If something takes me on a nostalgic trip down memory lane, it would be the taste and aroma of simple, sometimes fruity, but always so yummy Luxembourg sweets.
With a flavorsome smell that matches the breeze of every season, it brings back the traditions, celebrations, and afternoon snacks I spent with my friends, family, and elders who kept their most treasured recipes of Luxembourg desserts.
Traditional Luxembourg desserts have some blends of Belgian, French, and German origins. Complementing our rich heritage and creativity, they became a part of the gastronomy of The Grand Duchy.
Are you ready to travel Luxembourg? Treat yourself to the best Luxembourg desserts to try once!
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Pssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Luxembourg? Have a look at my other posts:
- Most Beautiful Places in Luxembourg
- Interesting Facts about Luxembourg
- Things to do in Luxembourg by night
Overview: Luxembourg desserts to try once!
- Schuedi (Buttery sugar cake)
- Quetschentaart (Damson plum tart)
- Dräikinnekskuch (Three Kings cake)
- Wäffelcher (Crispy waffle cones)
- Verwurelter (Deep-fried donut knots)
1. Schuedi
Loved and kept by our great grannies, Schuedi is an old recipe that has been around for at least a century.
This buttery sugar cake was said to have originated in the old bakeries of Luxembourg.
Bakers perhaps considered throwing away leftover tart dough a shame or “ze schued,” so to ensure nothing went to waste, they scraped the leftovers, pressed them together in a tin, and added flakes of butter and sugar.
Until Luxembourgers started to prepare it with airy and loose yeasted dough, prepared with basic ingredients such as yeast, milk, eggs, flour, sugar, and butter, I doubted something special would come out as I watched my aunt make it.
After mixing the ingredients into a dough, she kneaded and allowed it to rise several times.
Before baking, she poked holes in the dough’s surface, stuck butter flakes, and sprinkled a good amount of sugar.
To my surprise, it’s deliciously buttery with a soft and tender texture! Indeed, it’s one of the treasured Luxembourg desserts. Follow the traditional recipe, and it won’t give you a ze schude!
2. Quetschentaart
We love pies and tarts; among the fruit-based ones, Luxembourg’s favorite is Quetschentaart. Made from damson plums or “Quetschen,” it’s a sweet, appetizingly baked, and caramelized finished fruit tart.
One of the authentic traditional Luxembourg desserts, it is featured in the cookery book Ketty Thull – a collection of Luxembourg’s classic foods first published in 1946.
It has a pastry dough composed of flour, sugar, butter, salt, and eggs, spread out in a butter-greased pan where slices of ripened damson plums are layered in a circular arrangement and baked deliciously.
Quetschentaart is an ideal dessert in autumn when damsons are in season. Its festive appearance makes it a great option for holiday fare, and since the recipe is simple, I also often have it for afternoon snacks.
3. Rhubarbstaart (Rhubarb Tart)
Another tart that Luxembourg made to perfection is the Rhubarbstaart or Rhubarb Tart.
There are other European counterparts of this dessert, but the Grand Duchy’s very own has an eggy custard to counterbalance the rhubarb’s sourness and make it more creamy.
You’ll typically see the vegetable rhubarb in farmer’s markets during springtime. The leaf stalk cubes or strips give a natural tart taste when baked from light green to bright pink.
In Luxembourg, rhubarb tarts have a thick yeast crust or a thinner buttery shortcrust base. I liked them with other fruits such as strawberries and apples.
A popular dessert among locals and tourists, Rhubarbstaart is a seasoned sweet offering and a must-try dessert from Luxembourg.
During spring, you’ll find it in some wine bars and restaurants.
4. Dräikinnekskuch
An extraordinary cake perhaps inspired by the image of the sun, Dräikinnekskuch, or the three kings cake, is a traditional and joyous part of Luxembourg’s celebration of Epiphany, held every 6th of January.
While the cake is filled with lush, nutty almond frangipane, its golden, flaky pastry surface always has a cardboard crown.
As a highlight of the feast, a porcelain bean or miniature is hidden inside the cake, waiting to be found by a family member who’ll have the lucky slice to win the crown as King or Queen of the day.
Back then, the miniature was a saint figure, but these days, it can be anything as long as it is ovenproof.
Though Epiphany is not a public holiday, the family gathering around the cake is much fun.
I remembered my younger self checking for apparent marks of the hidden charm that would make me a queen for the day.
Find more old-time Luxembourg treats as you roam the Grand-Duchy, enjoy fun things to do in Mullerthal or visit the Christmas Markets in Luxembourg.
5. Bretzel
From a tradition that dates back to the 18th century, Bretzelsonndeg or Pretzel Sunday is one of the most anticipated feasts in Luxembourg, featuring the sweet buttery dessert, pretzel that resembles an entwined lovers’ arms.
