While the rest of the house is decorated and made festive for Christmas, the heart of the home, the kitchen, should also be covered with Christmas Spirit. From centerpieces you can eat to jaw-dropping desserts and ideas for festive displays, these projects will turn your kitchen into a Christmas wonderland. So grab a warm beverage and lets get to work.
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1) Gingerbread House Display
A gingerbread house is the biggest symbol of the Christmas season!
Gingerbread House Display
A lovely gingerbread house made with royal icing and candy, ready to join your festive kitchen display.
Ingredients
Method
- Beat the egg whites, powdered sugar, and cream of tartar until stiff and glossy to make royal icing, then spoon into a piping bag.
- Pipe icing along the edges of the back, front, and side walls and press them together, holding until set.
- Let the assembled walls dry for 15 minutes, then pipe icing along the roof edges and attach the roof panels.
- Decorate the house with assorted candy, using icing as glue for windows, doors, and trim.
- Dust the roof and base with powdered sugar to mimic snow and set on a cake stand for display.
Notes
Let each section dry before moving on so the house doesn't slump.
2) Candy Cane Cocoa Bar
Your whole family will enjoy hovering around your chocolate bar as you set one up!
Candy Cane Cocoa Bar
A self-service hot cocoa station provides guests with peppermint-rimmed mugs and festive toppings to create their own warm holiday beverages.
Ingredients
Method
- Warm the milk in a saucepan, then whisk in the cocoa powder and sugar until smooth and steaming.
- Crush a few candy canes and use them to rim the serving mugs with a little melted chocolate.
- Pour the hot cocoa into a warmed carafe or keep it warm on the stovetop for serving.
- Arrange small bowls of mini marshmallows, whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and whole candy canes as stirrers.
- Let guests pour their cocoa and top it however they like at the bar.
Notes
A whole candy cane makes a fun edible stir stick for each mug.
3) Christmas Tree Veggie Platter
A vegetable tray in the shape of a Christmas tree looks like you put a lot of effort in, but is actually one of the easiest options you could make.
Christmas Tree Veggie Platter
A healthy eye-catching appetizer along with a creamy herb dip and a festive tree-shaped arrangement of crisp vegetables.
Ingredients
Method
- Stir together the sour cream, mayonnaise, dill, and garlic powder to make the herb dip and chill it.
- On a large platter, arrange the broccoli florets in a triangular tree shape, widest at the bottom.
- Tuck cherry tomatoes and cucumber slices among the broccoli like ornaments.
- Cut a star from the yellow bell pepper and place it at the top of the tree.
- Set the bowl of herb dip beside the platter and serve.
Notes
Build the tree shape on a flat platter so the veggies stay put.
4) Snowflake Sugar Cookies
While we realize these iced snowflakes are almost too beautiful to eat, trust us, you will.
Snowflake Sugar Cookies
Intricate snowflakes made from white royal icing sit on top of sugar cookies. The sugar cookies are butter and cut out style.
Ingredients
Method
- Cream the butter and sugar, then beat in the egg and vanilla.
- Mix in the flour and salt until a dough forms, then chill 30 minutes.
- Roll out the dough, cut into snowflake shapes, and bake at 350F for 10 minutes until the edges are just set.
- Cool the cookies completely while you whisk the powdered sugar and milk into a smooth white icing.
- Pipe snowflake patterns onto each cookie and let the icing dry fully before stacking.
Notes
Chilling the dough keeps the snowflake shapes crisp and sharp.
5) Holiday Spiced Nuts
As these nuts roast, they fill the entire kitchen with the aroma of Christmas.
Holiday Spiced Nuts
Crunchy mixed nuts coated with a sweet, spicy glaze and roasted to perfection.
Ingredients
Method
- Whisk the egg white until frothy, then toss the nuts in it until coated.
- Mix the brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cayenne, and salt, then add to the nuts and toss to coat.
- Spread the nuts in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Roast at 300F for 25 minutes, stirring once, until golden and fragrant.
- Let cool completely so they crisp up before serving in a festive bowl.
Notes
Store in an airtight jar — they make a sweet edible gift, too.
6) Winter Wonderland Trifle
This trifle is the perfect edible decoration for your table, and looks great layered in a glass bowl!
Winter Wonderland Trifle
A coconut trifle layers white cake, vanilla custard, and whipped cream with a snowy coconut finish.
