Home » Misc » Table ideas for christmas dinner

Table ideas for christmas dinner


55+ DIY Christmas Table Decorations and Holiday Centerpieces

Mike Garten, Inspired by Charm

Before you serve your guests a delicious Christmas dinner (don't forget the festive Christmas appetizers and sweet holiday treats), you'll want to make sure your dining room table is full of picture-perfect holiday decorations. From candy cane place card holders to colorful Christmas villages, here are the best Christmas table decorations to show off your style and impress your guests in 2022.

Find inspiration for your space, whether you've already settled on a Christmas party theme (candy party or winter wonderland?) or you're attempting to stick to a particular design style (rustic or modern?). There are nature-inspired ideas that embrace fresh greenery like pine sprigs and eucalyptus bouquets, as well as table settings loaded with color, glitter and eclectic dinnerware for those who love a maximalist approach. You'll find everything from adorable reindeer place cards to elegant candlestick holders to vintage high-ball glasses (so you can serve your favorite Christmas cocktails in style).

Even if you're not hosting Christmas this year, you can still craft a gorgeous table setting that'll serve as holiday decor all season long. While we suggest some store-bought tabletop decor, you can make a ton of unique decorations at home if you're feeling inspired to tackle more DIY holiday projects this season. Get ideas for homemade ornaments (use them as name cards or hang them from the ceiling), stunning Christmas wreaths and easy Christmas crafts (like a Christmas tree flatware holder made from felt).

Mike Garten20th Century Studios

1 of 59

Eight-Pointed Star Napkin

Turn any standard 20" napkin into a clever star shape to instantly elevate your table setting. Don't worry: even beginners are welcome to try this one.

SHOP NAPKINS

Watch the video tutorial »

Mike Garten

2 of 59

Trash-to-Treasure Pears

Use twine (we suggest sage green and metallic gold) and hot glue to upcycle an old lightbulb. Start by adding a dot of hot glue to the large side of the light bulb and start coiling the twine around bulb, adding glue as you go. Use a 1-2" piece of twig to create a stem.

SHOP TWINE

Mike Garten

3 of 59

Furoshiki Wrap

Give this Japanese wrapping technique a try. Use fabric remnants, a small tea towel or a standard 20" cloth napkin to recreate this elegant bowknot. Just pick up a few small boxes or presents to use as the center.

SHOP SMALL BOXES

Watch the video tutorial »

Mike Garten

4 of 59

Gold Leafs

Add glitz and glam to your tablescape with these shimmery faux leaves covered in gold foil. Scatter them around to complement your tabletop decor, or toss a bunch of them into a bowl and make it your centerpiece. Make sure you're starting with a dust-free surface, then cover the area in adhesive using a paint brush. Place a sheet of gold leaf onto the painted surface, smoothly it lightly with your hands and using a soft-bristle brush to sweep the area in circular motions. Allow it to dry for a few hours, then paint a smooth thin layer of sealer on top.

SHOP GOLD LEAF KIT

Mike Garten

5 of 59

Christmas Tree Napkin

Impress your dinner guests with this spruced-up place setting, complete with an origami-inspired napkin. Fold a regular cloth napkin into the shape of a Christmas tree and decorate it with mini ball ornaments.

SHOP MINI BAUBLES

Watch the video tutorial »

Country Living Staff

6 of 59

Holiday Shakers

If you love nothing more than a good holiday shaker, this easy craft idea is for you. Fill basic salt and pepper shakers with everything from mini trees to reindeer to add a festive touch to your table.

SHOP SALT & PEPPER SHAKERS

Mike Garten

7 of 59

Cookie Cutter Napkin Rings

Simple yet sophisticated, these star-shape cookie cutters make beautiful napkin holders. Added bonus: you can let your guests take the Christmas cutters home as a small gift.

SHOP COOKIE CUTTERS

Get the tutorial »

Brian Woodcock

8 of 59

Crafty Leaf Garland

To express your creativity, make your own leaf garland out of green craft paper. Add red jingle bells to finish the festive look.

SHOP GREEN CRAFT PAPER

Mike Garten

9 of 59

Candy Cane Bow

Tie a red and white stripe napkin into a neat bow, and it's giving playful peppermint candy feels — in the best way. Add a red ribbon to the center to keep it in place, until dinner is served at least.

SHOP STRIPE NAPKINS

Simon Whitmore/Ideal Home

10 of 59

Ceiling Ornaments

A beautiful blend of whites and reds, this Christmas table setting is classic yet festive. For added drama, there are ornaments hanging from the ceiling, which you can recreate by using fishing line or string.

SHOP RED ORNAMENTS

Brian Woodcock

11 of 59

Christmas Light Napkin Rings

Don't be so quick to toss your unusable Christmas bulbs in the trash. Consider turning them into festive napkin rings. Just place a loop of red and white baker's twine at the bottom of each bulb with hot glue. Then, tie your new creations around colorful rolled napkins.

