🍪 Joulukirkko, glögg and other Finnish winter treats — what to try, where to find them, how much they cost
If you want to know everything at once
In Finland, winter smells like glögi and tastes like joulutorttu. This guide tells you where to go for the best seasonal sweets, how not to miss out on the best times in December–January, how much a mug of glögi (with or without alcohol) costs now, and how to make everything at home — quickly and in the Finnish way. We've also added city routes and a list of places to buy sweets to take away.
Sweet map of winter: what you must try
● Joulutorttu — puff pastry "stars" with plum jam. There are also variations: cherry, apple, vanilla cream.
● Glögi — a hot spiced drink. It can be non-alcoholic (made with berry juice) or alcoholic (made with wine/port; sometimes with a dash of rum or cognac). Raisins and almonds are added to the cup.
● Piparkakut — thin gingerbread cookies; often served with glögi.
● Chocolate & brioche — in large cities, it is easy to find seasonal displays with gingerbread cheesecakes and chocolate with lingonberries/cardamom.
● January–February bonus: Runebergintorttu (almond rum cake with raspberry jam) appears immediately after New Year's and delights until Runeberg Day (5 February).
Mulled wine 101: types, basic recipes and serving
Types of mulled wine:
● Non-alcoholic (mehut mulled wine) — suitable for everyone, made from cranberry/currant juice + spices.
● Alcoholic — red wine (sometimes white, "white glögi") + spices, with a dash of port/rum to taste.
● Christmas markets serve both types; the "classic" version has almonds and raisins added directly to the mug.
Serve as the locals do: heat to 70–75 °C (do not boil), keep on low heat. Serve with a bowl of raisins and blanched almonds, accompanied by piparkakut.
Where to try it: the best coffee shops and patisseries in cities
Below are some tried and tested places where you can easily find joulutorttu, hot glögi and winter desserts in the winter of 2025–2026. We have added price guides, opening hours and "what to order".
Helsinki
● Ekberg (Bulevardi 9) is the capital's most historic patisserie (founded in 1852). It specialises in classics: joulutorttu, piparkakku and Christmas cakes. Approximate opening hours: weekdays from early morning until evening, weekends — shorter; 24–26 December subject to change. Cake/pastry €5–9, coffee €3–5.
● Karl Fazer Café (Kluuvikatu 3) — a cult café and confectionery with its own chocolate shop; in winter — a showcase of seasonal sweets. Usually open until 10 p.m. on weekdays; shorter hours on Sundays. Cakes €6–10, hot drinks €3–6.
● Cafe Regatta (Merikannontie 8, Töölö) — an atmospheric red hut by the water, a winter must: cinnamon buns, cocoa, often non-alcoholic glögi. Usually open all year round; special hours possible on holidays. Drinks €3–6.
● Vanha Kauppahalli (Old Market Hall) — a historic indoor market near the South Harbour: coffee shops, takeaway sweets. Special opening hours in December (see below).
What to order: joulutorttu + a mug of non-alcoholic glögi; to warm up at the fair — alcoholic glögi (usually +€1–3 to the price).
Tampere
● Pyynikin Munkkikahvila (observation tower) — legendary munkki doughnuts + hot drinks. Open daily in winter, closes early on 24 December (usually by 4 p.m.). Coffee/glögi €3–6, doughnut ~€3.
● Tampereen Joulutori (Central Square) — street stalls, donut café and glögg restaurant with heated areas; open daily during peak season, shortened hours on 24 December. A mug of glögg at the market ~€5–7.
● Tallipiha (stable courtyards) — nostalgic café and craft shops; in December — Christmas atmosphere, separate café/shop opening hours.
Turku
● Café Art (Aura River) — espresso roaster and bakery display; joulutorttu and pies sold out in December. Usually 10:00–19:00 (shorter hours on Sundays).
