One of my favorite ways to celebrate the holidays is by recreating dishes inspired by my travels or on my ever growing destination list . Food has this magical way of transporting us, one bite can take you to a Christmas market in Germany, a cozy café in France, or a snowy village in Japan.

This year, I’m sharing 12 Days of Travel Inspired Recipes so you can bring some global sparkle to your holiday table. Each dish is festive, not too complicated, and perfect for nibbling your way around the world.

Day 1 — Germany

Warm Glühwein: A Christmas Market Classic

If you’ve ever wandered through a Christmas market with twinkling lights overhead and snow crunching under your boots, you know the smell of Glühwein instantly warms the soul. Today, we’re bringing that magic home.

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle red wine
• 1 orange, sliced
• 3–4 whole cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 star anise
• 2–3 tbsp honey

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a pot.
2. Warm gently for 20 minutes. Don’t let it boil!
3. Strain and serve in heatproof mugs.

Sip slowly, imagine wooden stalls and fresh pretzels, and enjoy your first stop on our holiday world tour.

Day 2 — Italy

Burrata & Pomegranate Crostini

Italy knows how to turn simple ingredients into magic. These festive crostini are bright, fresh, and perfect for holiday hosting. No passport required!

Ingredients:

• 1 baguette, sliced
• 1 ball burrata
• Olive oil
• Pomegranate arils
• Fresh basil
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Place baguette slices on a parchment lined baking sheet. Place under low broil under lightly toasted.
2. Spoon a bit of burrata onto each piece.
3. Drizzle with oil, add pomegranate, basil, and a pinch of salt.

A simple and tasty bite reminiscent of Rome or Florence, right from your kitchen counter.

Day 3 — France

Mini Gougères (French Cheese Puffs)

Gougères are the kind of holiday snack that makes everyone think you studied pastry in Paris, but they’re surprisingly easy.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup flour
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup grated Gruyère cheese
• 3/4 tsp salt
• pepper
• nutmeg

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F, line baking sheet with parchment
2. Place water and butter in a saucepan over medium high heat. Bring to a boil until butter is fully melted.
3. Remove from stove, add flour, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Mix until incorporated.
4. Return to stove on LOW heat and mix for 1 minute (this dries the mixture out a bit)
5. Let cool slightly; beat in eggs one at a time. Mix vigorously until incorporated. The batter splits at first, but it WILL come together.
6. Fold in the cheese and drop 1 tablespoon mounds onto prepared trays.
7. Optional: Brush with yolk, then top with a pinch of Gruyère
8. Bake for 20–25 minutes.

Serve warm and transport yourself straight to a café overlooking the Seine.

Day 4 — Mexico

Cinnamon-Spiced Mexican Hot Chocolate

Rich, comforting, and kissed with cinnamon, this hot chocolate feels like a warm hug. Inspired by Mexican café de olla, it’s holiday comfort in a mug.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups milk
• ½ cup dark chocolate or Mexican chocolate
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Pinch chili powder

Directions:

1. Heat milk with cinnamon until steaming.
2. Add chocolate and stir until melted.
3. Finish with vanilla and chili.

Curl up and enjoy this cozy cup after a long day of holiday prep.

Day 5 — Japan

Matcha Butter Cookies

Earthy matcha meets buttery cookie. Simple, elegant, and so good with tea. These treats offer a quiet moment of calm in the holiday chaos.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 2 egg yolks at room temperature
• 2 cups flour
• 1–2 tbsp matcha powder
• Pinch salt

Instructions:

1. Cream butter and sugar.
2. Add egg yolks
3. Add flour, matcha, salt.
4. Divide the dough into 2 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a cylinder about 1½ inches in diameter and 7 inches long. Wrap the logs in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until firm. About 2 hours.
5. Slice and bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.

A little taste of Kyoto for your cookie platter! These are also really good with some white chocolate chips added in before you divide the dough.

Day 6 — Sweden

Lussekatter (Swedish Saffron Buns)

Fluffy, golden, and scented with saffron, these buns are a beloved Swedish tradition for St. Lucia Day and beyond.

Ingredients:

• ½ tsp saffron threads
• 2 cups milk
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 packet instant yeast
• 6 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp cardamon
• ½ tsp salt
• 2 eggs ( 1 is for an egg wash)
• Raisins for decoration

Directions:

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan on the stove. Add the milk. Let it cool until lukewarm.
2. Pour the milk and butter mixture into a large mixing bowl and add yeast, stirring until dissolved.
3. Add the salt, sugar, saffron, cardamom, and egg, mixing thoroughly.
4. Slowly add the flour while mixing continuously (you can do this with a stand mixer or by hand). The dough will still be quite sticky.
5. Mix well until the dough pulls from the sides of the bowl. You’re not kneading, just mixing! Cover and let the dough rise for about 30 minutes.
6. Sprinkle flour on your counter and knead the dough well. You may need to add extra flour if the dough is too sticky. Cut the dough into four sections and roll each into a cylinder. Cut strips out of the cylinder about the size of two fingers. Roll the strips out and form into lussekatter shapes. (They are S shapes, google for inspiration!) Top with raisins to decorate.
7. Set the formed lussekatter on a greased or parchment lined baking sheet, or on baking paper. Cover and let rise until they are doubled in size, about 30 minutes.
8. Preheat oven to 435°F
9. Brush each bun with an egg wash. Bake for 7 – 10 minutes, until golden brown on top.

