Simple & Elegant Christmas Menu

{EDITED TO ADD: I just saw Overwhelmed to Organized menu scheduling tips, and she has great suggestions for organizing your time in the kitchen this Christmas! Definitely go check out her article!}

Here’s what I’m making for Christmas Dinner this year. Maybe you’ll see a few ideas that you like?

Main Course

Whole Chicken or Cornish Hens – When I only serve a few people, cornish hens are delicious and elegant. When cooking for a crowd, a couple of whole chickens are also delicious but much simpler. (Note: Short on time? Buy a rotisserie chicken!)

Plum Sauce – This is the most amazing sauce ever. We start by putting a dab on our chicken just to try it. By the end of the meal, this sauce is smothering nearly everything on our plates.

Homemade Stuffing – Until recently, I didn’t know that stuffing doesn’t have to come from a box. Or that it doesn’t take hours to prepare from scratch. After I bake this in the oven, I like to let it cook in the bird, then top the stuffing with plum sauce. Delicious.

Whole Sweet Potatoes – When topped with butter, brown sugar (or cinnamon-sugar), and miniature marshmallows, it’s basically like eating candy for dinner.

Green beans or peas – A simple way to round out the meal with a healthy green veggie. If I have time, I may add bacon or ham to the beans.

Muffins – Banana, pumpkin, chocolate or blueberry gingerbread? Tough decision!

Fruit – Homemade applesauce, tiny clementines, or a fresh fruit salad will grace our table this Christmas.

Desserts & Snacks

I’m still trying to decide which dessert to make. Here are a few I’m thinking about:

Pie – Mmm. Pie. What’s your favorite kind?

Pecan Ice Cream Ball – shape ice cream into a sphere, then roll it in roasted pecans (or sprinkles, crushed candy canes, or anything else you’d like). Top with hot fudge or caramel sauce and a cherry. Simple. Beautiful. Delicious. The best part? These can be made ahead and placed in the freezer until Christmas.

Cake or cupcakes. Either way I go, I’ll use Wilton’s icing recipe.

Cookie Tray – The girls and I make a cookie tray every year (you can read about one year’s cookie disaster here). This year I’m thinking about keeping it simple by making fudge, buckeyes, Rice Krispy treats, and only one type of cookie. Perhaps chocolate chip, gingerbread, or these dark-chocolate cookies?

Beverages

Punch. I usually make this kind but think I’ll switch it up a bit this time by using wild berry juice instead of grape juice.

Wassail. An old-fashioned fancied-up apple cider. Or, if I’m running low on time, I’ll just pour some apple cider into the crock-pot and let it simmer for awhile.

Need more ideas? Check out my Thanksgiving menu suggestions.

And don’t forget that you can read all of my Christmas articles here or see my Christmas inspiration board on Pinterest.

What’s your favorite Christmas food?