● Piece of Cake / MBakery (Turku Market Hall) — impressive cake display, Friday — cake buffet (changes seasonally), Christmas desserts and pastries. Market hall in December: weekdays until evening, Saturday until 16:00, Sunday often closed.
Oulu
● Puistola Café & Bakery — a coffee shop and bakery in the centre: a display of pies, seasonal hot chocolate; the café is usually open from morning until early evening.
● Oulun Kauppahalli (Indoor Market) — cosy cafés inside, sweets to take away; shorter hours on Saturdays, reduced hours/closed on public holidays.
Rovaniemi (Lapland)
● Cafe & Bar 21 (centre) — famous for its waffles and hot chocolate; usually open daily from morning until late evening.
● Santa Claus Village (Arctic Circle) — long days in winter at the cafes and shops in the village; try sweets, hot chocolate and glögg between Santa's post office and the attractions.
● Kauppayhtiö — a relaxed city classic; desserts and hot drinks in the evening are a good "after-hike" option.
Tip: Look for sweets in old covered markets in cities — this is a reliable winter "plan B": coffee shops, pastries, souvenir sweets and warm rooms.
📍 Interactive map of cafés and pastry shops (Helsinki, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Rovaniemi, Porvoo)
Takeaway and supermarkets: what to buy to go
● Non-alcoholic glögi is sold in any supermarket (K-, S-chains, some mini-markets and even kiosks). Look for "glögijuoma/juomatiiviste": 0.5–1 litre, €2.5–6.
● Alcoholic glögi (wine, port blends) is only available at Alko; in winter, there is a large seasonal shelf.
● Ready-made joulutorttu (1–4 pieces per package) and frozen dough + jars of plum jam — in the confectionery departments and freezers of supermarkets.
● Online ordering: if you don't want to run around town, many K-/S-stores and some confectioneries deliver sweets via apps/couriers.
Prices and opening hours in December–January (guidelines for 2025–2026)
Prices (typical, on site):
● Mug of non-alcoholic glögg: €4–7; alcoholic glögg: €6–10 (at fairs).
● Joulutorttu in a café/at the market: €2.5–4.5; in a premium patisserie/coffee shop — up to €5–6.
● Hot chocolate: €4–6.
Opening hours (holiday highlights):
● Helsinki, Old Market Hall (Vanha Kauppahalli): usually Mon–Sat 8:00–18:00, 24 December until 14:00, 25–26 December closed; 31 December until 18:00; 1 January closed; 6 January — shortened day.
● Hietalahti Market Hall: longer hours on weekdays in the evenings, but closed 24–26 December; 31 December — shortened hours; 6 January — shortened hours.
● Tampere Christmas Market (Keskustori): during the season, daily from 11:00 to 19:00, glögg restaurant until 20:00; 24 December – shorter opening hours.
● Pyynikin Munkkikahvila (Tampere): usually daily, 24 December until 16:00.
● Santa Claus Village (Rovaniemi): in December — long hours at most attractions; Santa's Office in 2025: daily 8:00–20:00 (from 5 December — 9:00–18:00).
● Alko (nationwide): 24 December – 9:00–12:00, 25–26 December – closed; 31 December – until 18:00; 1 January – closed.
Tip: On 24–26 December, check the special opening hours for specific locations — holiday exceptions occur in every city.
🧮 Planner widget: how much glögi and how many "stars" to bake
A simple calculator for a house party or a trip to the mökki: it calculates the volume of non-alcoholic/alcoholic glögi, the number of joulutorttu, and the approximate cost. All coefficients are editable.
❌ "Mulled wine must be boiled"
No, you shouldn't. Heat it to ~70°C — otherwise the spices will taste bitter and the wine will lose its aroma.
ℹ️ "Alcoholic glogg can be bought anywhere"
No. Fortified/wine versions are only available at Alko. Supermarkets sell non-alcoholic versions and concentrates.
The classic version is yes, but during the season you can find cherry, apple, cardamom, and "white" cream versions. Feel free to try them.
