Winters can be difficult with the long cold, dark spells. But thankfully the winters are also a time for some of the best holiday treats. Recipe books are whipped out, special ingredients are purchased and extra effort is taken to create some rich strong flavours that help dispel the icy winds. It also helps that every country has its own unique take on these winter goodies, allowing for multiple variants and flavours. Here are my three favourites from Croatia:

Roasted Chestnuts – Nothing warms the day like the aroma of roasting chestnuts. At the beginning of autumn and through winter, chestnut stands spring up along the squares and street corners; the vendor’s fingertips stain darker with every order, the air smells delicious.

Kolač – Kolač covers the large territory between pastries and cakes –it includes everything from dessert rolls, with walnuts and chocolate, to traditional dessert preparations, with ingredients like coconut, to regular tortes and cakes.

Hot Wine – But my favourite by a mile is a cup of Hot Wine or Kuhano Vino. Hot wine is prepared by cooking red wine with water, and flavouring it with ingredients like sugar, cloves and cinnamon, a dash or orange juice, (maybe lemon) and honey. It’s what I call a cup full of winter warmth.

How about you? What winter treats do you enjoy the best?