Christmas Recipes

Meggan Hill

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Discover all of our best Christmas Recipes on Culinary Hill. Prime rib, baked ham, roasted turkey, all the side dishes, soups and salads, bread and rolls, desserts, drinks, and appetizers. It’s all here, organized by category. Cheers!

Prime rib cut into slices on a white platter with a serving fork.

Whether you mostly stick to a traditional Christmas menu year after year or are looking for fresh inspiration, these Christmas recipes can serve up a hearty helping of joy and happiness at any holiday table.

I’ve organized everything by category (starting with the sweets!) so you can browse and see what looks good. Discover delicious food, cozy drinks, and lots of sweet treats this holiday season!

Table of Contents

  1. Christmas Cookie Recipes
  2. Christmas Candy Recipes
  3. Christmas Dessert Recipes
  4. Christmas Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
  5. Christmas Dinner Side Dish Recipes
  6. Christmas Soups and Salads
  7. Christmas Bread Recipes
  8. Christmas Dinner Recipes
  9. Christmas Appetizer Recipes
  10. Christmas Drink Recipes
  11. Vegetarian Christmas Recipes
  12. Feast of the Seven Fishes

Whether you’re hosting a Baking Day, Cookie Exchange, or just baking for your family, here are our best Christmas Cookie Recipes to sweeten your holiday.

Christmas Sugar Cookies
These frosted Christmas Sugar Cookies are my grandma’s best recipe, so buttery and sweet! A family favorite. No Christmas is complete without them.
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Frosted sugar cookies decorated for Christmas on a baking rack.
Thumbprint Cookies
Buttery and tender-crisp, these Thumbprint Cookies shine like gems on your Christmas cookie plate. Fill them with any jam you love and watch them disappear.
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Thumbprint cookies on a gray plate.
Spritz Cookies
My mom’s classic Spritz cookies recipe is the only one you need! These tiny cookies are crunchy, sweet, and perfect with a sprinkle of colored sugar.
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Spritz cookies on a red plate.
Pizzelle
An easy Pizzelle recipe for the classic Italian cookie, lightly sweetened and flavored with vanilla or anise. All you need are 6 ingredients and 1 pizzelle maker!
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Pizzelles stacked on a cooling rack.

Christmas Candy Recipes

These homemade candies feature nuts, peanut butter, candy canes, cookies, and plenty of chocolate! Many options are no-bake or just a few ingredients, too.

Christmas Crack
You'll love this salty, sweet, crunchy, chewy saltine cracker candy, sometimes known as Christmas Crack, and you can make it in 15 minutes with just 5 ingredients!
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A stack of Christmas crack on a plate.
No Bake Peanut Butter Balls
With just 5 ingredients, learn how to make No Bake Peanut Butter Balls that will fly off the platter or make a stellar food gift idea. This easy homemade candy recipe is a winner at any holiday party (or on any day you want to taste like a holiday!).
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No bake peanut butter balls on a white plate.
Rolo Pretzel Candies
Not all homemade candy recipes require a thermometer or tricky techniques! My 3-ingredient Rolo Pretzel Candies are the perfect quick and easy dessert recipe.
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Rolo pretzel candies on a tray with Christmas sprinkles.

Christmas Dessert Recipes

When you’re looking for something more than just cookies and candy, these cakes and pies might be just the thing. Some are Christmas-specific and others are just decadent sweets that should be enjoyed with loved ones all year round.

