Christmas is always an exciting time filled with joyous festivities spent surrounded by loved ones. One of my favorite traditions is gathering with my extended family to celebrate and feast together. Each year, I eagerly look forward to catching up and making new memories over a delicious spread of holiday dishes.
These 25 recipes have been collected from various family members over the years, making them extra special and I have no doubt that it’s going to make your your skills great again. Each dish represents precious bonds and treasured moments, from my aunt’s famous honey-baked ham to my grandma’s secret for the flakiest pie crust. Recreating these familial flavors in my kitchen fills me with warmth and memories of past Christmases.
I can’t wait to continue the legacy by cooking up these incredible recipes and sharing them with my family once again. The mouthwatering aromas and tastes will undoubtedly spark delight and transport us back to the happiest of holiday scenes. It’s sure to be a very merry Christmas!
1. Honey Baked Ham
Bold and sweet, with a crispy glaze coating a tender, juicy ham.
Ingredients; Ham, honey, brown sugar, butter, mustard, cinnamon, cloves.
- Preheat oven to 325°F
- Score ham in a diamond pattern and stud it with cloves
- Make the glaze by simmering honey, brown sugar, butter, mustard, and cinnamon
- Brush 1/2 of glaze over ham
- Bake for 1.5-2 hours, basting with remaining glaze every 30 mins
- Let rest for 15 mins before slicing
Cook Time: 1.5-2 hours
2. Prime Rib Roast
Rich, buttery flavor with a perfect pink center when cooked properly.
Ingredients; Beef rib roast, salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, rosemary, beef broth.
- Take the roast out 1 hour before cooking to temper
- Pat dry and generously season with salt and pepper
- Tie roast with kitchen string to hold the shape
- Preheat oven to 500°F
- Roast for 20 mins to get a crisp exterior
- Reduce heat to 250°F and roast 15 mins per pound for rare
- Baste occasionally with beef broth and let rest 20-30 mins before slicing Cook Time: Varies by size, approx. 3-4 hours
3. Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Velvety smooth and rich, the perfect potato comfort food.
Ingredients; Russet potatoes, butter, milk, cream cheese, sour cream, garlic, salt, pepper.
- Peel and cut potatoes into chunks
- Boil in salted water until fork tender, 15-20 mins
- Drain and return to the pot
- Add butter, milk, cream cheese, sour cream, garlic, salt and pepper
- Mash with a potato masher or electric beaters until smooth and creamy
- Adjust seasoning to taste
Cook Time: 30 mins
4. Roasted Turkey with Herbs
Crispy skin gives way to incredibly moist, aromatic turkey meat.
Ingredients; Whole turkey, butter, salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary, sage.
- Remove turkey from packaging and pat dry with paper towels
- Melt butter and mix with salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary, sage
- Gently loosen the skin from the turkey breast and rub 1/2 of the butter mixture underneath
- Rub the remaining butter all over the outside of the turkey
- Tie legs together with kitchen string
- Roast at 325°F for 13-15 mins per pound, basting every 30 mins
- Turkey is done when the thickest part of the breast reaches 165°F
- Let rest 20-30 mins before carving
Cook Time: 3-5 hours depending on size.
5. Candied Sweet Potatoes
Sweet and decadent with a sticky pecan topping.
Ingredients; Sweet potatoes, butter, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, pecans.
- Peel and slice sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch thick rounds, 3/4 inch, or any shape and size of your choice.
- Layer 1/2 of the rounds in a baking dish
- Make sauce by melting butter, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg
- Pour 1/2 of sauce over potatoes and top with pecans
- Layer remaining potato rounds and sauce
- Bake at 350°F for 40-50 mins until potatoes are tender and ready to eat.
Cook Time: 40-50 mins.
6. Green Bean Casserole
A creamy, comforting classic with crispy fried onions.
Ingredients; Green beans, cream of mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper, French fried onions.
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Mix green beans, cream of mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce, pepper
- Place in a baking dish and top with 1/2 of French’s fried onions
- Bake for 25 mins
- Top with remaining fried onions and bake for 5 more mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
7. Cranberry Orange Relish
Tangy and refreshing with a lovely citrus zing.
Ingredients; Fresh cranberries, orange zest and juice, sugar.
- In a food processor, pulse cranberries until coarsely chopped
- Add orange zest, orange juice, and sugar and pulse briefly to combine
- Chill for 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to meld
Cook Time: 5 mins + 2 hr chill time
8. Stuffing with Sausage and Apples
Savory and satisfying with pops of sweet apple.
