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Sweet Traditions of Alsace France
at Easter

18-April-2025

Updated 29-March-2026

Easter arrives soon, and it is an important holiday in France which has a long history of Christianity, and more specifically Roman Catholicism. 

 

Within France, beautiful Alsace is a unique region full of its own historical and culinary traditions, and some of those traditions are on colorful display during the Easter holiday weekend.

 

Easter pastries and cakes fill the windows of the pâtisseries throughout Alsace. A pâtisserie is a type of bakery that makes pastries and cakes and for which the pâtissier (the pastry chef) has several years of schooling and training for this career.  Almost every French village has a pâtisserie showcasing its artistic and delicious French pastries and cakes. 

 

Pictured here are a few examples of Easter treats created by Pâtisserie Sipp in Bischheim, France just north of Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace. (These are Pâtisserie Sipp’s own photos of their creations from their Facebook page and copied here with their permission. Visit their Facebook page to see and learn more about their delicious and artistic creations!)​

Patisserie Sipp Easter Cakes
Patisserie Sipp Chocolate Easter Eggs

Pâtisserie Sipp Easter Chocolate Eggs

Pâtisserie Sipp Easter Cakes

Unique to Alsace is an Easter sponge cake called „The Lamb“.  These lamb-shaped cakes are finished with a dusting of sugar and enjoyed on Easter morning. The lamb is a symbol of Easter because Easter is about the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and he is referred to as the Lamb of God.

 

These little lamb cakes are for sale in Alsace during the Easter season, and they can also be made at home. How are these little lamb cakes made ? With Alsatian pottery, of course ! A special lamb-shaped mold is used to bake the cake.

Alsace Easter Lamb Sponge Cake
Alsace Easter Lamb Cake Pottery Mold

Poterie Lehmann Easter Lamb Cake Pottery Mold

Pâtisserie Sipp Easter Sponge Cake Lambs

More than 1000 years ago, Alsatian artisans began making pottery for everyday uses from the region’s plentiful clay soil. To this day Alsatian pottery is still locally made in two Alsatian villages, Soufflenheim and Betschdorf, just north of Strasbourg. 

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The pottery from Soufflenheim is colorful and designed for use in the kitchen and home, while the pottery from Betschdorf is more often ornamental and typically gray with cobalt blue decoration.  Here is a link to the beautiful pottery produced by Poterie Lehmann in Soufflenheim. 

 

Throughout our Alsace guided bicycle tour, we see and enjoy these sweet Alsatian traditions, whether it’s something delicious from the pâtisseries or the charming and colorful pottery in use or on display throughout the region. 

 

If this information sparks your interest and curiosity in Alsace, France, there is no better way to discover and immerse yourself in Alsace than by bicycle. 

 

Joyeuses Pâques (Happy Easter) et à bientôt (and see you soon)!

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