Cranberry Wreath Cake
Cranberry Wreath Cake is a luscious chocolate cake covered in sweet vanilla buttercream and is perfect for the holidays or any winter celebration. A crown of fresh rosemary and sugared cranberries makes a stunning finishing touch.
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A cranberry wreath cake on a granite cake platter with a small plate of sugared cranberries next to it.
Oreo Brownie Trifle
Layers of brownies, chocolate pudding, whipped topping, and crushed Oreo cookies star in this Oreo Brownie Trifle that's easy enough for any day but elegant enough for a holiday dessert.
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Oreo brownie trifle assembled in a trifle dish.
Cranberry Cheesecake Galette
This Cranberry Cheesecake Galette is an easy free-form tart with a rich cheesecake filling and cranberry sauce. Keep things easy with store-bought pie crust and your leftover cranberry sauce from the holidays!
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Cranberry cheesecake galette on a piece of parchment paper over a cooling rack.
Easy Chocolate Eclair Cake
This no-bake easy chocolate eclair cake is the recipe my mom used to make, and one of my family’s favorites. Inspired by the chocolate eclair cake Portillo’s serves, it comes together in about ten minutes—all you have to do is make it the day before you need it, put it down on the table with some forks, and get out of the way.
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A slice of chocolate eclair cake on a white round plate with a fork.

Christmas Breakfast and Brunch Recipes

Special mornings call for an epic morning feast. Choose sweet, savory, or a mix of both. There are lots of kid-friendly options and easy recipes that can be made ahead, too.

Baked French Toast
This custardy make-ahead Baked French Toast recipe only gets better as it chills overnight. Come morning, add a cinnamon streusel topping, bake, and pile with fresh berries for a delicious breakfast for six!
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Baked french toast on a plate covered with berries.
Mini Quiche 4 Ways
Skip the coffee shop sous vide egg bites and make your own Mini Quiche instead. Tucked inside a pastry crust, try all four flavor variations for this freezable egg breakfast recipe.
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A wooden board filled with 4 varieties of mini quiche.
Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
If you like your Cinnamon Rolls gooey, rich, and drowning in cream cheese icing, this is the recipe for you! The dough is made with yeast because: There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.
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Homemade cinnamon rolls on a baking sheet.
How to Scramble Eggs
The softest, fluffiest, and best scrambled eggs are only 7 minutes away. Grab some some butter and a skillet; it's time to master how to scramble eggs once and for all.
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Scrambled eggs on a plate with toast triangles, bacon slices, parsley, and a roasted tomato.

Christmas Dinner Side Dish Recipes

Buttery mashed potatoes, tender-crisp roasted vegetables, and cozy casseroles are all great choices for your Christmas Feast. And I never miss a second opportunity to indulge in stuffing and cranberry sauce!

The Best Mashed Potatoes
The Best Mashed Potatoes in the world are just 3 ingredients (plus salt and pepper) and so simple, they barely even need a recipe.
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The Best Mashed Potatoes in a blue Dutch oven.

Breakfast Recipes

Cheesy Potato Casserole

Cheesy Potato Casserole is a cornerstone holiday recipe in the Midwest. This version has from-scratch cream of chicken soup and a crunchy cornflake topping.

1 hour 35 minutes
Vegetable Casserole
Vegetable Casserole, just like mom used to make! Made with frozen veggies, Velveeta, and buttery cracker crumbs, it's always the first side dish to disappear.
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A pan of vegetable casserole with Velveeta and cracker crumbs.

Side Dish Recipes

Twice-Baked Potatoes

A true steakhouse classic, Twice Baked Potatoes are doubly delicious and easy to make ahead. These show-stealers are loaded up with lots of cheddar, bacon, and scallions for major flavor in every bite. Twice Baked…

1 hour 30 minutes
Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole
This Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole is a great mix of convenience and from-scratch cooking and won't take up any oven space.
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Slow cooker green bean casserole on a patterned platter.

Vegetable Recipes

Roasted Asparagus

An easy recipe for Roasted Asparagus with olive oil, garlic, and lemon. The high oven temperature cooks it to tender-crisp perfection in 10 minutes or less.

15 minutes
Baked Mac and Cheese
Take a break from the blue box mac. Homemade Baked Mac and Cheese is the epitome of comfort food! The irresistible garlic butter breadcrumb-topped casserole is a surprisingly easy dinner recipe, calling for just 10 minutes of prep time.
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A scoop of mac and cheese with garlic butter crumbs.