Ingredients; Bread cubes, sausage, onion, celery, apples, broth, eggs, herbs.
- Sauté sausage, onion, celery, apples until softened
- In a bowl, mix bread cubes, sausage mixture, broth, eggs, herbs
- Transfer to a baking dish and cover with foil
- Bake at 350°F for 30 mins, then uncover and bake for 15 more mins
Cook Time: 45 mins
9. Twice Baked Potato Casserole
Indulgently creamy and cheesy potato perfection.
Ingredients; Russet potatoes, butter, milk, sour cream, cheddar, bacon, green onion, and celery.
- Bake potatoes at 400°F for 1 hour
- Scoop out insides and mash with butter, milk, sour cream, 1/2 cheddar
- Mix in bacon and green onions
- Spread into a baking dish and top with remaining cheddar
- Bake at 350°F for 20 mins until hot and melted
- Sprinkle fresh celery to taste and this is optional.
Cook Time: 1 hr 20 mins
10. Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Crispy, salty, addictively delicious veggie treats.
Brussels sprouts, olive oil, salt, pepper, bacon
- Trim brussels sprouts and cut larger ones in half
- Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper
- Roast at 400°F for 20-25 mins, shaking pan halfway
- Cook bacon until crispy and crumble over sprouts
- Roast for 5 more mins to warm the bacon
Cook Time: 30 mins
11. Butternut Squash Soup
Velvety, nutty, and subtly sweet winter warmth in a bowl.
Ingredients; Butternut squash, onion, garlic, broth, cream, nutmeg, bacon, celery.
- Roast squash at 400°F for 30 mins until tender
- Sauté onion and garlic in butter until soft
- Add squash and broth, simmer 15 mins
- Puree with cream and nutmeg until smooth
- Sprinkle bacon or celery if you want.
Cook Time: 1 hour
12. Garlic Parmesan Roasted Carrots
Bright carrots amped up with punchy garlic-parmesan flavor.
Ingredients; Carrots, olive oil, parmesan, garlic, parsley
- Peel and cut carrots into 1-inch pieces
- Toss with olive oil, parmesan, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper
- Roast at 425°F for 20 mins, shaking pan halfway
- Garnish with more parsley before serving
Cook Time: 20 mins
13. Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
Warm, gooey, potatoey goodness to satisfy your cheese craving.
Ingredients; Russet potatoes, butter, flour, milk, cheddar, parmesan.
- Preheat oven to 375°F
- Layer 1/2 of thinly sliced potatoes in a baking dish
- Make sauce with butter, flour, milk, 1/2 cheddar, parmesan
- Pour 1/2 sauce over potatoes and repeat layers
- Top with remaining cheddar
- Bake 1 hr until hot and bubbly
Cook Time: 1 hr
14. Baked Brie en Croute
Delightfully gooey cheese with a crisp, flaky pastry crust.
Ingredients; Brie, puff pastry, jam/preserves, egg, nuts.
- Let brie temper 30 mins before baking
- Roll out puff pastry and place brie in the center
- Top with jam/preserves and nuts
- Wrap pastry up around brie, brush with egg wash
- Bake at 400°F for 20 mins until golden
- Let rest 20 mins before serving
Cook Time: 40 mins + 30 min rest.
15. Pesto Tortellini
Vibrant green pesto coats tender tortellini pockets.
Ingredients; Tortellini, basil, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan, olive oil.
- Boil tortellini according to package directions
- Make pesto by blending basil, pine nuts, garlic, parmesan, olive oil
- Drain tortellini and toss with pesto to coat
- Top with extra parmesan and pine nuts
Cook Time: 15 mins
16. Browned Butter Honey Garlic Roasted Carrots
Sweet, savory, and perfectly caramelized carrot candy.
Ingredients; Carrots, butter, honey, garlic, parsley, salt.
- Peel and slice carrots into 1-inch pieces
- Melt butter until browned and nutty
- Add honey, garlic, salt and toss with carrots
- Roast at 400°F for 25-30 mins, tossing halfway
- Garnish with parsley before serving
Cook Time: 30-35 mins
17. Baked Cream Cheese Corn Casserole
Lusciously creamy and savory with sweet corn surprises.
Ingredients; Corn kernels, cream cheese, sour cream, butter, egg, cheese.
