Christmas Recipes for Dinner, Cookies, and Every Party in Between

Christmas recipes that work for the whole season, from the cookie tray you start in early December to the roast on the 25th. I'm a classically trained chef, and these are the dishes I actually make for my family every year.

You'll find mains, sides, party food, cookies, candy for gifting, Christmas morning brunch, and drinks. Start with the section you're stuck on; nobody needs to plan all of it at once.

Hershey Kiss Cookies (Peanut Butter Blossoms)

The Christmas cookie everyone looks for on the tray: soft peanut butter, rolled in sugar, a Kiss pressed in right out of the oven.

Get the cookie recipe

Christmas Dinner Mains

The roast is the anchor of Christmas dinner, so pick one and build around it. Use a probe thermometer for every one of these; the clock lies, the thermometer doesn't.

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Holiday Side Dishes

Christmas sides should hold well and share the oven. Most of these can be assembled the day before and baked while the roast rests.

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What to Serve With Beef Wellington

Making Beef Wellington for Christmas? Here are the sides that won't compete with it.

See the sides

A plate with vegetables and potatoes, perfect as sides for beef wellington.

Christmas Party Appetizers and Snacks

Holiday party food has to sit on a buffet and still taste good an hour later. These are the ones I put out for open houses and Christmas Eve grazing.

Christmas Cookies

These are the cookies that go on my tray every year, a few of them family recipes that have been baked for generations. Most of the doughs freeze well, so you can bake in batches through December.

Christmas Candy and Edible Gifts

Candy and no-bake treats are the easiest homemade gifts to pack in a tin. Caramels need a candy thermometer; the rest just need a free afternoon.

Christmas Morning Breakfast and Brunch

Christmas morning should be slow, so cook ahead. Bake the scones and bread the day before and let the slow cooker handle the rest.

Christmas Drinks and Cocktails

A big-batch drink frees you from bartending all night. Every party should have one good zero-proof option too, so the cranberry mocktail is here on purpose.

Find what you're looking for:

How far ahead can I make Christmas cookies?

Most of these recipes freeze well, either as dough or baked cookies, for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Thaw them on the counter in the container so condensation forms on the outside, not on the cookies. Pizzelles and biscotti keep a couple of weeks in a tin without freezing.

What temperature should Christmas ham and prime rib reach?

Reheat a fully cooked ham to 140F. USDA guidance for beef roasts is 145F with a 3-minute rest; I pull prime rib for medium rare around 125F and let carryover heat finish it, so use your own judgment and a good probe thermometer.

How do I plan a Christmas dinner menu without losing my mind?

Pick one roast, two sides that can share the oven, one make-ahead dessert, and lean on the cookie tray for the rest. Most of these recipes can be prepped a day ahead so you're cooking the roast, not everything at once.

How long can holiday party food sit out?

Two hours at room temperature, then refrigerate or toss it. Set out smaller platters and refill from the kitchen instead of putting everything out at once.