Ingredients
Method
- Layer half the cubed white cake across the bottom of a large glass trifle bowl.
- Spread half the vanilla custard over the cake, then half the whipped cream.
- Scatter white chocolate chips and a few raspberries over the layer.
- Repeat the cake, custard, and whipped cream layers.
- Top with shredded coconut for a snowy look, chill at least 2 hours, then serve cold.
Notes
Chilling for a couple of hours lets the layers set so they slice cleanly.
7) Roasted Chestnut Soup
Comforting chestnut soup is what your holiday menu needs. It is slightly luxurious and silken in texture.
Roasted Chestnut Soup
This soup has a velvety pureed texture with roasted chestnuts and aromatic spices that creates a rich warmth perfect for a special holiday first course.
Ingredients
Method
- Melt the butter in a pot and saute the onion and celery until soft, about 6 minutes.
- Add the roasted chestnuts, broth, thyme, and salt, then bring to a simmer.
- Simmer gently for 20 minutes until the chestnuts are very soft.
- Blend the soup until completely smooth, then stir in the heavy cream.
- Warm through and ladle into bowls, garnishing with a swirl of cream and thyme.
Notes
Jarred pre-roasted chestnuts make this come together fast.
8) Yule Log Cake
The traditional bûche de Noël may look complex but is actually just a rolled cake with a nice frosting cover.
Yule Log Cake
A chocolate rolled sponge cake and cream filling, covered with chocolate buttercream to resemble a snowy log.
Ingredients
Method
- Beat the eggs and sugar until thick and pale, then fold in the flour and cocoa to make a sponge batter.
- Spread the batter on a lined sheet pan and bake at 375F for 12 minutes until springy.
- Turn the warm sponge onto a towel dusted with cocoa and roll it up loosely to cool, then unroll and spread with whipped cream.
- Re-roll the sponge without the towel and place it seam-side down on a platter.
- Frost with chocolate buttercream, drag a fork along it for bark texture, dust with powdered sugar snow, and chill until ready.
Notes
Roll the sponge while it's still warm so it doesn't crack later.
9) Nordic Cinnamon Buns
The warm, twisted, cinnamon rolls scent the entire house like a Scandinavian Christmas Bakery.
Nordic Cinnamon Buns
Soft and pillowy Nordic buns, with a heavenly cardamom aroma, are filled with cinnamon sugar and pull apart in golden layers.
Ingredients
Method
- Stir the yeast into the warm milk with a pinch of sugar and let it foam for 5 minutes.
- Mix in the flour, sugar, cardamom, and butter to form a soft dough, then knead and let rise 1 hour until doubled.
- Roll the dough into a rectangle, brush with butter, and sprinkle with the brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Fold and slice the dough into twists, arrange on a baking sheet, and let rise 20 minutes.
- Bake at 375F for 20 minutes until golden, then cool slightly before serving warm.
Notes
Cardamom is the signature flavor here — don't leave it out.
10) Eggnog Cheesecake
All the sweet, warm, and comforting flavor of eggnog is now in a creamy, sliceable cheesecake. This is the holiday season in the form of a dessert!
Eggnog Cheesecake
A smooth cheesecake spiced with eggnog on a graham crust that is baked, set, and then chilled to a perfectly creamy texture.
Ingredients
Method
- Mix the graham crumbs and melted butter, press into a springform pan, and bake at 325F for 8 minutes.
- Beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth, then blend in the eggnog, eggs, nutmeg, and vanilla.
- Pour the batter over the crust and smooth the top.
- Bake at 325F for 60 minutes until the center is just set with a slight jiggle, then turn off the oven and let it cool inside with the door cracked.
- Chill the cheesecake in the fridge at least 4 hours before slicing and dusting with nutmeg.
Notes
The long chill is essential — it's what sets the cheesecake to slice cleanly.
11) Sage & Cranberry Stuffing
Buttery, herby and rich with little bits of ruby red cranberries, this stuffing deserves to be on the table every single year.
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Sage & Cranberry Stuffing
Classic herb stuffing with fresh sage and tart cranberries baked until golden on top and tender inside.
Ingredients
Method
- Saute the onion and celery in the butter until soft, about 6 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine the bread cubes, cranberries, sauteed vegetables, and sage.