SHOP CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Emily Henderson Design; Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

12 of 59

Touches of Greenery

Elevate your wood dining set with fresh greenery, taper candles and ceramic village tealight holders in time for the holidays, like Emily Henderson does in this elegant interior.

SHOP CANDLESTICK HOLDERS

Mike Garten

13 of 59

Napkin Trees

Napkins folded into triangle "trees" with name card "trunks" made from scrap paper will help each person find his or her spot.

SHOP WOODEN STARS

Domestically Blissful

14 of 59

Fresh Eucalyptus

For each place setting, blogger Giustina Miller created mini bouquets using one silver dollar eucalyptus leaf and a few seeded eucalyptus leaves, which she wrapped with a clear hair tie.

SHOP HAIR TIES

Get the tutorial at Domestically Blissful »

Studio DIY

15 of 59

Colorful Christmas Village

Tired of the traditional holiday colors? Here's a playful way to add new colors to your tablescape. Go for pink dishware, multi-colored bottle brush trees and a pastel-colored Christmas village you can even make yourself.

SHOP BOTTLE BRUSH TREES

Get the tutorial from Studio DIY »

Lizzie Orme

16 of 59

Mix and Match Glassware

Add color and creativity to your table setting with a unique mixture of glassware and tableware. Give everyone their own goblet and your tablescape will quickly become a topic of conversation!

SHOP GLASSWARE

Danielle Daly

17 of 59

Felt Christmas Trees

Turn your dining room table into a Christmas tree farm with these adorable felt cut outs. Added bonus: your flatware will fit perfectly if you follow our easy tutorial.

SHOP GREEN FELT

Brian Woodcock

18 of 59

Inspired by Peppermints

Shades of red, pink and gold turn this dining table into a Christmas candy party. Decorate with a bright table runner, stripe napkins and sprigs shaped like candy canes — and don't forget to sprinkle the table with real peppermints and candy canes for your guests to snack on before dinner.

SHOP STRIPE RUNNER

Inspired by Charm

19 of 59

Vintage Modern Decor

Here, blogger and designer Michael Wurm, Jr. blends modern and vintage styles to craft this comforting tablescape. He started with a white runner with red stitching, then layered in vintage high-ball glasses, matte black candlestick holders, traditional water goblets with gold trim and a few mini evergreen trees.

SHOP WATER GOBLETS

Get the tutorial at Inspired by Charm »

DIY Beautify

20 of 59

Green and Gold

There's something super elegant about the combination of golds and greens, but don't shy away from small touches of red (it's Christmas after all).

SHOP GREEN TREE

Get the tutorial at DIY Beautify »

Mike Garten

21 of 59

Reindeer Place Card Holders

Turn these deer figurines into adorable name card holders. Added bonus: when you're not hosting, you can use these little guys as decorations around your home.

SHOP FIGURINES

Mike Garten

22 of 59

Adorned Chairs

Mini wreaths tied to chair frames with raw-edge ribbon will make every person at the table feel like the guest of honor.

SHOP GRAPEVINE WREATHS

Danielle Daly

23 of 59

Monogram Napkin Ring

For this one, all you need are some basic napkin rings and a pack of pipe cleaners (we recommend glitter ones, because why not). Simply twist the pipe cleaner into the shape of each guest's name, and then secure your creation to a napkin ring.

SHOP PIPE CLEANERS

Boxwood Avenue

24 of 59

Rustic Feel

Keep it classic with a burlap table runner, gold candlestick holders and a thick pine garland that spreads the length of your table. Add a single pine sprig to each place setting to complete the look.

SHOP PINE GARLAND

Get the tutorial from Boxwood Avenue »

Mike Garten

25 of 59

Christmas Drink Picks

Bring more holiday cheer to your guests' drinks with some fun skewers fit for the occasion. Cut your drink skewers to about 3" long, then attach mini bottle brush trees in fun colors to the top of each one. Simple hot glue works well for this project.

SHOP BOTTLE BRUSH TREES

Emily Henderson Design; Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

26 of 59

Gold Tabletop Trees

Add a heavenly glow to your table setting with these gorgeous pre-lit tabletop trees. Layer in a green table runner and taper candlestick holders for a festive style that still feels super refined.

SHOP GOLD TREES

Get the tutorial from Style by Emily Henderson »

Brian Woodcock

27 of 59

Candy Cane Place Card Holders

Grab the mini candy canes that didn't make it onto your Christmas tree and put them to use as place card holders. Go for an assortment of colors for a fun look.

SHOP CANDY CANES

Michael Partenio

28 of 59

Felt Tree-Topped Hurricanes

Transform your table into an enchanted pine forest. Just cut out fir shapes from felt and hot-glue them onto candle holders filled with faux snow.

