With the splendor, good cheer, and nostalgia that Christmas brings, we’re quoting the classic 1963 song “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” to introduce an extraordinary lineup of our 10 favorite Christmas dinner ideas and dishes! Herein you’ll discover everything to warm the bellies of “kid’s jingle belling” and the hearts at “happy meetings when friends come to call.” And, of course, you can count on holiday specialties for “parties for hosting” — and “marshmallows for toasting!” Time-honored traditional Christmas dinner recipes, too, tell of “the glories of Christmases long, long ago” as we celebrate the joy, love, and “mistletoeing” of the season with these delicious Christmas Day meal ideas.
From our table to yours. Merry Christmas, with all the trimmings!
The Deluxe Wow Holiday Meal
You might hear "Wow! Wow! Wow!" instead of "Ho! Ho! Ho!" when you set your Christmas table with these excellently prepared Harry & David dishes. Usher in the feast with wild mushroom tarts, spanakopita triangles, three-cheese arancini, and scallop skewers crusted with puffed rice and wrapped in bacon. Honey-glazed, spiral-sliced ham, ready-to-heat, oven-roasted turkey with gravy, AND seasoned prime rib roast with horseradish sauce make main course centerpieces surrounded by your choice of delectable trimmings.
Christmas Wreath Appetizer
Pass the sparkling wine and hang the mistletoe! This stylish and beautiful wreath-shaped Christmas charcuterie board sets the tone for a ton of fun. The heart of the board includes the ultimate collection of charcuterie and cheese paired with dried fruit and mixed nuts, cranberry chutney, and sweet clover honey, surrounded by an assortment of savory crackers and aromatic rosemary sprigs.
Filet Mignon
For small and large gatherings, filet mignon is the perfect cut of beef. Its incredible tenderness and rich flavor give so much in return, considering how easy it is to prepare. Start by preheating the oven to 400° F. Next, heat a cast iron pan (or any oven-safe pan) over high heat. Add a pat of butter and quickly place the filet in the pan. Cook for two minutes on one side, then flip and cook for another two minutes. Place the pan in the oven to finish, about six to seven minutes. Once the internal temperature reaches 135° F (for medium rare), let the meat rest for five minutes before slicing it. Try it topped with Rogue Creamery blue cheese and served with a side of creamy horseradish for holiday bliss.
Savory Seafood Bisque
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a Southern Italian Christmas Eve tradition that commemorates la vigilia (the wait), or vigil, for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus. Italian Americans — especially those with roots in the southern part of Italy —still partake in this special seafood feast on Dec. 24, setting the table with a splendid array of shellfish, Italian-inspired fish soup, stews, and baked, broiled, and fried fish. And this seafood bisque, full of Atlantic crabs, Pacific wild-caught shrimp, and Alaskan salmon in an herb and cream broth, makes a luxurious Christmas Eve or Christmas Day course.
FUNdue Time
An excellent Swiss-inspired fondue begins with the highest-quality cheeses. Include a combination of Gruyere, Swiss, and Gouda, or create a silky-smooth fondue with Harry & David award-winning cheeses. Gather around this bubbly communal dish, dip bread, apples, and pears or freshly cut vegetables, and celebrate the cozy warmth, togetherness, and understated elegance of Christmas.
Bûche de Noël
The bûche de Noël, or Yule log, is a traditional Christmas cake that originated in France during medieval times to honor the burning of the Yule log in the hearth. A fluffy chocolate sheet cake is rolled around sweet coffee cream and covered in rich chocolate icing. Red and green poinsettias adorn the “bark" to make this an incredible-looking — and tasting — homage to the nostalgia of Christmas.
Christmas Cookie Board
Arrange chocolate treats, peppermint bark, yogurt-covered snowflake pretzels, comforting Christmas cut-out cookies, or holiday petit fours for a Christmas dessert board theme that is perfect after a night of “jingle belling" out in the cold! Pair it with hot cocoa bombs for the kids (or the kid in you!) and whiskey-based Irish coffee for the adults, and pretend it's Christmas in Killarney.
Pear Martini
Everything old is new again! The classic vodka martini, which dates to the late 19th century and had a resurgence in popularity in the 1960s from its appearance in James Bond films, gets a modern-day holiday upgrade, with a pear-flavored vodka base and a sliver of pear and pomegranate seeds, giving it a burst of color and tart surprise. Serve with salty snacks, and break out a deck of playing cards for some old-fashioned holiday entertainment.
Spiced Waffles with Cinnamon Pears
Royal Riviera Pears are tossed with a bit of brown sugar and caramelized — a quick cooking process whereby you cook the fresh fruit and brown sugar over low heat. The natural sugars in the pears release, and the result is a caramel pear compote that you can serve over fluffy cinnamon and nutmeg-spiced homemade waffles to warm your Christmas morn'! Kids may actually wait to open their presents once they get a whiff and taste of these waffles.
Scone Cobbler
Make this holiday breakfast cobbler by layering tart cranberries and Granny Smith apples over rich Wolferman's scones, and top it off with Harry & David scone mix to make the crumble topping. You can use any fresh fruit, including seasonal pears, persimmons, and even citrus. Cut this crowd-pleasing breakfast into squares, top with a dusting of powdered sugar, and serve with spoonfuls of preserves and a holiday assortment of coffee while unwrapping presents under the tree (tree not included).