Side Dish Recipes

Cranberry Sauce with Apples

Update your Cranberry Sauce with apples for a simple and sweet twist on the classic Thanksgiving side. Tasty without getting too crazy! In my family, Thanksgiving is all about traditions. The turkey goes in the oven,…

20 minutes
Harvest Roasted Vegetables
An easy recipe for Harvest Roasted Vegetables with butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, cranberries, bacon, and walnuts. Your new favorite fall side dish!
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A serving of harvest roasted vegetables on a white plate.

Christmas Soups and Salads

Start your supper with hearty soups or crisp salads. Soup is great in a slow cooker for a potluck or buffet, and salads add a much-needed breather to all the rich food elsewhere. Some classics, like Seven Layer Salad, stand alone as epic holiday dishes in their own right.

Cream of Broccoli Soup
This easy Cream of Broccoli Soup recipe is rich, decadent, and full of fresh broccoli florets. It’s an absolute classic and perfect for cold weather!
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A bowl of cream of broccoli soup with croutons on top.
Seven Layer Salad
Bright, crunchy, and colorful, this easy Seven Layer Salad recipe is a fun blast from the past for any party. Make it as-is, just like you remember it, or switch up those layers in a million different delicious ways.
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Seven layer salad in a glass dish.
Citrus Salad
Citrus Salad with strawberries and pomegranate is healthful fruit salad elevated to a higher level, gorgeous enough for a special occasion yet easy to make.
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Citrus salad on a white plate.
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
More dessert than salad, Strawberry Pretzel Salad is sweet, salty, made with Jell-O, and topped with cool whip.  If you're still reading, it loves to be made ahead and is an absolute winner at potlucks and parties!
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A serving of strawberry pretzel salad on a white plate with a fork.

Christmas Bread Recipes

Homemade bread is a true luxury at the holidays (or any time of year). If you have the chance, fire up your oven, break out the yeast, and bake some bread or rolls for the ones you love.

Soft Yeast Dinner Rolls
When nothing but homemade bread will do, try these easy Soft Yeast Dinner Rolls. They are perfect at your holiday table, on the side of Sunday Supper, piled with any kind of meat, or served simply with a bowl of soup.
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Soft yeast dinner rolls on a baking sheet.
Homemade Crescent Rolls
Pillowy soft with a sweet, buttery taste, these Homemade Crescent Rolls are perfect for all the holidays or a weekend baking project.
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A basket of homemade crescent rolls.

Christmas Dinner Recipes

Keep it simple or pull out all the stops – we’ve got plenty of main dishes for you to consider! Beef, pork, ham, chicken, turkey, salmon, and scallops are all delicious options to center your feast.

Dr. Pepper Ham
Your search for the best baked ham recipe ends here. A Dr. Pepper glaze and an oven bag (trust me!) make this the ultimate holiday ham recipe.
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A Dr. Pepper ham on a serving platter.
Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Fennel
This fabulous Bacon-wrapped Pork Tenderloin with roasted fennel is the sheet pan dinner of your dreams. The pork is tender, the bacon is salty, and the fennel soaks up the juices from both! It's also fancy enough for "company" and ready in an hour.
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Bacon wrapped pork tenderloin surrounded by roasted fennel and onions.
Perfect Roast Turkey
The most Perfect Roast Turkey recipe relies on dry-brining and butter-basting for the juiciest, most delicious turkey you've ever had. Save your pan drippings too for an easy classic gravy recipe.
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A platter of roast turkey garnished with grapes.
The Best Make Ahead Lasagna
The best Make Ahead Lasagna has three kinds of cheese, two different meats, one fantastic homemade sauce, and oodles of real noodles that require absolutely zero boiling.
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The best make ahead lasagna slice on a white plate.