Luxembourg celebrates it on the 4th Sunday of Lent as a gourmet and cultural event of the Lent season, where lovers traditionally participate by giving pretzels to their loved ones.
The popular variety of pretzels is topped with powdered sugar and bits of almonds.
For Bretzelsonndeg, larger and softer pretzels are made as a sign of greater adoration for a loved one.
Pretzels were originally plain and salted, made of flour and water, but we Luxembourgish love them sweet, so we added eggs, butter, sugar, and almonds.
I can’t wait to share about other Luxembourg festivals, check out things to do in Echternach!
6. Wäffelcher (Waffle Cones)
A sweet treat passed down to family generations of Luxembourg is the waffle cones or Wäffelcher.
A true heritage, some rural museums showcased baking waffle cones using early methods. Traditionally, waffle batter is individually baked using a round waffle maker and wrapped around the handle of a wooden spoon to mold it into a cone.
Wäffelcher are very different from classic German or Belgian waffles.
They are buttery-thin, crispy, and rolled up. You can fill them with fruits and, of course, ice cream.
One of the easy Luxembourg desserts, the only bit challenging part I had was quickly rolling them up into a cone while they were still hot. But since I got the hang of it, making them was always fun, especially on Sunday afternoons with my family.
Look for the best homemade Wäffelcher from Berdorf camping guide top restaurants.
7. Mummentaart
Not just another kind of pie, Mummentaart is one of the most precious Luxembourg dessert recipes. An old-time favorite, many locals identify childhood memories with its sweet and authentic fruit aroma and flavor.
The flaky pastry crust ingredients are flour, butter, quark, water, and salt, while the fillings are made of small cubes of apples and raisins mixed with sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice.
To create some variety, some prefer to cover the top with lattice-shaped narrow strips of dough.
Rare to find now among Luxembourg bakeries, keeping a traditional recipe is like owning a treasure, but I won’t leave you with anything; mummentaart is available at Confiserie Namur, a Luxembourg bakery that has been around for 150 years.
8. Verwurelter
Verwurelter is one of our “Fusendkichelcher,” or delicious leavened dough donuts, a specialty during the Carnival period known to Luxembourg as Fuesent.
Carnival is a month-long festivity before Lent, which marks the start of fasting. Before “removing the meat,” which is what the word carnival means, the festive season features masked balls and the gourmet tradition of eating Verwurelter.
Verwurelter dough is shaped into knots, deep-fried until golden brown, and then rolled in powdered or granulated sugar. It is light, soft, and fluffy, made of flour, butter, yeast, warm milk, sugar, eggs, and salt.
I won’t see many of them after this joyous period, so I drop by bakeries or stores to grab some of these beloved Luxembourg desserts.
9. Kiermeskuch
This cake that evokes childhood nostalgia started from small village fairs where kiermes (fairground) songs are played.
As bigger attractions dominate the towns, these little fairs are becoming rare, making kiermeskuch one of the special traditional Luxembourg food you must try.
The dough’s main ingredients are flour, warm milk, and raisins. A baker must apply the right kneading to ensure it rises perfectly afterward.
The dough is placed in a loaf pan and baked for almost an hour.
On Sunday fairs, Kiermeskuch is traditionally consumed with Kirmes soup and Kiermes ham.
I remember joining some of these funfairs and loved this cake since for my Kaffiskränzchen, the Luxembourgish word for coffee and cake.
Explore Luxembourg’s cherished local traditions on day trips from Luxembourg and where to stay in Luxembourg.
10. Äppelklatzen
A popular sweet with a chewy texture and lush apple sweetness, Äppelklatzen is a sought-after dessert during holidays like Christmas, adding warmth to family gatherings.
Apples that typically grow on Luxembourg orchards are the star ingredient. The fruit slices are lightly cooked with cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar, then brushed with lemon juice and covered with pastry.
Dusted with cinnamon and confectioner’s sugar for a caramelized finish, the pastry is baked until golden brown.
Comforting and nostalgic, especially with a dollop of whipped cream, it is a holiday dessert I wouldn’t want to miss.
My thoughts on Luxembourg desserts
The traditions connected to Luxembourg’s culinary scenes are wonderful and festive ways to preserve Luxembourg dessert recipes—a rich heritage from our resourceful and food-loving ancestors.
Luxembourg’s classic desserts are diverse and deeply rooted in our ever-vibrant gourmet and family traditions. From fluffy donuts to fruit pies, indulge in our delectable sweets and savor the Grand Duchy’s culture firsthand with the best Luxembourg desserts to try once!
For Luxembourgish foods or restaurants near your accommodation, check out where to stay in Luxembourg City.
Hola! I’m Paulina, a seasoned travelette who crossed the Atlantic Ocean by Boat HitchHiking. On my blog, find expert insights for an extraordinary holiday through outdoor and sustainable travel like hiking, cycling, and sailing. Let’s embark on unforgettable journeys together! 🌍🚀
