A Simple Pastry with a Homemade Look: Joulutorttu is a Beloved Taste of Finnish Christmas

The joulutorttu (Yule tarte) is one of the most recognisable and cherished Christmas pastries in Finland. It is eaten primarily in Finland, and for many Finns it is an unquestioned part of Christmas—just as essential as the Christmas tree, rice porridge, and boxes of chocolate. The joulutorttu is commonly available in cafés at an affordable price, and baking it at home is both easy and quick, which adds to its enduring popularity.

A joulutorttu is made from puff pastry and can take several shapes, but the most familiar version is a four-pointed star. It is especially popular as a home-baked treat, with the first joulutorttu often made well before Christmas itself. Home baking is straightforward, as the pastry is almost always bought ready-made in frozen sheets.

The pastry sheets are thawed, cut, and shaped, and children often take part in the process. The appearance of a joulutorttu is meant to be homemade rather than perfect, so even small hands are usually skilled enough to help. Taste matters more than looks!

Plum Jam at the Heart of Tradition

Traditionally, a spoonful of plum jam is placed in the centre of a joulutorttu. It is by far the most common and typical filling, and in many people’s minds the only truly authentic choice. While other fillings—such as apricot or raspberry jam—are now used, and even savoury versions exist, the classic plum-filled joulutorttu remains the most iconic and instantly recognisable version.

Fresh from the Oven

When a joulutorttu comes out of the oven, it is golden brown and fills the kitchen with the rich aroma of buttery pastry and hot plum jam. The jam is intensely hot, and many people burn their tongues by taking a bite too soon—impatience often wins, even though the risk is well known. Some people finish a joulutorttu with a light dusting of icing sugar, but this is entirely optional.

Joulutorttu in Cafés and Everyday Life

A joulutorttu is not enjoyed only at home. It is a staple of Christmas-time café menus and is easy to find almost anywhere in Finland during December. For many Finns, a cup of coffee and a joulutorttu form an inseparable pairing in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

There is no single correct way to eat a joulutorttu: some people bite into the pastry point by point, while others pull the points apart with their fingers and eat them one at a time.

A Simple Guide to Making a Joulutorttu

Making a joulutorttu begins with ready-made puff pastry sheets, which are taken out of the freezer and left to thaw at room temperature. Once the pastry has softened but is still cool, the sheets are usually cut in half, forming palm-sized squares. Slits are then cut from each corner towards the centre.

The pastry points are folded alternately towards the middle to create the familiar star shape. Once the shape is formed, a spoonful of plum jam (or another chosen filling) is placed in the centre. Whether you place the plum jam in position before shaping the pastry or only add it on top of the finished four-pointed star is a matter of personal preference. Both methods are commonly used.

The prepared joulutorttu is set on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. It is baked until golden brown, with the puff pastry risen and crisp.

The article has been translated, and the main image was produced using AI.

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