Christmas

Here you'll find a mix of easy Christmas recipes in addition to traditional Christmas recipes that are full of festive flavor for the holiday season.

Like most holidays, one of the best things about Christmas is the memories made while sharing food with friends and family. Whether it's baking cookies with your kids, enjoying Christmas brunch with friends, or putting together cookie platters for neighbors, there's a lot of love that goes into these recipes.

If you're looking for Christmas dinner recipes, Christmas appetizers, Christmas drinks, or Christmas desserts, there's something here to inspire you. And if you're looking for family-friendly Christmas baking recipes, you're in the right place!

Traditional Christmas Recipes

These are some of my all-time favorite classic Christmas recipes.

You know, the ones you find in your great-grandmother's recipe box. Pages and index cards with recipes hand-written in cursive, tattered and torn and stained from making them so much.

These recipes are the foundation of so many Christmas memories!

• Russian Tea Cakes Recipe - These also go by the name Butterballs, Snowball Cookies, Mexican Wedding Cakes, and Italian Wedding Cookies.
• Mincemeat Tarts Recipe - With a spiced fruit filling and a flaky crust, this is a British Christmas tradition.
• No Bake Classic Chocolate Rum Balls Recipe - This festive treat whips up in just 20 minutes, and you can make it with rum, bourbon, or alcohol-free.

Christmas Appetizers

Every Christmas Eve, my family has a full meal of just appetizers. Everyone brings the dish they're famous for. We all laugh and chat and eat.

Even if your family doesn't share this Christmas Eve appetizer tradition, these appetizers come in handy for holiday parties all season long. Let's not forget about New Year's Eve parties!

Here are a few appetizers my family always looks forward to me bringing to our Christmas parties.

• Turkey Sliders Recipe - Perfect as a Thanksgiving or Christmas appetizer, cranberry sauce is the secret ingredient that takes these turkey and Swiss mini sandwiches over the top.
• Three Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe - If you think you don't like stuffed mushrooms give this crowd-pleasing version a try.
• Cheddar Cheese Ball Appetizer - It's impressive enough that you make your own cheese ball, but when your friends and family taste this, they'll be blown away!

Easy Christmas Dinner Recipes

Classic Christmas dinners like turkey, roast beef, and ham are wonderful if you have the time to make them. And if you're cooking for a crowd!

But if you don't want to spend the better part of a day cooking or if you're cooking for a smaller group, then these easy Christmas dinner recipe ideas are for you.

• Swedish Meatballs Recipe - This 30-minute meal is not only gorgeous and restaurant-quality, but with lingonberry jam (or cranberry sauce) it's also festive enough for Christmas dinner.
• Pan-Seared Duck Breast Recipe with Cherry Sauce - Duck is one of those meals that feels fancy (so it's perfect for the holidays), but is really easy. Here you can use frozen cherries, or substitute with fresh cranberries.
• Small Thanksgiving Dinner for 4 - This is an entire Thanksgiving dinner (which works equally well for a Christmas feast) made on a sheet pan in a fraction of the time that it takes to cook a traditional roast turkey dinner.

Homemade Edible Christmas Gifts

Around the holidays, I love giving edible gifts. Everyone loves getting homemade candy and cookies!

• Salted Caramels Recipe - Soft, chewy caramel with a touch of flaky sea salt is perfection; individually wrap these candies and package them in a pretty jar for a beautiful homemade Christmas present.
• Gingersnap Cookies Recipe - If you need a festive cookie full of Christmas flavor that travels well (and ships well too!), gingersnaps are perfect.
• Rocky Road Fudge Recipe - This easy 5-minute microwave fudge recipe is great if you need a last-minute hostess gift or treat to bring to a holiday gathering.

Eggnog Recipes

Eggnog is one of my favorite Christmas flavors. And there's so much you can do with it other than just drinking it!

Here are a few recipes that use eggnog or are eggnog-flavored.

• Eggnog Cupcakes with Eggnog Buttercream Frosting - This is the perfect Christmas dessert if you want something a little out of the ordinary, but still full of festive flavor.
• Eggnog Pudding - Rich, creamy, and flavorful, you'll be surprised that this seasonal treat is also pretty healthy.
• Eggnog Latte - Because a festive latte is oh-so-much better than regular coffee during the holidays!

Christmas Breakfast Recipes

Christmas morning always means a festive Christmas brunch at my house. It usually starts with a homemade eggnog or gingerbread latte. And then comes the good stuff: pancakes, waffles, scones, or bread pudding!

• Christmas Morning Scones - With vanilla bean, nutmeg, rosemary, and cranberries, these easy-to-make homemade scones have holiday cheer built right in.
• Orange and Nutmeg-Scented Brown Sugar Bread Pudding - This decadent bread pudding features delicious melted brie and sugared cranberries.
• Holiday Butter Board Recipe - This one was inspired by the viral TikTok trend, and is customized for the perfect holiday brunch.

If you love gingerbread, check out this collection of the best cozy gingerbread recipes for the holidays.

For more Christmas baking recipes, take a look at this cookie recipe collection.

And for even more Christmas recipe ideas, take a look through the recipes below!