SHOP COLORFUL FELT

Brian Woodcock

29 of 59

Rustic Charm

Give your dining room table a log cabin feel for the holidays. All it takes are a few flea market finds—think wooden crates, vintage sleds and snow-covered trees.

SHOP WOODEN CRATE

Polka Dot Bride

30 of 59

Gingerbread Place Card Holder

Give the place cards you use year after a year a rest this time around. Instead, place gingerbread cookies on top of cloth napkins and wrap them in a complementary ribbon.

SHOP GINGERBREAD COOKIES

56 Christmas Table Decorating Ideas for Holiday Cheer

By

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel

Kristin Hohenadel is an interior design expert who has covered architecture, interiors, and decor trends for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Lonny, and the American and international editions of Elle Decor. She resides in Paris, France, and has traveled to over 30 countries, giving her a global perspective on home design.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 11/04/22

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

Decorating your Christmas table with care and attention is a simple way to get into the holiday spirit and to show your loved ones and guests a little extra love. There are endless ways to dress a holiday table, whether you’re a minimalist or like to go all out. Whether you are hosting a holiday brunch, tea, or family dinner, or just want to dress up the table with a festive installation that can stay up throughout the season, check out this assortment of Christmas table decorating ideas in a range of styles to add a little magic and cheer to your end of year celebrations.

The 35 Best Christmas Decorations of 2022

we set the Christmas table on Christmas Eve and Holy evening correctly

Each of the 12 dishes on Christmas Eve - this is the name of the Christmas dinner is more familiar to our parents - has its own meaning. And although almost all modern families have their own way of preparing a festive feast, many continue to follow the traditions that have been passed down to them from generation to generation. Perhaps listing 12 Christmas dishes that our ancestors prepared can inspire you to decide what dishes to cook on Holy evening.

Before serving 12 Christmas dishes, the hostess put garlic cloves under the tablecloth. He had to drive away evil spirits. All family members should be at home on Christmas Eve. It was obligatory for everyone to try all 12 dishes on the table (although in some territories there were 7, 9 or 17).

The wife served dishes on the table, and everyone else during dinner was not allowed to talk, get up and drink water or Christmas utensils, so that during the harvest time one would not want to drink. If anyone sneezed, it was fortunate. Everyone ate from the same bowl and drank from the same cup - it was believed that as long as they did this, there would be love and unity in the house. In some villages, after dinner, spoons were tied together so that the whole family would stick together for the next year.

No money could be borrowed to cook Christmas dinner. The hostess proceeded from the stocks that were at home. The family thanked the past year and asked all the forces of nature for help and productivity next year. Holy evening was not a demonstration of a fat wallet, on this day the main wealth of the family was manifested in the coherence of work in preparation for Christmas and respect for each other.

Kutia

Kutia is the main of the 12 Christmas dishes of the Holy Evening. The age of the kutya recipe can be measured in centuries. Our ancestors believed that starting a meal with kutia, people thus took care of the souls of the dead. It was believed that at the moment when a person eats wheat grains with honey water, souls in the other world also experience sweetness and joy.

Whole grains of wheat in kutya at Christmas symbolized life that passes and is reborn again. Poppy (one of its meanings was sleep and death) personified the souls of the dead, and honey was a symbol of sweetness and joy from the good news of the birth of Christ. Therefore, kutya heads the Christmas dishes on the table every year. Get the best 5 traditional kutya recipes for Christmas.

Bread

The hostess paid special attention to bread, rolls and pies - they are also included in the 12 Christmas dishes. A separate day was dedicated to baking Christmas bread. Bread was a symbol of harvest and life. There was a tradition to bake symbols in bread that would bring good luck, wealth and protect against bad luck: garlic, peas, small coins, etc. Now you can make this dish for Holy evening using a modern bread machine. See the recipe for lean bread for Christmas below on this page.

Vinaigrette

Among the 12 Christmas dishes should be cold salads that can be an alternative to a side dish. Therefore, many people prefer to prepare vinaigrette from boiled beets, potatoes, beans, carrots, as well as sauerkraut or pickles. And, of course, add green onions or onions there. More recently, HOCHU.ua published a recipe for a classic vinaigrette salad - perhaps the most versatile dish, especially for a Lenten table.

Uzvar

If you want to take into account all the dishes that are prepared for Christmas, we recommend that you do not skip the uzvar - no carbonated or other ready-made drinks can replace it. And a drink that would fit better with a festive kutya than uzvar simply does not exist. In order to prepare uzvar, housewives always used dried apples and pears, and wild fruits were especially valued. Our ancestors believed that these fruits contain solar energy.

