Typical Sardinian Christmas sweets

From su pan'e saba to mostaccioli, here are all the specialties to put on the table during the holidays

Christmas is a unique time to come together with the whole family, full of joy and sharing. In Sardinia, the holiday season is when centuries-old traditions meet family bonds through the authentic flavours of local cuisine. The undisputed stars of the Sardinian Christmas table are the traditional sweets, treasures of the island's culture. Let’s explore together the flavours and aromas that make these sweets an essential part of the festive season.

Do you want to find out what other Sardinian Christmas recipes are? You can find them here! While to discover all the traditional Sardinian dishes, click here!

Pan'e Saba

Pan'e Saba is one of the iconic Christmas sweets in Sardinia, a special bread made by combining bread and sapa, grape must that has been cooked for at least eight hours. Inside, it is enriched with nuts, hazelnuts, spices, raisins, orange peel, and aniseed. The result is a bread with a brownish color and a fruity, sweet, and slightly tangy taste. It is one of the oldest recipes in the region and, in the past, was traditionally made during the Commemorazione dei Defunti in November.

Papassini

Papassini are typical rhombus-shaped cookies made with shortcrust pastry, raisins, lemon zest, almonds, walnuts, and honey. The classic sugar glaze on top makes them even more irresistible. There are different versions, such as those flavoured with sapa, anise liqueur, and cinnamon.

Torrone

Torrone is another symbol of Christmas in Sardinia and one of the most famous regional recipes. Its origin has always been disputed between the towns of Aritzo and Tonara, and it is made with just a few simple ingredients: egg whites, walnuts, and honey. There are also variations that include pine nuts, hazelnuts, and citrus peel.

Mostaccioli

Mostaccioli are traditional cookies from the city of Oristano, similar in shape to papassini. The recipe includes flour, sugar, yeast, water, baking soda, cinnamon, and lemon. Once again, they can be decorated with sugar glaze for added flavour and decoration.

Gattò de Mendula

Gattò de Mendula is a delicious almond-based crunchy treat made with just a few ingredients: sugar, almonds, and lemon. It is one of the oldest Sardinian recipes, and it only takes ten minutes to bake. The final touch that must not be missed is the diavolina, a colorful or silver sugar decoration.