Are you looking for some foods to make for Swiss National Day on August 1st? This holiday celebrates the founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291.

Cervelat, Switzerland’s national sausage, is certainly a popular choice for many on Swiss National Day. Swiss meringues and berries shaped to resemble a Swiss flag also work well. In case it’s helpful, here are some other options for traditional foods and/or recipes that call for typically Swiss ingredients, such as Swiss dark chocolate.

1. Zopf  (German) / Tresse (French) / Treccia (Italian)

Made with a two-strand braid, this Swiss bread is often made with Zopfmehl (German), Farine pour tresse (French), or Farina pour treccia (Italian). Bakers will use this special Swiss flour comprised of wheat flour and about 10-15 percent spelt flour. If you need a recipe for Zopf, you’ll find one in my Swiss Bread book.

2. 1.-August-Weggen (German) / Petit Pain du 1er Août (French) / Panini del 1 Agosto (Italian)

These breads can vary in size from little buns to large round loaves. As their name implies, 1.-August-Weggen are made specifically for and around the time of Swiss National Day. They have the cross of the Swiss flag carved into their surface before baking. This is another recipe you’ll find in my Swiss Bread book.

3. Gschwellti

A super simple dish to make for Swiss National Day, Gschwellti describes boiled potatoes in their skins. You can serve them with a platter of Swiss cheeses, such as Emmentaler, Gruyère or Tête de Moine. As accompaniment, you could also mix together some freshly chopped herbs with quark (Kräuterquark).

4. Älplermagronen

My version of this classic Swiss macaroni and cheese known as Älplermagronen does not include potatoes or bacon (lardons). However, I do sprinkle it with homemade crispy onions before serving. And, I also add a side of applesauce, which I’ve learned to love, alongside this savory dish.

5. Arugula Salad with Tête de Moine

This quick salad that you can easily throw together was inspired by a recipe I found in a well-known Betty Bossi cookbook. It combines Tête de Moine cheese with apples, walnuts and arugula. This semi-hard Swiss cheese, made from raw cow’s milk, typically ages for a period of about 3-4 months on spruce planks.

6. Aargauer Rüeblitorte

The Aargauer Rüeblitorte is a Swiss-style carrot cake from the canton of Aargau. I like making it with an American-style cream cheese frosting. Seasoned with cinnamon, nutmeg and a splash of kirsch, this recipe does not call for flour. Instead, it contains a large quantity of ground almonds or hazelnuts and relies on eggs as a binder.

7. Swiss Dark Chocolate Pots

And finally, one of the easiest chocolate desserts that I make again and again are these Swiss Dark Chocolate Pots. Choose your favorite Swiss dark chocolate for this recipe. Plus, you can serve with many different kinds of toppings. I think it goes especially well with whipped or double cream.

Finally, what is your favorite food to have on Swiss National Day? Please leave a comment below or send me a message!