To ripen an apple or pear and then dry it in the sun, they needed warm sunshine. Perhaps in December and January, when the days are the shortest of the year, this drink served as an invocation to the Sun. With the help of it, our ancestors asked the luminary for additional strength and sunlight in their lives. Therefore, you should definitely know what are the simple recipes for delicious uzvar for Christmas 2020.

Borscht with ears

Borscht is also among the Christmas dishes that you can cook at home. Previously, the taste of borscht was sour, as its main component was kvass. And although the recipe for borsch has changed over the course of several centuries - beans were added to cabbage, carrots and parsley, and in the 19th century, tomatoes. Traditional Christmas borscht consists of beetroot kvass, red beets, water and mushroom broth for taste. By the way, borsch can be among the Lenten Christmas dishes, because it is often cooked without meat. And we have a popular material, which contains the 5 best recipes for Ukrainian borscht - for every taste and "fast".

Pickles

When wondering what dishes are prepared for Christmas, do not forget to put pickles on the festive table. We can say that these are light Christmas Lenten dishes that complement any meal. If you've been preserving and stocking up since the summer, pickles for Christmas shouldn't be a problem.

Cabbage rolls

Cabbage rolls are one of the most favorite 12 Christmas dishes for many Ukrainians. Wheat, buckwheat or rice porridge, as well as grated potatoes with all kinds of additives, were wrapped in cabbage leaves. Cabbage leaves symbolize the continuation of the family (no wonder children were "found" in cabbage). Cabbage rolls were also considered a wedding dish, as their appearance remotely resembled pigeons. See on this page a wonderful recipe for Transcarpathian cabbage rolls from HOTCHU. ua

Fish

Many people associate Christmas dishes not with red meat, but with fish. It is rarely bought for the New Year, but on Christmas Eve it is often offered for family and guests. Fish for Christmas is prepared in different ways - fried, baked with vegetables, and in some houses it is customary to make jellied fish in advance.

Dumplings

Dumplings or boiled pies can be found in Italian, Chinese, Lithuanian and Slavic cuisine. Who came up with the idea of ​​making them first? It is unlikely that we will ever know about it. In Ukrainian cuisine, varenyky were considered a festive dish and were prepared for big holidays, such as Christmas, and on Sundays.

Puffy dumplings filled with stuffing also symbolized procreation. And the dishes for the Holy evening were also always replenished with dumplings with a variety of fillings. The most difficult thing in making dumplings is the dough, but in this article, see the simplest dough recipes that you won’t have to mess around with for a long time.

Cabbage with peas

Cabbage with peas is not often seen among the 12 dishes on Holy Evening among modern Ukrainians, although 2-3 generations ago more than one holiday of the autumn-winter period could not do without it. Cabbage with peas for Christmas is a cross between yushka and lean porridge, which is very healthy.

Cabbage

Interestingly, among the 12 dishes on Holy Evening there is cabbage. Cabbage has always been prepared differently in each family, so the composition of its ingredients may vary slightly. Cabbage is made as a lean homemade dish or boiled in mushroom broth. Options for broths made from fatty pork or fish are also possible.

Baked apples

Christmas Lenten dishes are always delicious baked apples. To prepare this fruit as a dessert, apples are baked with honey and raisins. Now modern cuisine offers new options for preparing baked apples for Holy evening, complementing them with special fragrant spices - cinnamon and cloves.

In our gallery, we publish several recipes for Christmas Eve that will help you prepare the most important treats from 12 Christmas dishes. Merry Christmas 2021 from all our editors.

Also read about Christmas divination.

Related materials:

tags: food Christmas New Year New Year's dishes Lenten Recipe

Best Christmas Recipes Winter Dishes

Recommended


Sunday Baked Ribs

Ina complements baked ribs with mustard sauce and horseradish. For an impressive presentation, cut the dish already on the festive table.

Recipe: Sunday Baked Spare Ribs

Yorkshire pudding

Yorkshire pudding and roast beef go together just as well as milk and biscuits. In just 30 minutes, you'll have a delicious 4-ingredient side dish that's fluffy and shiny like a crown.

Recipe: Yorkshire Pudding

Prawns with Lemon Vermouth Sauce

Quick and easy scampi shrimp, great as an appetizer or side dish for a festive meal.

Recipe: Prawns with Lemon Vermouth Sauce

Baked Ham with Pineapple Puree

This excellent main course is a variation of the traditional ham topped with pineapple rings and cherries. Here puff pastry and salted ham are served with sweet pineapple sauce.

Recipe: Baked Ham with Pineapple Puree

Cioppino Seafood Fennel Soup

Giada's aromatic seafood stew is perfect for the Feast of the Seven Fishes - Italian-style Christmas.

Recipe: Cioppino Seafood Fennel Soup

Beef Au Ju with Thyme

Bobby stuffs the beef with whole garlic cloves to infuse the flavor, then serves the succulent beef with thyme and red sauce guilt.