- Pour in the broth and season with salt, tossing until evenly moistened.
- Transfer to a greased baking dish and cover with foil.
- Bake at 375F for 25 minutes covered, then 15 minutes uncovered until golden, and serve warm.
Notes
Dry your bread cubes overnight so the stuffing isn't soggy.
12) Homemade Mulled Wine
Simmering mulled wine on a stove is a holiday scent diffuser that you can drink!
Homemade Mulled Wine
A wonderful holiday classic to sip, red wine is gently simmered with mouth watering spices, cinnamon and citrus.
Ingredients
Method
- Pour the red wine into a large pot over medium-low heat.
- Add the orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and honey.
- Warm gently for 25 minutes without letting it boil, so the spices infuse.
- Stir in the brandy just before serving.
- Strain out the spices and ladle the warm mulled wine into mugs.
Notes
Keep it just below a simmer so you don't cook off all the wine.
13) Peppermint Fudge
No hassle fudge sets up in the fridge and is the perfect little edible gift!
Peppermint Fudge
Chocolate fudge with a swirl of peppermint and finished with a sprinkle of candy cane chunks makes a festive melt-in-your-mouth treat!
Ingredients
Method
- Line an 8-inch pan with parchment, leaving an overhang.
- Gently melt the chocolate chips, condensed milk, and butter in a saucepan over low heat, stirring until smooth.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the peppermint extract and salt.
- Pour the fudge into the lined pan and smooth the top, then sprinkle with crushed candy canes.
- Chill in the fridge at least 2 hours until firm, then lift out and cut into squares.
Notes
The 2-hour chill is what firms the fudge enough to slice cleanly.
14) Honey-Glazed Ham
The star of the table is a show-stopping glossy honey-glazed ham.
Honey-Glazed Ham
A delicious ham that is sticky, sweet, and juicy glazed with honey and mustard. The glaze gets even better as it bakes through each slice making them even glossier.
Ingredients
Method
- Place the ham cut-side down in a roasting pan and tent loosely with foil.
- Bake at 325F for 60 minutes to warm it through.
- Whisk together the honey, brown sugar, Dijon, pineapple juice, and cloves to make the glaze.
- Brush the glaze generously over the ham and between the slices, then bake uncovered 30 more minutes, basting twice.
- Let the ham rest 10 minutes, then transfer to a platter and spoon the pan glaze over the slices.
Notes
Basting every 10 minutes near the end gives the shiniest glaze.
15) Butterscotch Rum Balls
These little no-bake dessert bites are super easy to make and they tend to disappear quickly off dessert trays!
Butterscotch Rum Balls
A delicious and rich holiday treat made with butterscotch rum balls and toasted coconut. Plus, they are no-bake!
Ingredients
Method
- Stir together the wafer crumbs and powdered sugar in a large bowl.
- Mix in the melted butterscotch chips, rum, and corn syrup until a sticky dough forms.
- Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls with your hands.
- Roll each ball in the toasted coconut to coat.
- Chill the rum balls in the fridge for 1 hour to firm up before serving.
Notes
They taste even better after a day in the fridge as the rum mellows.
16) Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
This classic French dish is simmering away in the slow cooker to be pure comfort food. It gets the lazy-host treatment!
Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
Beef that is tender and slow cooked with red wine, mushrooms, carrots, and pearl onions is the perfect way to enjoy the holidays.
Ingredients
Method
- Cook the chopped bacon in a skillet until crisp, then brown the beef cubes in the bacon fat.
- Transfer the bacon and beef to the slow cooker and add the carrots, mushrooms, and pearl onions.
- Whisk together the red wine, beef broth, and tomato paste, then pour over the meat.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, until the beef is fork-tender.
- Stir, skim any excess fat, and serve hot over mashed potatoes or noodles.
Notes
Browning the beef first builds a deeper, richer flavor.
17) Baked Brie with Cranberry Chutney
The first appetizer to which everyone rushes is gooey baked brie topped with cranberry chutney.
Baked Brie with Cranberry Chutney
A warm, gooey wheel of brie is baked til it is soft and is topped with sweet and tangy cranberry chutney for simple holiday entertaining.
Ingredients
Method
- Simmer the cranberries, brown sugar, orange juice, and cinnamon in a saucepan for 10 minutes until thick and jammy.
