Top 10 Recipes for Christmas Dinner

Great ideas for holiday cooking...

Plan the perfect Christmas dinner with our favorite Christmas recipes including Cream of Pumpkin Soup with Cranberry Drizzle and Cider-and-Beer-Braised Pork with Chocolate Mole.

Medallions of Beef Tenderloin

This beef medallion recipe will make you look like a hero in the kitchen--it looks beautiful and tastes incredible.

Duck with Sweet Orange Sauce

Want to show off this holiday season? If you can roast a chicken, why not up the ante and roast a duck! A roast duck for Christmas dinner is chic and easy. This recipe is my version of the classic French dish "Duck a l'Orange."

Cream of Pumpkin Soup with Cranberry Drizzle

Sometimes there is nothing like cozying up to a rich, warm bowl of soup for dinner. This recipe invokes the flavors of the season and looks just gorgeous on any Christmas dinner table.

Collard Greens and Smoked Turkey

Enjoy a taste of the south this Christmas. This dish is simmered with smoked turkey, collard greens and bell peppers.

Potato Cheese and Mushroom Pie

Finally, a vegetarian dish to take center stage for a festive Christmas meal! This savory pie is as impressive as it is mouth-watering.

Apple-Maple Country Ham

This ham is effortless to make, but is sinfully delicious. It's Christmas dinner in a crock-pot! Plus, the leftovers are fabulous for sandwiches and salads.

Cornish Hens

Cornish hens are another great choice for Christmas dinner. Whether you are cooking for a small family or hosting a big crowd.

Spicy Maple Glazed Lamb Chops with Spinach

Lamb is a holiday favorite and I love this recipe because you simply sear lamb chops and then finish them off in the oven. An upscale Christmas dinner is served in a matter of minutes! The sweet and spicy glaze works really well with the flavor of the lamb and the wilted spinach makes it a complete dish.

Cider-and-Beer-Braised Pork with Chocolate Mole

Chocolate is a favorite holiday ingredient that many people do not typically consider pairing with pork, but Chef Symon’s recipeshows that pork's versatility enhances almost any holiday ingredient. You will receive raves from your friends and family if you serve this dish at Christmas!

Lobster Tails

Decadent lobster is often saved for special celebrations. This recipe is so easy, you will want to make it all year long!

More Christmas Recipes

• Holiday Jello Shots
• Christmas Cookie Recipes
• Christmas Dessert Recipes

• How to Cook a Turkey
• Our Favorite Christmas Recipes
• Christmas Candy Recipes

Pumpkin and Spice Bread

This is an absolutely awesome recipe using canned pumpkin but it goes one step further by using the pumpkin bread in delicious bread pudding. Enjoy!

Pumpkin and Spice Bread

One of our favorite bread recipes doubles as a custard-rich dessert.

Recipe by Karen Barker photography: By James Baigrie

Pumpkin Spice Bread
This loaf is so good you’ll want to double it and turn the extra loaf into a delicious bread pudding (below).

MAKES: 1 (8 1/2- x 4 1/2-inch) loaf
PREP: 10 minutes
BAKE: 1 hour 5 minutes
STAND: 20 minutes

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 plus 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
1 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons canned unsweetened pumpkin
1 large egg

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour an 8 1/2- x 4 1/2-inch loafpan. Sift together first 5 ingredients; stir in kosher salt.
2. Combine sugar, oil, and pumpkin in a large bowl; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add egg, beating until well blended. Gradually add dry ingredients, beating at low speed until blended. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
3. Bake at 350° for 1 hour 5 minutes or until loaf is golden and a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes; remove from pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.

photography: By James Baigrie

Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding

If desired, you can make this several hours ahead and reheat it just before serving.

MAKES: 8 servings
PREP: 15 minutes
STAND: 30 minutes
BAKE: 1 hour 20 minutes

1 loaf Pumpkin Spice Bread
4 large eggs
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
1/4 cup canned unsweetened pumpkin
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
Toppings: Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Cut Pumpkin Spice Bread into 1/2-inch cubes with a serrated knife. Spread cubes in a single layer on a lightly greased jellyroll pan. Bake at 400° for 11 to 14 minutes or until lightly toasted. Remove cubes from oven; set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 350°.
2. Whisk together eggs, egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, pumpkin, lemon zest, and salt in a large mixing bowl until well blended. Whisk in milk and 1 1/2 cups whipping cream until blended.
3. Add toasted pumpkin bread cubes to custard mixture, stirring gently to moisten evenly. Let stand 20 minutes.
4. Grease an 11- x 7-inch baking dish. Pour bread pudding mixture into baking dish, spreading evenly; sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
5. Pour hot tap water to a depth of 3/4 inch in a roasting pan. Place roasting pan in oven. Place baking dish containing bread pudding in center of roasting pan. Bake at 350° for 1 hour 10 minutes or until set at center. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.