Recipe: Ribs Au Ju with Thyme

Traditional Mustard Glazed Ham

Decorate Christmas ham with pineapple and maraschino cherries for a classic serving. A simple glaze of Dijon mustard, brown sugar and thyme adds a punch of flavor.

Recipe: Traditional mustard-glazed ham

Corn casserole with ham and kale for breakfast

The combination of ham and kale has become traditional for a reason: it is incredibly tasty. But this casserole can easily be made with other combinations of meat and green vegetables, depending on the ingredients available. Try fried minced sausage with frozen spinach, or sausage andouille with mustard leaves.

Recipe: Corn casserole with ham and kale for breakfast

Brussels sprouts with brown rice and bacon

Jada's holiday filling contains two types of rice instead of bread. Pearl onions, Brussels sprouts, hazelnuts, and chopped bacon provide a sweet-and-salty flavor.

Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Brown Rice and Bacon

Creamy Spinach

Serve this simple classic side dish for Christmas dinner. For a spicy note, we add a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg to the delicate sauce.

Recipe: Spinach in Cream Sauce

Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding

Here's Alex's tip for the perfect roast beef: “It's important to place the meat on the wire rack inside the roasting dish so that it's just above the bottom of the dish. This will allow the heat in the oven to circulate around the meat as it cooks."

Recipe: Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding

Prime Rib Meat in the Oven

For his recipe, Michael Simon suggests asking the butcher to prep the meat by trimming and removing the bones.

Recipe: Prime Rib Meat in the Oven

Meringue Cake - Festive Meringue Wreath with Berries

This edible wreath is not only very beautiful, but also delicious. Crispy meringue topped with bright red cranberry, raspberry and pomegranate sauce.

Recipe: Meringue Meringue Cake with Berries Festive Wreath

Gingerbread Mitten with Cherry Filling

As with real mittens, you'll probably want to pick up a couple of these winter gingerbread cookies. Store-bought pie dough is easy to roll and cut, and the cherry filling is well suited for the season.

Recipe: Gingerbread Mitten with Cherry Filling

Christmas Charcoal Candy

Know someone on Santa's list of naughty kids? Give them these crunchy cocoa candies. They're sweeter than they look, and they're fun to cook by breaking into oddly shaped pieces.

Recipe: Christmas Charcoal Candy

Homemade Ricotta Chocolate Chip Cannoli Rolls

“I love very strong cannoli coffee from the Italian bakery on Bleecker Street in Manhattan,” says Alex. “When I cook them at home, I recreate those same cannoli from my memories. The dessert consists of two parts: first make a thin and crispy roll, and then a filling with a bright taste.

Recipe: Homemade cannoli with ricotta and chocolate chips

Santa's Cranberry Punch

This sweet and sour holiday drink in glass jars decorated with a Santa costume will create a cheerful mood.

Recipe: Santa Claus Cranberry Punch

Baked Pork Loin

Whether you're throwing a Christmas party for the first time or don't want to worry about the main course, this recipe combines meat, sauce and garnish!

Recipe: Baked Pork Loin

Italian Beef and Cheese Banquet Roll

Want to cook something new for Christmas? For an elegant main course, Giada stuffs a beef steak with herbs, crumbled breadcrumbs, pecorino cheese and provolone.

Recipe: Italian Beef and Cheese Banquet Roll

Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Vinegar and Cranberries

Ree's Balsamic Vinegar Sauce and Dried Cranberries make simple roasted Brussels sprouts an elegant holiday side dish.

Recipe: Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Vinegar and Cranberries

Sweet Potato and Parsnip Tarte Tatin

This beautiful side dish is not your usual one, but it's sure to be a hit at Christmas dinner.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Parsnip Tarte Tatin

Christmas Cookie Cheesecake

Sugar Cookies are paired with cheesecake for this wonderful holiday dessert. Delicate vanilla cheesecake decorated with royal icing.

Recipe: Christmas Cookie Cheesecake

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Finish off your festive meal with a sweet pudding topped with rum-soaked dates and generously topped with toffee sauce.

Recipe: Sticky Toffee Pudding

Mint Bark Chocolate Candies

Mint Chocolate Bars are a holiday staple and this version of the dessert is super easy to make. Be sure to use completely dry containers and do not let the water from the pan get into the chocolate - the water will cause the melted chocolate to seize and become unusable.

Recipe: Mint Bark Chocolates

Strawberry Santas

This elegant holiday treat is perfect for a brunch or light dessert. Giada De Laurentiis tops the cut strawberries with mascarpone cream, and the remaining tip of the berry becomes Santa's hat.

Recipe: Strawberry Santa Clauses

Crispy Santa Hat Cheesecake

Rice breakfast powder makes an unusual sweet cheesecake crust. Decorated with strawberry Santa hats, these cakes are sure to become a favorite New Year's dessert.

