20 of the Best Traditional Pastries in Europe

Europeans are masters of the perfect pastry. Whether flakey or crispy, dusted with sugar, or filled with a luscious creamy concoction, they know how to create a mouthwatering marvel and have done so for hundreds of years.

From fabulous French fancies to perfect Polish pastries, let’s take a look at some of Europe’s very best traditional pastries. Which ones will you try on your next European vacation?

1. Croissant

This French classic sets the standard when it comes to fabulous flakey European pastries. Buy one in a traditional French bakery and revel in the pure deliciousness of it all!

2. St. Martin’s Croissant

These Polish croissants are iconic. Invented by a priest in the 19th century to feed the population over the winter, they enjoy legendary status in Poland. Visiting the Croissant Museum and Experience is one of the best things to do in Poznan, and you’ll even find St. Martin’s Croissants on the menu of some of the best restaurants in Poznan.

3. Churros

These long, sublime Spanish treats are like donuts in a different form. They are traditionally eaten by dipping them in a big pot of chocolate. Spectacular!

4. Pastel de Nata

A perennial Portuguese favorite, pastel de nata combines a flaky dough, edd custard filling, and a dusting of cinnamon for a deliciousness that hits you with just one bite.

5. Trigona Panoramatos

This traditional Greek sweet pastry comes in the form of a crispy and buttery triangle and filled with a heavenly creamy custard.

6. Kanelbulle

Kanelbulles are sublime Swedish pastries with buttery, slightly spiced dough and a generous filling flavored with cinnamon. This pastry even has its own day in Sweden — October 4th, known as Cinnamon Roll Day.

7. Apfelstrudel

A delectable traditional dessert, apfelstrudel, otherwise known as apple strudel, is one of Austria's most popular pastries. It combines a thin, flakey pastry with sticky, sweet apple filling.

8. Bomboloni

These sensational deep-fried donuts take on various forms throughout Italy and are particularly popular around carnival time.

9. Cannoli

A Sicilian dream, biting into a cannoli is pure pleasure. A tube-shaped outer pastry is filled with a silky smooth, creamy filling of ricotta.

10. Danish pastry

The famous Danish delight, this multilayered marvel, is said to have been brought to Denmark by Viennese master bakers. Whoever invented it was a genius because to bite into one is pure pleasure.

11. Pain au Chocolat

Another fabulous French pastry, this one is beloved by chocoholics worldwide. Also known as a chocolatine, the flaky pastry envelops the sensational chocolate ganache in the center.

12. Polish Donuts (Pączki)

These buttery sweet donuts usually come with a hint of rum added to the dough to help prevent oil soaking in during the frying process. They are often filled with plum jam to double the deliciousness.

13. Franzbrötchen

Originally made in the city of Hamburg, these little cinnamon infused, cone-shaped swirls are now popular throughout the whole of Germany.

14. Bougatsa

These gorgeous Greek desserts take the form of thinly rolled, hand-made phyllo pastry filled with custard and topped with a dusting of powdered sugar.

15. Brioche

Those French masters are at it again. Few things are quite as satisfying in life as biting into a soft buttery brioche loaf. When it’s baked right, it’s a pure delight.

16. Coca

This sweet candied bread is traditionally eaten during Easter time in Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia. It can take many shapes and sizes, and you’ll find them in practically every bakery in Barcelona during the Easter holidays.

17. Verkuny

These deep-fried pastry twists are a tantalizing treat and have been popular in Ukraine for generations. Simple yet sublime, they showcase just how delicious Ukrainian food can be.

18. Éclair

A chocolate lover’s dream, the French éclair is pure indulgence. The combination of buttery pastry, rich chocolate, and creamy filling is impossible to resist.

19. Joulutorttu

Translated into English as “Christmas tart,” joulutorttu is a traditional Finnish pastry made with thin puff pastry sheets and filled with plum jam. Each corner of the pastry is wrapped to resemble a star, making them particularly popular with kids.

20. Mince Pie

The only British entry on the list and another festive favorite, mince pies are beloved in England in particular and are a staple treat at Christmas time.