As seasoned Christmas market goers know, the incredible food and drink available at these festivities is a huge part of the overall experience. The good news is that many of these spectacular tastes can be found long after the Christmas market’s piney boughs have been pulled down for another season. Here’s where to go to get your fix of Christmas treats throughout the year.

Hot chocolate: When it comes time to warm up, a steaming cup of hot cocoa does that and more: a hankering for sweetness is satisfied, the drink’s aroma is pure pleasure, and some could even swear they sense happiness-inducing endorphins coursing through their bodies after consuming chocolate. While no single Christmas market has been tagged as serving the Continent’s most luscious hot cocoa drink, one could do worse than cap off a visit to Brussels’ Christmas seasonal extravaganza, Winter Wonders, with a visit to the Mary chocolate shop, where countless happy visitors swear they’ve indulged in the best hot chocolates of their lives. The shop, founded by a woman in 1919, holds the title of Belgian Royal Warrant Holder, meaning it’s a supplier to the king’s court. The brand good enough for royalty can be enjoyed at 73 Rue Royal in Brussels. There are five other Mary shops in the Belgian capital, shops in the Belgian cities of Antwerp and Bruges, and in a handful of locations in Japan. Online: mary.be/en/home

Gingerbread: Gingerbread, or Lebkuchen, has been a specialty of Nuremberg, Germany, since at least the 14th century. The city’s prime location along a spice trading route and a profusion of honeybees in the nearby forests contributed to the concoction of this sweet treat that nowadays bears a protective trademark of geographic origin under European law. Plain or glazed, with flavor additions such as orange peel, raisins or marzipan, or made of ground nuts in lieu of flour (the so-called Elisenlebkuchen), these thick, chewy cookies can be procured at the stand of Lebkuchen Schmidt at Nuremburg’s Christkindlesmarkt. This particular baker also sets up pop-up shops and stands at Christmas markets across Germany. And during the non-festive season as well, its flagship store at Zollhausstrasse 30 in Nuremberg sells its sweet and spicy creations. Online: lebkuchen-schmidt.com/en

Marzipan: The sweet almond paste known as marzipan plays both a starring and supporting role in countless Christmas market products. Sweet figurines of ladybugs or smiling piglets are pure marzipan pleasure, whereas cream liquors, chocolates or candied nuts are often flavored with the stuff. The city of Lübeck in northern Germany is the country’s center of production, a tradition that goes back more than 200 years, when marzipan was considered helpful in fighting colds and raising libidos. No trip to this former member of the trade and defense network known as the Hanseatic League is complete without a visit to the Niederegger marzipan shop, which offers more than 300 variations of the treat, from pralines to fancy teacakes to chocolate-covered loaves. Niederegger’s shop is located at Breite Strasse 89, right next to the Town Hall; its café and museum are also in the immediate area. Online: niederegger.de

Kaiserschmarrn: This dish of fluffy, shredded pancakes takes its name from the Austrian emperor Franz Joseph I, who was said to be fond of this filling dessert that remains a firm favorite in Austria and Bavaria. Typically served with raisins or other dried fruits and apple, berry or plum sauce on the side, it’s long been warming tummies well north of the Alps too, and Christmas markets are a prime place to indulge in it. Outside of the festive season, Munich is a good bet for finding a plate of this homey comfort food. This dish that lends itself so well to sharing can be tried at the Kaisergarten, located at Kaiserstrasse 34. Other Bavarian specialties such as suckling pig, schnitzel and roast chicken are served there too. Online: kaisergarten.com

Nougat: Nougat, the sweet treat traditionally made with sugar or honey along with whipped egg whites, is known as turrón in Spanish and torrone in Italian. While its exact origins are lost in time, similar sweets were considered delicacies by ancient Romans and Arabians. In Italy, torrone is one of the staple treats of the holiday season and widely enjoyed from the Alpine regions to Sicily. A city with a particularly strong tie to this either chewy or brittle, nut-laden delight is Cremona, where there’s even a festival held in its honor. Of the many shops selling torrone throughout the year, Negozio Sperlali 1836 is well worth a visit, not only to check out its claim of holding the oldest business license in the province. The store located at Via Solferino 25 sells, in addition to the confection, jams, wine, spirits, mustard and more. Online: sperlari1836.com/storia.php

Churros: Coated with sugar and served piping hot, churros are a vaguely doughnut-like treat commonly enjoyed by dipping their tubular ridged forms into little pots full of thick, dark chocolate. Nowadays a common sight at Germany’s Christmas markets and beyond, churros trace their origins back to Spain, where they’re eaten not only for breakfast but from food trucks. To sample what many people hail as the best anywhere in the country, make way to La Chocolatería San Ginés in Madrid. It’s worth braving the morning rush of eager customers standing in front of the café located at Pasadizo de San Ginés, 5 for a taste of both history and greatness. According to its website, the café is open for business 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Online: chocolateriasangines.com