Recipe: Crispy Santa Hat Cheesecake

Christmas Gift Pasta

Surprise your loved ones with an unusual gift - a pasta casserole that looks exactly like a box in wrapping paper! We dyed fresh pasta sheets with parsley and beetroot to make a "wrapper" that contains cheesy tender pasta with meatballs.

Recipe: Christmas Present Paste

Cupcake Gingerbread Man

This gingerbread man is made up of cupcakes. Don't forget to take a picture of the beautiful dessert before serving it to your guests.

Recipe: Cupcake Gingerbread Man

Christmas Tree Brownies

Simple cakes are made special with green cream and sweets. We bake brownies in round cake pans so that they can be easily cut into triangles.

Recipe: Christmas Tree Brownies

Christmas Cane Cookies

Sandra Lee makes adorable cane-shaped cookies using cream cheese for rich texture, dry sugar cookie mix and peppermint extract for a Christmas flavor.

Recipe: Christmas Canes Biscuits

White Chocolates with Cranberries and Pistachios

Chocolate bark is an easy dessert for a company of guests. These bars are made from white chocolate with red cranberries and green pistachios.

Recipe: White Chocolates with Cranberries and Pistachios

Stollen (German Christmas Cake)

This traditional German dessert with candied fruit and nuts can be served plain or covered with powdered sugar or icing.

Recipe: Stollen (German Christmas Cake)

Orange Ricotta Pound Cake with Strawberries

Jada's Homemade Pound Cake is so sweet, light and airy that it only needs a simple strawberry topping, no cream or frosting.

Recipe: Orange Ricotta Pound Cake with Strawberries

Roast Beef with Horseradish

The technique for preparing this impressive dish is not exactly common, but it is no coincidence. During roasting at a high temperature, a crispy crust forms, after which the oven is turned off, and the meat continues to cook until the ideal medium degree of rareness.

Recipe: Roast Beef with Horseradish

Roast Ham with Honey Glaze and Roasted Spices

Ham + 1 hour + 4 ingredients = perfection. The main secret is a fragrant dry marinade of toasted spices.

Recipe: Honey Glazed Ham Roast with Roasted Spices

Mac and Cheese with Broccoli and Cauliflower

Turn pasta and cheese into a vegetable dish with broccoli and cauliflower.

Recipe: Mac and Cheese with Broccoli and Cauliflower

Pasta with Lemon and Fried Shrimp

Serve pasta with lemon and shrimp for Christmas dinner. For a brighter taste, Ina roasts shrimp in the oven.

Recipe: Pasta with lemon and fried shrimp

Penne with shrimp and herb cream sauce

Giada makes this special pasta as a festive main course.

Recipe: Penne with Shrimp and Herb Cream Sauce

Shrimp Stuffed Calamari with Polenta

In Italy, Christmas Eve is traditionally celebrated with seafood dishes. Serve shrimp stuffed calamari with tomato sauce and tender parmesan polenta for a gala dinner.

Recipe: Shrimp Stuffed Squid with Polenta

Baked Celery Roots and Carrots

Complete your holiday menu with a simple side dish flavored with paprika.

Recipe: Baked Celery Roots and Carrots

Cauliflower Gratin with Goat Cheese

Bobby's Delicate Cauliflower Gratin is made with three cheeses: goat cheese, parmesan and Monterey Jack cheese.

Recipe: Cauliflower Gratin with Goat Cheese

Triple Ginger Soufflé

Giada's sweet and spicy soufflé is an elegant addition to a festive brunch. The recipe uses three types of ginger: ground, fresh and crystallized.

Recipe: Triple Ginger Soufflé

Porchetta Festive Pork Roll

Porchetta leftovers make great sandwiches, hot or cold. In addition, this roll is stored in the refrigerator for a long time.

Recipe: Festive Porchetta Pork Roll

Pork roll stuffed with apples and minced meat

For an elegant and inexpensive pork dish, Melissa stuffs the meat with Italian minced meat and sweet apples.

Recipe: Pork Roll Stuffed with Apples and Minced Meat

Smoked Pork Leg Baked in Honey-Sugar Glaze

Smoked Ham in Sweet Glaze is Trisha's classic Christmas dish. This is her mom's recipe!

Recipe: Smoked pork ham baked in sugar-honey glaze

Garlic Corn Casserole

This hearty casserole takes just 10 minutes to prepare. A generous helping of cheese with garlic and herbs turns it into an elegant dish for the festive table.

Recipe: Garlic Corn Casserole

Cupcake Christmas Tree

Make an amazing dessert out of chocolate cupcakes to decorate your Christmas table. Sprinkle cream-covered cupcakes generously with green confectionery sprinkles and secure them to the Styrofoam cone with toothpicks.

