotes the business or organization’s own post or page, with its date, and says whether it is from this season or last.
Why do some holidays say “opens”?
Each holiday’s section opens about three weeks before the holiday, once we’ve checked who is making what this year. Until then we show how many Skylands sources we’ve found so far.