Christmas Appetizer Recipes

Small bites, shareable boards, and dips by the dozen. There are so many ways to snack at Christmas, it’s hard to narrow down the menu. A few appetizers can stave off hunger before a formal dinner, or have a buffet of just appetizers. They are great for small gatherings, open houses, and even Christmas movie nights.

Midwest Charcuterie Board
A Midwest Charcuterie Board ripe with regional offerings is perfect for all-day grazing and parties with people you love. Make a few things, buy the rest, enjoy it all!
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Midwest Charcuterie board on a gray countertop.
Antipasto Platter
For a snack dinner or Italian appetizer idea, you can't beat this easy Antipasto Platter. It takes just 20 minutes to build a feast of cured meats, cheeses, olives, and more.
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An antipasto platter on a wooden tray.
Jarcuterie
This appetizer recipe idea is more than a trend! Jarcuterie, or single-serving charcuterie assembled in a jar, is ideal for parties, potlucks, or even food gifts.
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Jarcuteries on a wooden cutting board.
How to Make Ceviche
Learn how to make ceviche, a zesty fresh fish and citrus salad enjoyed throughout Mexico and South America. It’s so light and irresistibly delicious, you’ll be hooked from the very first bite.
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Tilapia ceviche in a bowl with chips.
Mezze Platter
Craving a taste of the Mediterranean, Middle East, or North Africa? Discover how to make the ultimate Mezze Platter, a global cousin to a charcuterie board or antipasto platter, for a taste of the region right in the comfort of your own home.
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Dukkah, eggplant dip, hummus, artichokes, and olives in bowls

Christmas Drink Recipes

It might be fun to choose a signature drink to offer at your party, and it could be non-alcoholic with a bottle of spirits on the side for the 21+ crowd. Many drink recipes include “big batch” and individual instructions depending on your preference for serving. Whatever you choose, a warm-up option is always appreciated!

Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider
Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider is simple to make, sweet, and delicious. This welcoming, spiced hot beverage makes the whole house smell amazing, too.
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Slow cooker cranberry apple cider in a clear mug.
Brandy Old Fashioned
From Friday fish fries to supper clubs, the Wisconsin drink of choice is a Brandy Old Fashioned. Here's the authentic recipe for the Wisconsin twist on this famous classic cocktail.
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A brandy old fashioned in a clear glass.
The Best Moscow Mule
Discover the secret ingredients to the Best Moscow Mule you’ve ever tasted! Developed by a bartender friend in Minnesota, this mule is miles ahead the rest of the pack and perfect for your next happy hour.
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The best Moscow mule in a copper mug with a lime.
Mexican Christmas Punch (Ponche Navideño)
Mexican Christmas Punch (Ponche Navideño) is a warm, deliciously fruity, naturally sweetened punch perfect for cold weather.
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Mexican Christmas punch on a serving tray surrounded by fruits.

Vegetarian Christmas Recipes

In addition the obvious plant-based sides and vegetables above, here are some hearty entrees and appetizers that will appeal to plant lovers and meat eaters alike.

Vegetable Lasagna
When a dinner like Vegetable Lasagna hits the table, no one will miss the meat—not even diehard meat lovers. Filled with spinach, mushrooms, ricotta, and an easy homemade tomato sauce, this labor of love recipe is worth every minute.
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Vegetable lasagna on a blue plate.
Eggplant Parmesan
This recipe for Eggplant Parmesan uses the high heat of the oven for crispy breaded eggplant without the mess of a deep fryer. Add my 10-minute quick tomato sauce or your favorite jarred sauce and lots of mozzarella for a delicious homemade Italian dinner.
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Eggplant parmesan in a white baking dish.
Cauliflower Gratin
If you like scalloped potatoes or potatoes au gratin, then prepare to meet your new favorite side dish recipe: Cauliflower Gratin. This easy vegetable casserole features a creamy garlic Alfredo sauce that will convince even picky eaters to enjoy eating vegetables.
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Cauliflower gratin in a casserole dish.