Recipe: Cupcake Christmas Tree

Christmas Cornflake Wreaths

Cornflakes mixed with green marshmallow cream for a festive look. This fun, crunchy wreath-shaped treat is decorated with candy and doesn't require baking.

Recipe: Christmas Cornflake Wreaths

Chocolate Almond Cake with Candied Cranberries

Make an elegant chocolate cake using a mixture of wheat and almond flour. For a festive touch, decorate the cake with sweet and savory candied cranberries.

Recipe: Chocolate Almond Cake with Candied Cranberries

Red Velvet Hazelnut Cake

Trisha's cake is topped with a gourmet cream cheese pecan cream. For a simple decoration, also sprinkle nuts on the cake.

Recipe: Red Velvet Hazelnut Cake

Meringue Sticks

White chocolate lozenges covered on both sides with hardened meringue, an elegant seasonal dessert.

Recipe: Meringues on sticks

Meringue sandwiches

Mini meringues are ideal for dessert sandwich biscuits. Fill with berry jam or lemon cream and serve on a crystal plate for a beautiful presentation.

Recipe: Meringue Sandwiches

Horseradish Breaded Beef Roll

This impressive dish will surprise your friends and family. Roll the meat into a roll with peppers, herbs and cheese, then top with crumbled breadcrumbs for a crispy crust. When cut, a red-green filling is visible in each slice.

Recipe: Horseradish Breaded Beef Roll

Rosemary Beef Roast

Spiced Beef is perfect for Christmas dinner. It only takes 30 minutes to prepare, and the oven does the rest, so you can chat with your guests in the meantime.

Recipe: Rosemary Roast Beef

Glazed Baked Ham Basic Recipe

Make the perfect glazed ham for your family this holiday season. Start with a basic recipe and choose from 6 types of glaze, including mustard-orange (pictured).

Recipe: Glazed Baked Ham Basic Recipe

Creamy Lobster Linguini Pasta

Jada's party table is full of gourmet seafood dishes, including this lobster pasta. It takes only 30 minutes to prepare, but the dish looks so sophisticated, as if you spent all day on it.

Recipe: Creamy Lobster Linguine Paste

Honey Glazed Brussels Sprouts Potatoes

Vegetables for this side dish can be prepared up to two hours before use and kept in the refrigerator. 10 minutes before serving, make the glaze and add the vegetables to warm them up.

Recipe: Honey Glazed Brussels Sprouts Potatoes

Baked Fennel with Cheese

Fennel leaves and pomegranate seeds decorate this side dish with festive flowers. The salted Parmesan will melt slightly on the hot roasted fennel.

Recipe: Baked Fennel with Cheese

Artichoke and Leek Starter Soup

Spinach and artichokes are a winning dipping combination, but also worth trying in the main course. Puree soup in individual portions will be a great start to a meal.

Recipe: Artichoke and Leek Starter Soup

Persimmon and Prosciutto Starter

Persimmon replaces the traditional melon in the recipe. This sweet and bright fruit complements salty prosciutto.

Recipe: Persimmon and Prosciutto Starter

Beetroot and Orange Salad

This simple, colorful salad makes a great first course.

Recipe: Orange Beet Salad

Buckwheat Pancakes

Make French pancakes and a variety of toppings, then let guests assemble the dish to taste.

Recipe: Buckwheat Pancakes

Rosemary Rack of Lamb

Seasoning is the key to a perfect lamb. Michael Simon likes to use fresh rosemary, salt and a pinch of sugar.

Recipe: Rosemary Rack of Lamb

Pine Nut Cheese Chips

These fragrant holiday crackers are easy to make. Cover shredded Asiago cheese with chopped sage and pine nuts and bake until golden brown. Bake the crackers on a silicone mat or parchment paper to keep them from sticking.

Recipe: Pine Nut Cheese Chips

Egg Nog Ice Cream

Alton Brown adds bourbon and freshly grated nutmeg to vanilla ice cream: a classic drink in frozen form.

Recipe: Egg Nog Ice Cream

Pole Rojo Mexican Chowder

Try something new this Christmas, like this traditional Mexican dish with pork shoulder, red chillies and white corn porridge.

Recipe: Posole Rojo Mexican Chowder

Mushrooms in Burgundy Wine

Ree's mushrooms are simmered for 9 hours, during which time they decrease in size and soak in the flavors of red wine, dill and broth.

Recipe: Mushrooms in Burgundy

Fennel Gratin

This is a kind of grilled steak with vegetables: a full-bodied dish with a bright taste, which should be served with good wine. Cheese and cream soften the astringency of the Cabernet, and the fruity flavor of the wine is emphasized by a light vegetable note of fennel.

Recipe: Fennel Gratin

Gingerbread Men in Hot Chocolate Jacuzzi

Let your gingerbread men become the characters of the story by painting bathing suits with cream on them and placing them in cups of hot cocoa.

