If you love the festive season but dread all the preparation and cooking that goes into it, this list is for you.
I’ve collaborated with some of my favourite content creators out there to see what kind of recipes they came up with in order to make Christmas less stressful and a little more laid back this year.
Nobody likes spending hours in the kitchen making Christmas dinner, but it’s something that ends up happening during the festive season.
But not this year! This year, spend less time cooking and more quality time with your loved ones instead.
Give these simple Christmas recipes a try and impress your family with a delicious feast they won’t forget.
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7 Simple Christmas Recipes
1. Festive Meringue Wreath
Before I share my friends’ recipes, here’s one I make almost every year. It’s light, so it can be eaten after a big Christmas dinner, it takes just 10 minutes to make and it looks super festive!
Ingredients:
- Meringues
- Whipped cream
- Fruit (strawberries, blueberries, kiwis, raspberries – your choice!)
- Mint leaves (optional)
Now, you can absolutely make the meringues yourself, and I’ve done this a few years, but for the purpose of having a simpler Christmas this year, I suggest buying pre-made meringues. You’ll need 6-8 meringues, enough to make a circle.
First up, we need to prep the fruit. Wash the berries in a colander and chop up the kiwis and strawberries. Leave them to sit in a bowl for now.
Next, whip your cream (unless you’ve managed to buy pre-whipped cream!). You’ll want this nice and thick so it can hold the toppings. Scoop a spoon or two onto each meringue.
Now it’s time to get creative! Arrange the fruit in a wreath-like pattern on top of the cream. If you want, add some mint leaves as decoration.
And voila! A beautiful Christmas meringue wreath that your friends and family will love. Serve with a sprinkle of icing sugar for extra effect. Enjoy!
2. Asian Brussel Sprouts Satay Roast
Recipe by the wonderful ladies at The Grumpy Olive
The Asian-inspired Brussel Sprouts satay roast is a perfect side dish or appetizer for your Christmas lunch. We have combined one of the staples of your Christmas table, the sprouts, to a dipping sauce which is honestly finger-licking!
You will roast your sprouts with maple syrup and soy sauce, and in the meantime, you’ll prepare the sauce too.
The satay sauce will honestly take less than 10 minutes and it will need some of your pantry staples like peanut butter, lime juice, soy sauce and sweet chilli sauce. If you feel adventurous enough, garlic, ginger and extra chilli flakes! Add some warm water, mix everything well and serve – nothing easier and more delicious, plus it won’t break the bank either!
Check out The Grumpy Olive’s full recipe and instructions for these festive Brussel sprouts here!
3. Christmas Tree Brownies
Recipe from Riana at Teaspoon of Adventure
This is one of my favourite super simple Christmas recipe ideas as they’re easy to make, delicious and super festive! Whether you’re exploring European Christmas markets or cooking a family feast, this is a great addition to your holiday meals.
Step 1: Make brownies. You can use your favourite go-to recipe or a box mix!
Step 2: Once cooled, cut into triangles and insert pretzel sticks in the bottom. These are the “trunks” of your Christmas tree.
Step 3: Ice with green icing and decorate with sprinkles!
Not only is this recipe great for bakers without a lot of time, it’s also an easy Christmas baking idea to do with kids, who can help with the decorating, or for novice bakers, who may want to use a pre-made brownie mix. It’s fun and delicious either way!
4. Breton Brittle
Recipe by Michelle at Boomer Eco Crusader
Ingredients
- Breton Original crackers (You can also use saltines or any other thin crackers)
- 2 cups milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Cover a cookie sheet with tinfoil. Put down a layer of Breton Original crackers. Break up pieces of cracker to fill in the spaces.
- Melt one cup of butter in a saucepan over low heat.
- Add one cup of brown sugar and stir well to combine.
- Continue cooking over low to medium heat, stirring regularly, until it thickens.
- Carefully pour the mixture over the crackers.
- Bake for 5 minutes at 350F.
- Remove the tray from the oven and sprinkle chocolate chips all over.
- As soon as the chips start to melt, spread the chocolate with a knife to cover.
- Cool for a few minutes and then put in the freezer to set.
- Break up into pieces.
- Enjoy!
Check out Michelle’s eco and simple living blog here!
5. Carmelised Potatoes
Recipe by Karalee at Tales of Belle
Caramelized potatoes are a popular side dish for Christmas dinner in Denmark, and they are quick and easy to make and also delicious.
Ingredients:
1 jar of potatoes that are pre-peeled and boiled
3 tablespoons of butter or vegan butter substitute
1/3 cup of brown sugar
Directions:
1. Melt the butter in a pan on medium heat
2. Add the brown sugar to the pan
3. Drain and rinse the jarred potatoes
4. Once the brown sugar is melted, add the potatoes to the pan and stir to coat them in the brown sugar mixture
5. Cook the potatoes for 10 minutes and stir occasionally. You will know the potatoes are done once the brown sugar is thick and has coated the potatoes
In Denmark, caramelized potatoes are served with duck and red cabbage, but you can serve them with a protein of your choice and a salad. You can also use fresh potatoes instead of a jar of potatoes, but you will need to peel and boil them for approximately 10 minutes then let them cool before adding them to the pan with the brown sugar.
Tales of Belle is all about beauty and books – be sure to check it out!
6. Christmas Shortbread Biscuits
Recipe by Carolin at Solo Travel Story
Ingredients:
- 250g flour
- pinch of salt
- 150g butter
- 125 sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 sachet vanilla flavoured sugar (Dr Oetker Vanillin sugar, or alternative a dash of vanilla essence)
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
Kneed all ingredients together until they form a soft dough, put it to rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Roll out the dough and cut stars, reindeers, hearts, etc.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes at 180 degrees top & bottom heat setting of your oven, not fan!
Cool down the biscuits. Decorate with molten chocolate and sprinkles.
Be sure to check out Carolin’s travel stories over at Solo Travel Story!
7. DIY Hot Chocolate Stirrers
Recipe by Taryn at Saving in London City
These hot chocolate stirrers are the perfect easy gift to make for your loved ones this Christmas! They are super cheap to make too, using just three ingredients.
The method is simple:
- Melt white chocolate and add to an ice cube tray until roughly one third full.
- Sprinkle with mini marshmallows and leave to set
- Melt your milk or dark chocolate, poke a lolly pop stick in the centre of each stirrer and add your second layer of chocolate.
- Chill completely before carefully removing from your ice cube tray and voila! Add a handful of extra marshmallows to the top to finish
I wrapped mine with cellophane and added a ribbon as a finishing touch. You can adapt this recipe really easily too; try decorating with different sweets or sprinkles to add variety to your stirrers!
Be sure to visit Taryn’s blog for great ideas on saving money on your trip to London!
The bottom line: You CAN have a simple festive period with these simple Christmas recipes!
This holiday season you can whip up some delicious festive treats in no time without having to spend hours slaving in the kitchen.
Whether it’s for a gift or just because, make your Christmas a little easier with these deliciously easy Christmas recipes on the Christmas menu that will get your taste buds in the holiday spirit!
Merry Christmas and happy cooking!
