Strawberry yule logs, pistachio mousse, truffle and other seasonal creations that are perfect for your holiday table
It’s not an official holiday here, but Christmas in Japan, with its winter illuminations and bizarrely high demands for KFC buckets, is one of the most joyous and highly anticipated times of year. While you might not be convinced of the festive undertones of a family-sized portion of fried chicken, it’s hard not to be enchanted by the season’s dazzling Christmas cakes that dominate the pastry shops and depachika this time of year.
Strawberry shortcakes are by far the most popular cakes to get in December, but that doesn’t mean you’re at a loss if strawberries and cream isn’t quite your taste. Whether you’re after something fruity, chocolatey or anything in between, this year’s Christmas creations will leave you spoiled for choice.
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Matcha speciality store Treee’s Kyoto has some pretty desserts made with organic Uji matcha. This beautiful tree-shaped matcha mousse cake is a stunner. Underneath the tree of matcha mousse you'll find a whole freeze-dried strawberry, which adds texture to the otherwise silky smooth cake.
Order online for ¥1,944
Flipper’s may be best known for its fluffy pancakes but you’ll want to try out its seasonal Christmas cake, too. This seasonal special features a rich roasted pistachio mousse wrapped in a chocolate cream and a tart berry sauce. The cake is then covered in Flipper's signature maple buttercream and decorated with fresh strawberries and white chocolate shards.
Order online for ¥3,980
Fresh cream speciality store Milk has created a beautiful Christmas cake made to look like a holiday snow globe. Expect layers of moist sponge cake, condensed milk sauce and fresh Hokkaido whipped cream. The outer layer, which resembles fresh snow, is actually delicate sponge cake crumbles.
Order online for ¥4,500
This dreamy cake pairs a rich chocolate mousse with a chocolate biscuit base and is slathered with plenty of berry jelly. Warm spices such as cinnamon, cardamom and ginger are also used in the cake to give it a deep and aromatic flavour. Yes, it tastes just like Christmas.
Order online for ¥5,000
Patisserie Sadaharu Aoki Paris is offering six gorgeous Christmas cakes including the stunning Noël Fraise Chantilly. This festive offering is a twist on the classic Bûche de Noël, featuring strawberry gelée and strawberry confit enveloped in a smooth vanilla cream. The cake is topped with fresh strawberries, cream chantilly and a sprinkling of pistachios.
Order online for ¥5,616
Shaped like a Christmas wreath, this festive cake from the Peninsula Tokyo is made from pistachio mousse dotted with bits of roasted pistachios. Underneath the mousse sits a cinnamon and hazelnut sponge cake covered with an almond nougat mousse plus plenty of dried fruits. To top it off, the cake is covered with elegant white chocolate decorations.
Order online for ¥5800 (12cm), ¥6,800 (16cm)
Park Hyatt Tokyo’s executive pastry chef Julien Perrinet and his team have outdone themselves again this year with festive goodies like stollen, cookies and St Honoré cakes, as well as three variations of bûche de Noël yule logs.
The Bûche Maestro is made with a mix of Amaou strawberries, blueberries and raspberries with layers of pistachio financier and cream, while the Bûche Corsica combines clementines with Japanese chestnuts for a bright and citrusy Christmas dessert. Meanwhile, the Bûche Saint-Malo – inspired by chef Julien’s hometown in France – is a rich and chocolatey affair of salted caramel, hazelnut mousse and white chocolate.
Order online for ¥6,800 to ¥7,800 (orders must be placed at least four days in advance)
This light and airy Christmas Pavlova, created by executive pastry chef Toshihisa Miyagawa, is inspired by a snowy white forest. The sponge cake is soaked in raspberry compote and syrup and then covered in crisp little meringues and topped with fresh strawberries.
Order online for ¥7,344
Andaz Tokyo’s decadent Christmas Tree Profiterole cake is made completely of cream puffs. The choux pastries feature different fillings including custard cream as well as chocolate and strawberry cream. Under the ‘tree’ you’ll find a tart base filled with almond cream and fresh berries.
Order online for ¥8,500
Nothing screams Christmas in Japan more than a classic strawberry shortcake. This New Otani creation is particularly stunning, made with premium ingredients such as Hakata Amaou strawberries and whipped cream sourced from Omuta in Kyushu.
Order online for ¥11,340
This luxurious sweet-savoury Christmas cake from the Imperial Hotel Tokyo is supervised by head chef Yu Sugimoto and is crafted with the peculiar addition of European truffles. The banana-flavoured cake features a rich truffle cream centre and is covered with chocolate terrine, chocolate crunch, dried figs and nuts.
Order online for ¥23,000
From snowy mountains to a white onsen town, there are plenty of places to make the most of the chilly season
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