Recipe: Gingerbread Men in Hot Chocolate Jacuzzi

Baked Ham with Orange Fig Glaze

Spice up a classic holiday ham with a glaze of fig jam and orange juice.

Recipe: Orange-fig glazed baked ham

New potatoes with green peas, lemon and pearl onions

Tyler adds sautéed pearl onions, peas and lemon to the mashed potatoes.

Recipe: New Potatoes with Green Peas, Lemon and Pearl Onions

Pork Roll with Mushroom Stuffing

Impress everyone at Christmas dinner with this rustic festive pork roll. For the filling, use wild mushrooms like oyster mushrooms or maitake (sheep mushroom).

Recipe: Pork Roll with Mushroom Stuffing

Asparagus with Lemon Breadcrumbs

Spice up your asparagus with a zesty lemon topping. For a formal dish, add 1/2 tbsp. panko breadcrumbs to chopped thyme, pecorino cheese, chives and a teaspoon of Meyer lemon zest.

Recipe: Asparagus with Lemon Bread Crumbs

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Christmas party guests will love this garlic mashed potatoes. To start, boil Yukon Gold potatoes at a low boil with 3 bay leaves to give herbal aroma and taste. At 1.5 st. add 3 more bay leaves and 5 garlic cloves and simmer for a creamy garlic sauce. Pour it into potatoes, stir and enjoy.

Recipe: Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Lamb Meatloaf Stuffed with Olives and Salsa Verde

Spice up your Christmas meal with Roasted Stuffed Lamb. For the salsa verde, chop the parsley, oregano, garlic, red pepper flakes, and capers in a food processor. Then add lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper and olive oil. Drizzle the cooked meatloaf slices with this sauce for a vibrant color and bold flavor.

Recipe: Lamb meatloaf stuffed with olives and salsa verde

Saffron rice

Saffron strands and 2 tbsp. Basmati rice is all you need for this sophisticated side dish.

Recipe: Saffron Rice

Green Bean Salad with Oranges

When preparing this citrus salad, place freshly boiled green beans in a bowl of ice water to blanch them.

Recipe: Green bean salad with oranges

Beef brisket meatloaf stewed in red wine

For this appetizing roll you will need a bottle of dry red wine, some brandy, tomato puree and veal demi-glace sauce.

Recipe: Beef shank meatloaf braised in red wine

Brussels sprouts in sweet and sour sauce

Honey and red jalapeno give Brussels sprouts a sweet and tangy taste.

Recipe: Brussels sprouts in sweet and sour sauce

Egg noodles with poppy seeds

Think you shouldn't cook pasta for Christmas? No matter how! These hearty egg noodles are topped with a mixture of chopped chives and poppy seeds, with a crème fraîche for a crisp, creamy touch.

Recipe: Egg Noodles with Poppy Seeds

Flounder Rolls with Crab Stuffing in Shrimp and Clams Sauce

These rolls are full of flavors and will be a great addition to your Seven Fishes menu. Stuff the flounder fillet with pieces of crab meat and bake with shrimp and clams.

Recipe: Flounder Rolls with Crab Stuffing in Shrimp and Clam Sauce

Steamed Cauliflower with Pine Nuts

For Cauliflower with Roasted Pine Nuts and Grated Parmesan, you will need a Steamer Basket.

Recipe: Steamed Cauliflower with Pine Nuts

Braised Escarole with Bacon

This stewed escarole takes only 40 minutes to prepare. Fry the pancetta until crispy to give the salad a smoky, salty taste.

Recipe: Braised Bacon Escarole

Christmas Reindeer Brownies

Caramel canes, marshmallows and waffle cookies turn brownies into a festive dessert. They are very simple, so you can cook with the kids!

Recipe: Christmas Reindeer Brownie

Buche de Noel (Christmas Log)

Create a fairy tale atmosphere with a traditional French Christmas log cake. Rich chocolate genoise (Genoese biscuit) is rolled up with coffee and brandy buttercream, then garnished with marzipan berries, cones and mushrooms. The delight of the guests will justify all your efforts.

Recipe: Buche de Noel (Christmas Log)

Hot Chocolate Mix

The real spirit of Christmas is a cup of hot cocoa on a cold winter day.

Recipe: Hot Chocolate Mix

Christmas Tree Cake

This spectacular 3D spruce cake doesn't need a special baking dish. Arranged in the right order, square cakes are covered with cream and decorated with an edible "garland". And at the top rises a festive star.

Recipe: Christmas Tree Cake

Ribeye Baked Beef

“When the meat is served, we all get into the Christmas mood,” Rea says.

Recipe: Baked Ribeye Beef

Millionaire's Ham

Though the ingredients are simple, this glazed, slightly spicy ham looks like a million dollars.

Learn more