Traditional Christmas Eve dinner ideas and recipes

Is Christmas your favorite holiday? It is definitely ours. Especially with everything that is going on around the world, we need some holiday cheer. And what better way to get ourselves in a festive mood than to start preparing for Christmas. If you already have your decorations up and have started getting presents for everyone, the only thing you have left to do is get ready for the dinner party portion of the holiday. Planning a menu, however, is not easy, even if it just for a few people. So, we are here to help you with delicious recipes and Christmas Eve dinner ideas so you can wow your guests and let them enjoy the special dishes you have prepared.

Let’s start with a must have on Christmas – eggnog

Christmas dinner party ideas

Ingredients:

• 7 egg yolks
• 100gr muscovado sugar
• 400ml coconut milk
• 150ml coconut cream
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• melted chocolate, pink powdered sugar and rosemary branches for decoration

These are the ingredients you are going to need for this non traditional eggnog recipe

Use a hand mixer to beat the egg yolks with the muscovado sugar

In a pot whisk together the coconut milk, cream, vanilla extract, cinnamon sticks and nutmeg but don’t let it boil

Temper by pouring some of the milk mixture into the beaten egg yolks

Then pour the entire egg mixture into the pot

Pour into glasses and decorate with melted chocolate, pink powdered sugar and rosemary branches

Source: Archzine Studio

Healthy Yule Log recipe

Christmas dessert recipes

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 70gr muscovado sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 30ml almond milk
• 50 gr erythritol
• 135gr gluten-free flour mix
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• hazelnut cream
• dried cranberries
• melted dark chocolate
• powdered sugar

Yule Log recipe with just a few ingredients

Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites and beat them with the sugar, vanilla and milk

Add the flour, cocoa and baking powder and mix until fully incorporated

Whisk the egg whites until foam is achieved, adding the erythritol

Mix both mixtures until fully incorporated

Spread the mixture evenly onto a paper lined baking sheet and bake at 180° for 15-18 minutes

Transfer onto a towel covered with powdered sugar and remove the paper

Dust with powdered sugar and roll up using the towel while it’s still warm and let cool

Roll out and spread hazelnut cream and dries cranberries on top

Roll up again and decorate with melted dark chocolate and cranberries

Delicious and healthy Christmas dessert

Source: Archzine Studio

Easy and simple cranberry sauce recipe

Christmas Eve dinner ideas

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
• 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 12-oz bag of fresh or frozen cranberries
• orange zest
• a pinch of salt

Create this amazing sauce with just a few ingredients

Instructions:

1. Over high heat in a sauce pan bring the water, sugar and orange juice to a boil.
2. Add the cranberries, salt and orange zest and return to a boil. Reduce heat and let simmer for about 12 minutes.

All set!

Source: Once Upon a Chef

Christmas apple salad recipe

Christmas dinner ideas

Ingredients:

For the salad:

• 1 large Granny Smith apple
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 5 cups mixed green salad
• 1/4 cup pepitas
• 1/3 cup goat cheese

For the vinaigrette:

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp honey
• 1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp Dijon mustar
• black pepper

Instructions:

1. Toast the pepitas in a skillet over medium heat and set aside.
2. In a bowl mix the ingredients for the vinaigrette.
3. Chop the apples in this small bites.
4. In a large bowl, top the greens with the apple, cranberries and pepitas. Crumble goat cheese on top and drizzle with the vinaigrette. Toss and serve.

Source: Cookie and Kate

Bacon wrapped green beans

Christmas appetizers

Ingredients:

• 8 pork bacon rashers
• 1lb green beans
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• salt to taste

You can also make this recipe in an Instant Pot

Instructions:

1. Blanch the green beans by adding them to boiling water for about 5 minutes and transfer them to an ice bath.
2. Gather eight beans together and roll them in one bacon rasher tightly.
3. Preheat a skillet and add the bacon wrapped beans to it with the crease down. Cook for about 2 minutes on each side.
4. Sprinkle with salt and sliced almonds.

Source: Green Healthy Cooking

The best baked macaroni and cheese recipe

Christmas side dishes

Ingredients:

• 1lb macaroni
• 5 tbsp butter
• 6 tbsp flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
• 5 cups milk
• 8 oz shredded monterey jack cheese
• 8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

Instructions:

1. Cook macaroni according to package instructions.
2. In a pot melt the butter and add the flour, salt and nutmeg. Don’t stop whisking for about 2 minutes.
3. Gradually add the milk and bring to boil while stirring. Reduce heat and simmer for about 7 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and gradually add the cheeses until the melt. Add the pasta and cook over medium-low heat for about 6 minutes.
5. Transfer to a skillet and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Broil in a preheated oven for about 5 minutes.

Source: Jessica Gavin

Pull apart cheesy garlic bread recipe

Christmas food ideas

Ingredients:

• 1 loaf of bread
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup salted butter
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup shredded Colby jack cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• chopped parsley

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Cut the bread lengthwise.
3. In a bowl mix the softened butter, minced garlic, Italian seasoning and garlic powder. Spread onto each side of the bread evenly. Sprinkle the shredded cheeses on top.
4. Bake for about 15 minutes and garnish with chopped parsley.

Cut it into bites and serve

Source: The Recipe Critic

Honey glazed ham recipe

Christmas ham dinner

Ingredients:

• 1 spiral ham
• 3/4 cups water
• 2 whole star anise
• 12 whole cloves
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tbsp dijon
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 1/2tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp Worcestershire

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°.
2. Fit a roasting pan with a wire rack. Pour the water in the pan with the star anise and cloves. Put the ham on the wire rack and bake for 20 minutes.
3. In a bowl, mix the brown sugar, dijon, honey, vinegar, Worcestershire and black pepper together until fully combined.
4. Brush the ham with the glaze every 20 minutes while baking. Cook until the center is 130° or for about 2 hours.
5. Use a kitchen torch to caramelize the glaze.

Source: Tradadalan

Traditional roast turkey recipe

Christmas Eve dinner ideas

Ingredients:

• 12lb turkey, fully thawed
• 2 tsp lemon zest
• 3/4 cup softened butter
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme
• 1 tbsp fresh rosemary
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 yellow onion, quartered
• 8 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 bunch chopped parsley

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Remove the giblets and neck from the turkey and pat dry. Tuck wings under and season with salt and pepper.
3. Mix the lemon zest, butter, rosemary and thyme in a bowl.
4. Carefully separate the skin from the turkey and tuck 1/2 of the butter mixture inside. Rub the rest on the whole turkey skin and season with salt and pepper.
5. Transfer to baking rack. Stuff with onion, parsley and garlic and tie the legs together.
6. Bake covered with foil until the thickest part of the turkey is at 170°. The total baking time is about 2 hours and a half to 3 hours and a half.

Source: Cooking Classy

Here’s some more Christmas Eve Dinner ideas

Fill your table with delicious meals

There is nothing better than gingerbread cookies in the whole wide world