Enjoy warm with coffee for the coziest winter afternoon.

Day 7 — Spain

Patatas Bravas Skewers

Spain’s favorite crispy potatoes become the perfect holiday appetizer when served bite sized and skewered.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs baby potatoes
• Olive oil
• Smoked paprika
• Skewers for serving
• Bravas sauce (store bought or homemade)
• Garlic aioli

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F
2. Cut the baby potatoes in half. In a large bowl toss with olive oil and paprika.
3. Place cut side down on baking sheet or cast iron pan. Add any leftover oil from the bowl to the pan.
4. Roast for 40 minutes
5. Skewer 3-4 potatoes on each pick.
6. Drizzle with bravas sauce and aioli.

Fiery, fun, and perfect for parties ¡Olé!

Day 8 — Greece

Honey Walnut Baklava Bites

All the flavor of baklava, minus the fuss. These little bites are flaky, sweet, and dangerously poppable.

Ingredients:

• Mini phyllo shells
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ cup honey
• 2 tbsp melted butter

Instructions:

1. Mix walnuts, cinnamon, honey, and butter.
2. Place phyllo cups into muffin tin.
3. Spoon mixture into phyllo cups.
4. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes.

How easy was that? A sweet Greek escape in every bite.

Day 9 — Thailand

Coconut Chicken Meatballs

Inspired by Thai flavors, these juicy meatballs are packed with herbs and just a hint of sweetness from coconut milk.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground chicken
• ¼ cup coconut milk
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
• Salt and pepper
• Sweet chili sauce

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Shape into small meatballs.
3. Place in a baking dish or parchment lined baking sheet.
4. Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes. They should be light in color and firm to the touch.
5. Serve with sweet chili sauce.

Fresh, bright, and a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

Day 10 — India

Chai-Spiced Shortbread

Shortbread is classic Christmas, but add chai spices, and it becomes something truly special.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp cardamom
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp clove
• ¼ tsp ginger

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Prepare your baking sheet by lining with parchment.
2. Cream butter and sugar.
3. Add flour and spices.
4. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and roll out to ¼ inch thickness. Cut dough out with a 2 inch cookie cutter or knife. Place cookies on baking sheets.
5. Bake for 20–25 minutes.

Your kitchen will smell like a cozy Indian teahouse.

Day 11 — United Kingdom

Mini Yorkshire Pudding Bites

These mini puddings puff up into golden cups just begging to be filled with savory goodness.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup milk
• 3 eggs
• ½ tsp salt
• Melted butter or oil
• Roast beef or sautéed mushrooms for filling
• Optional: top with horseradish and dill

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F
2. Mix batter and let rest 20 minutes.
3. Heat muffin tin with a little oil in your preheated oven for about 10 minutes. The oil should just about to smoke, so keep an eye on it!
4. Remove tin from the oven and carefully fill each cup halfway with the batter. Bake for 10-12 minutes. They should be golden and puffy.
5. Remove from the oven and place them on a cooling rack. When they are cool enough to handle, shape them so they are able to stand upright.
6. Fill with roast beef or sautéed mushrooms.

A classic British roast dinner, just shrunk down to party size.

Day 12 — USA

Peppermint Chocolate Bark

Simple, nostalgic, and irresistibly festive, peppermint bark is an American holiday favorite for good reason.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb dark chocolate
• 1 lb white chocolate
• ½ cup crushed candy canes
• Peppermint Extract (optional)
• Vanilla Extract (optional)

Directions:

1. Line the bottom and sides of a 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil, smoothing out any wrinkles. Or use a lined baking sheet. Set aside.
2. Melt dark chocolate, either with a double boiler or in the microwave. No judgement here! Add ½ tsp peppermint extract, if using.
3. Pour into prepared pan, spread thin. Chill until firm.
4. Melt white chocolate, add in ½ tsp vanilla extract if using. Spread on top of the firmed up dark chocolate.
5. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes; chill for about an hour.
6. Once hardened, remove from the pan. Discard eel the foil or parchment. Break or cut into pieces as large or as small as you want.
7. Store any leftovers in the fridge.

A perfect finale—easy, giftable, and full of holiday cheer.

With these 12 recipes, you can celebrate Christmas with a passport full of flavors. No flight required! Whether you make one dish or all twelve, you’re creating a season filled with warmth, curiosity, and a dash of wanderlust.

Happy Holidays!