Joulutorttu — Finnish "stars"
Base: puff pastry/butter dough (ready-made sheets), plum jam.
How to make: Roll out the sheets and cut into squares ~8–10 cm. Make diagonal cuts towards the centre, place a teaspoon of jam in the centre. Fold every other corner towards the centre to form a "star".
Baking: 225 °C for ~12–15 minutes (until golden brown). Powdered sugar — as desired.
Ideas: cherry jam; "white" version — with cottage cheese and vanilla cream.
Base: 1 litre of cranberry/currant juice, cinnamon (2 sticks), cardamom (6–8 pods), cloves (6–8), orange zest.
Method: Heat with spices to 70–75°C, leave for 15–20 minutes, strain. Serve with raisins and almonds. White idea: apple juice + ginger + vanilla.Base: 750 ml red wine + 150–250 ml port/rum, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, orange.
Method: heat with spices (do not boil), add sugar/honey to taste. Add raisins and almonds before serving.
Serving: thermos mugs outdoors and low glasses at home; piparkakut nearby.✅ Printable checklist "Sweet treats for a trip/cottage"
There is a "Print" button. Items can be easily changed to suit the city or format.
📋 Checklist: glögi & joulutorttu
- Non-alcoholic glögi (1–2 litres) — berry/apple
- Alcoholic glögi (optional) — 0.75 litre bottle
Raisins + almonds for serving
- Plum jam luumuhillo
- Puff pastry or ready-made "stars"
- Gingerbread piparkakut (box)
- Thermos mugs with lids (for outside)
- Sugar packets, cinnamon, orange zest
- Gift box/case for sweets
- Ice grippers/mittens (if walking along the embankment)
We love these winter moments: a mug of glögi warming your hands, a plate of joulutorttu cookies that disappear faster than you can sprinkle powdered sugar on them, and snow falling softly outside the window. Visit the city's cafés, explore the market galleries, and try different versions of the classic white mulled wine.
If you liked this article, share it with your friends, save it for yourself, and write a comment: where did you find the best glögi and what were your favorite flavors this winter?
FAQ
At Christmas markets (Senate Square) and in cafés in the city centre. At the market, a mug of non-alcoholic glögi usually costs €5–7, and alcoholic glögi costs €6–10. In coffee shops, it is usually €4–6.
It is a puff pastry "star" with plum jam. Look for it in bakeries and cafés in large cities — in Helsinki (Ekberg, Karl Fazer Café), Turku (Café Art, Piece of Cake), Tampere (Pyynikki), Oulu (Puistola), Rovaniemi (Cafe & Bar 21). Supermarkets sell ready-made packages and frozen dough for baking at home.
Non-alcoholic versions made with berry juice are sold in supermarkets (1 litre from ~€3); alcoholic versions are sold in the Alko chain (seasonal display in December).
There are fewer queues on weekdays during the day. On 24 December, the markets have shorter opening hours, on 25–26 December most are closed, on 31 December there are shorter opening hours, and on 1 January they are closed. Details can be found on the pages of the specific market.
After New Year's — Runebergintorttu (January–early February). Pastry shops offer cheesecakes with a piparkakut base, cardamom buns and cream.
A packet of non-alcoholic glögi/concentrate, a packet of almonds and raisins, a box of piparkakut, a set of joulutorttu (ready-made or dough + jam), cocoa and marshmallows/whipped cream.
Yes. Many coffee shops and supermarkets offer delivery; demand is high a day or two before the holidays, so order in advance.
Yes: versions made with apple juice/white wine with ginger and vanilla can be found in cafés and at private parties; it takes 15-20 minutes to make at home.
Only non-alcoholic — made with berry or apple juice. Serve warm (not hot), adding a few raisins and almonds (if there are no allergies).
Check the holiday schedules on the websites/social networks of specific places 1–2 days before your visit; many announce reduced hours for 24 December and closure on 25–26 December.
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