- Place the brie wheel in a small baking dish.
- Bake the brie at 350F for 12 minutes, until soft and gooey inside.
- Spoon the warm cranberry chutney over the brie and sprinkle with chopped pecans.
- Serve immediately with sliced baguette for dipping and scooping.
Notes
Score the top rind before baking so it's easy to dip into.
18) Christmas Pudding with Brandy Butter
This traditional steamed pudding is a British Christmas classic that is worth the wait.
Christmas Pudding with Brandy Butter
A warm steamed pudding infused with spices and packed with dried fruit that is served with a silky brandy butter.
Ingredients
Method
- Mix the dried fruit, breadcrumbs, 3/4 cup brown sugar, flour, eggs, half the butter, and mixed spice into a thick batter.
- Spoon the batter into a greased pudding basin and cover tightly with foil.
- Set the basin in a pot of simmering water and steam for 3 hours, topping up the water as needed.
- Meanwhile, beat the remaining butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and brandy into a smooth brandy butter and chill.
- Turn the warm pudding out onto a plate and serve with a spoonful of cold brandy butter melting over the top.
Notes
Keep the water at a gentle simmer and check the level so it doesn't dry out.
19) Festive Bruschetta
This bruschetta is so easy to make and only takes a few minutes to prepare. You can make the red and green topping in no time, and it gets gobbled up!
Festive Bruschetta
Toasted baguette slices with a vibrant tomato and basil topping create a fun and festive holiday appetizer.
Ingredients
Method
- Brush the baguette slices with a little olive oil and toast at 400F for 8 minutes until golden.
- Toss the diced tomatoes, basil, garlic, remaining olive oil, balsamic, and salt together in a bowl.
- Gently fold in the mozzarella pearls.
- Spoon the tomato mixture onto the toasted bread just before serving.
- Arrange on a platter and serve right away while the toast is crisp.
Notes
Top the toasts at the last minute so they stay crunchy.
20) Orange-Glazed Duck Breast
Crispy-skinned duck with a glossy orange glaze feels like a restaurant splurge made right at home.
Orange-Glazed Duck Breast
An Elegant Holiday Main Course: Pan-Seared Duck Breast with Crackling Skin Finished with a Bright Orange Glaze.
Ingredients
Method
- Score the duck skin in a crosshatch and season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Place the duck skin-side down in a cold skillet, then heat to medium and render the fat for 8 minutes until the skin is crisp.
- Flip and cook 4 more minutes, then remove the duck to rest.
- Pour off the fat and add the orange juice, honey, soy sauce, zest, and garlic to the pan, simmering into a glossy glaze.
- Slice the duck, spoon the orange glaze over the top, and serve.
Notes
Starting the duck in a cold pan renders the fat for the crispiest skin.
21) Red Velvet Cupcakes
Cream cheese frosting covers these ruby-red Christmas cupcakes!
Red Velvet Cupcakes
Red velvet cupcakes are moist and soft with a crumbly texture. They have spirals of frosting made with cream cheese which adds a tingly taste.
Ingredients
Method
- Cream the butter and sugar, then beat in the egg, buttermilk, and red food coloring.
- Mix in the flour and cocoa powder until just combined into a smooth batter.
- Divide the batter among 12 lined muffin cups.
- Bake at 350F for 20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean, then cool completely.
- Pipe cream cheese frosting onto each cooled cupcake and add festive sprinkles.
Notes
Let the cupcakes cool fully or the frosting will slide right off.
22) Herb-Crusted Prime Rib
If you really want to impress your guests this year, huge herb crusted prime rib is the way to go!
Herb-Crusted Prime Rib
A succulent roast prime rib with a garlic herb crust cooked perfectly to medium rare.
Ingredients
Method
- Let the prime rib sit at room temperature for 30 minutes and pat it dry.
- Mix the garlic, rosemary, thyme, olive oil, Dijon, salt, and pepper into a paste and rub it all over the roast.
- Place the roast bone-side down in a roasting pan and sear at 450F for 20 minutes.
- Lower the oven to 325F and roast about 90 minutes more, until the center reaches 130F for medium-rare.
- Tent with foil and rest 20 minutes before slicing against the bone to serve.
Notes
Resting 20 minutes is non-negotiable — it keeps the roast juicy.