- Drain corn and mix with softened cream cheese, sour cream, butter, egg, cheese
- Pour into a baking dish and bake at 350°F for 45-60 mins until set
Cook Time: 45-60 mins
18. Rosemary Garlic Crushed Potatoes
Nutty, aromatic potatoes with crispy smashed edges.
Ingredients; Baby potatoes, olive oil, rosemary, garlic, salt, pepper
- Boil baby potatoes until fork tender, about 15 mins
- Drain and let cool slightly
- Smash each potato with a cup or potato masher
- Toss with olive oil, rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper
- Roast at 450°F for 20-25 mins until crispy
Cook Time: 35-40 mins
19. Christmas Wreath Bread Bowl with Spinach Dip
Garlicky, cheesy spinach dip served in an edible bread wreath.
Ingredients; Frozen bread dough, eggs, spinach, sour cream, mayo, garlic, parmesan.
- Thaw bread dough and shape into a wreath, pinching ends together
- Beat eggs and brush over wreath, sprinkle with seasonings
- Bake at 350°F for 25-30 mins until golden brown
- Make dip by mixing spinach, sour cream, mayo, garlic, parmesan
- Serve dip in the hollow center of baked bread wreath
Cook Time: 25-30 mins
20. Grinch Kabobs (Fruit Skewers)
Festive and fun fruit kabobs that are as delicious as they are cute!
Ingredients; Green grapes, strawberries, bananas, marshmallows, yogurt
- Thread grapes, strawberries, bananas, marshmallows onto skewers
- Make a quick “mask” for each by dipping the marshmallow into yogurt and letting set
- Use food-safe markers to draw Grinch expressions
Cook Time: 15 mins
21. Yule Log Cake Roll
Rich chocolate cake with a luscious cream cheese filling.
Ingredients; Eggs, sugar, flour, cocoa powder, vanilla, cream cheese, powdered sugar.
- Beat eggs and gradually add sugar until thick
- Fold in flour, cocoa powder and vanilla
- Spread in a jelly roll pan and bake at 375°F for 12-15 mins
- Roll up in a towel to cool completely
- Unroll and spread with cream cheese filling
- Re-roll and frost with remaining filling, making bark texture
- Top with strawberries and mini Christmas trees.
Cook Time: 1 hour
22. Peppermint Meringues
Light, airy clouds of peppermint-kissed sweetness.
Ingredients; Egg whites, cream of tartar, sugar, peppermint extract.
- Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy
- Gradually add sugar while beating until stiff peaks form
- Beat in peppermint extract
- Pipe or dollop meringues onto parchment-lined baking sheets
- Bake at 225°F for 1.5 hours, rotating pans halfway
- Turn oven off and let meringues dry for 1 more hour
Cook Time: 2.5 hours
23. Eggnog Cheesecake
Thick, rich, and utterly decadent holiday cheesecake bliss.
Ingredients; Cream cheese, sugar, eggnog, vanilla, nutmeg, graham cracker crumbs
- Make graham cracker crust and prebake for 10 mins
- Beat cream cheese until smooth, then beat in sugar
- Mix in eggnog, vanilla, and nutmeg until well combined
- Pour into prepared crust and bake at 300°F for 55-65 mins
- Turn oven off and keep the cake in oven for 1 hour to finish setting
- Chill for at least 4 hours before serving
Cook Time: 2 hours + 4 hour chill
24. Hot Chocolate Bombs
Hollow chocolate spheres that bloom into rich cocoa when melted!
Ingredients; Chocolate candy coating, hot chocolate mix, marshmallows
- Melt candy coating and spoon into half-sphere molds
- Once hardened, gently remove and fill half with hot cocoa mix
- Top with mini marshmallows and seal with another half-sphere
- Tie together with a ribbon or twine
- To use, place in a mug and pour hot milk over to melt and release cocoa Cook Time: 30 mins + time to set
25. Gingerbread House Cake
Whimsical, spiced gingerbread cake construction.
Ingredients; Flour, ginger, cinnamon, molasses, butter, sugar, eggs, frosting
- Make gingerbread cake batter and bake in pans/molds for house components
- Let cakes cool completely before assembling the house with frosting to “glue”
- Use more frosting to cover completely and decorate with candies
- Can make stained glass window effect from crushed hard candies Cook Time: 1 hour to bake + time to assemble
Conclusion
Christmas means quality time with extended family feasting on our favorite recipes. These 25 dishes have been lovingly collected from various relatives over the years, making them extra special. From grandma’s gingerbread to auntie’s famous ham, recreating these familial flavors sparks nostalgia for past holiday celebrations.