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A little bit French, quite German and very Swiss, Basel is a charming European melting pot tucked into Switzerland’s northwest corner, straddling the banks of the Rhine. Often overlooked by more glamorous destinations such as Geneva and Lucerne, Basel is less flashy and quietly the culture capital of Switzerland.
Basel has a thriving art scene (Art Basel anyone?) and legendary festivals and carnivals including Fasnacht – the equivalent of Mardi Gras in New Orleans or Carnival in Brazil. Basel is also host to Basler Herbstmesse (Autumn Fair) which has been going for over 500 years, as well as a traditional Christmas Market.
All this partying leaves locals hungry, so unsurprisingly, Basel is home to an array of unique Swiss desserts and sweet treats. Surprisingly, however, is that these Swiss desserts aren’t so easy to find elsewhere.
I have family split between Chicago and Basel and for years we have been running a small-scale trans-Atlantic racket in chocolates and other goodies – especially at the holidays. So if you’re lucky enough to be visiting soon, here’s a few of the things you should look out for – and slip into your suitcase!
1. Chocolate
I kept this broad – and for good reason. Like barbecue and Texas, chocolate and Switzerland go hand-in-hand, and Basel is no exception. There’s a lot of chocolate here and honestly, almost all of it is good. Of course you can find all the major Swiss brands here like Lindt and Sprüngli. People also positively rave about the price and quality of the store-branded stuff from the supermarket Migros.
However, I have it on good authority from my step-grosi (Swiss German for grandmother) – 80+ years a Basel resident and former ingredient supplier to Basel’s finest restaurants – that the best chocolates in Basel are found at Beschle.
Beschle really is quite special. They do the classics – truffles, pralines – impeccably (it’s the champagne truffles for me, please). But don’t overlook their chocolate bars; they have some exotic and delicious flavor combinations such as white chocolate with matcha and lassi and lemon. Basel is not resting on its own loins when it comes to producing magnificent flavors, which is why Swiss desserts in Basel feel a little different to elsewhere.
For a totally under-the-radar tourist activity, Beschle hosts chocolate workshops where you can make your own chocolate bar (and learn a lot about chocolate). And since you’re on vacation, book an aperitif to enjoy during your workshop!
Oh, and they also make the eponymous, Beschle ring, a true Basel classic. A beautiful wreath design, it’s made from alternating layers of Beschle créme and light biscuits topped with almond brittle. It’s a firm favorite throughout the city. To be honest, if you haven’t tried the Beschle ring, you haven’t really experienced the best of Swiss desserts.
2. Basler Läckerli
Perhaps not one for everybody, Basler Läckerli is a dense, spiced biscuit with honey, almonds, hazelnuts, candied fruit and a hefty drop of kirsch (cherry liqueur). It feels reminiscent of gingerbread, but I think it has a more complex flavor and a lot more texture. Like gingerbread, it definitely tastes like the holidays.
Jakob’s Basler Leckerly has been churning out these biscuits since 1753 and they swear the recipe for the classic version hasn’t changed in over 250 years. If this sounds like your kind of treat, pop in for a visit. If you’re really keen, they also offer public and private tours.
Läckerli Huus is the relative newcomer in town, starting only just over a century ago in 1903. They’re arguably more popular for Basler Läckerli, but I think the only way to know which is better is to take yourself on a self-guided food safari and try them both.
3. Carac
Carac is a traditional tart found mostly in French-speaking Switzerland. While Basel is German-speaking, you can literally walk to France in just a few minutes – so a few goodies have hopped the border. Luscious chocolate ganache fills a crumbly, sweet pastry case with a traditionally green fondant topping.
For these exquisite delights head to Brändli, where you can enjoy the perfect traditional chocolate carac. They also do a lemon version, and while not strictly traditional, it’s easily my pick between the two. Full disclosure: Brändli is based in Aarau, about an hour down the road – but they’ve had their cafe in Basel since 1935. They still serve some of the best Swiss desserts though.
4. Schoggiweggli
Schoggiweggli. What a word. Think hot cross bun, but oh so much better. A soft, pillowing bun with big generous chunks of dark chocolate and not too sweet. What a treat. Virtually every bakery and confectionery in Basel do their own version of these, so it’s very easy to do a taste test. The gold standard, according to my expert step-grosi, is found at Confiserie Bachman in Basel.
While we’re on the topic of pastries, drop into Baeckerei Kult for breakfast or lunch. For a city full of legacy bakeries, patisseries and confectioneries many of which have been around for hundreds of years – Baeckerei Kult is a newborn. Opened in 2016, it quickly put itself on the Basel culinary map. Everything here – and I do mean everything – is made from scratch and completely by hand.
In many ways, a trip to Baeckerei Kult is an experience of modern Basel which takes all of the best of ancient Basel and mixes in a bit of contemporary to create wonderful things.
5. Feuerzangenbowle
Not one for the suitcase and not, strictly speaking, dessert but I’m going to include it as dessert adjacent. So you have some lovely mulled wine, now take a rum-soaked sugarloaf, set it on fire and let it drip into the wine. There you have it, one of Switzerland’s most popular holiday adult beverages.
There’s no better place to enjoy feuerzangenbowle than while wandering around Basel’s charming Christmas Market (which is set to be even more spectacular this year). But this Swiss dessert also makes the rounds at Christmas and New Year parties across the country.
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