Christmas Eve Menu

Christmas Eve traditions vary all over the world. In the Philippines, they celebrate with beautiful lanterns, in Austria Krampus frightens naughty children (we might need to look into this one), in Norway people hide their brooms from witches. Here in the U.S. many celebrate the evening by spending it with friends or family. The last few years we’ve started a tradition of spending Christmas Eve with a few friends, neighbors and family. We exchange a few gifts, break a little ice (as my uncle would say) and munch on some holiday goodies. I love how festive Christmas Eve is with the fire blazing and the wine flowing and the kids sneaking cookies.

For our Christmas Eve Menu I like to include a range of items for everyone. Since we typically have ham on Christmas Day (special request of my 9 year old), I like to make some kind of beef roast for Christmas Eve. (When I say I like to make it I mean my husband makes it.) I can make a lot of things – but I’m not the best at meat and he is fantastic at it. For Christmas Eve I found a lovely NY Strip Roast. Here’s my husband’s recipe for roasts:

Combine the following and make a paste to rub all over your roast.

• 2 Tablespoons softened butter
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tbsp dried thyme
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp kosher salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Take a wire rack and place inside a large casserole dish. Put your roast on top of the wire rack.

Brown roast for about 15 minutes. Turn the oven down and continue cooking for another 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes for a 4 pound roast for medium temperature. (Cooking time varies by weight)

Since we’re having a fairly casual Christmas Eve, I plan to slice the beef and use it for French Dip style sandwiches. We just slice and serve with rolls, slices of cheese, au jus and horse radish sauce.

Here are a few more Christmas Eve Menu Ideas for a casual Christmas Eve like ours.

Ham Sandwiches are easy and always a hit with a crowd.

Macaroni & Cheese My kids won’t eat the beef, so I make them something that they will enjoy.

Party Dips – White Cheddar & Cranberry Sweet and cheesy with a little tartness from the cranberries – yum! Onion Dip My aunt used to make one similar to this recipe. It’s very rich but so delicious. Cranberry Pepper Jelly This is so simple but it’s quite tasty on a cracker. Baked Spinach & Artichoke Dip My sister always bring a cheesy spinach dip to parties and there’s rarely any to take home.

Salads – I like a salad to balance out all of the other rich food. These are some festive options. Christmas Salad This salad incorporates citrus and has a nice vinaigrette. Beet Salad I love a beet salad and this one also includes arugula and walnuts with a lemon dressing.

Appetizers – Charcuterie Board I love a charcuterie board! You can add something for everyone. Seafood or Shrimp Cocktail Don’t forget the seasoning on the shrimp cocktail, no one wants plain cold shrimp. Spinach & Cheese Squares My aunt always made these delicious spinach squares. There was never a single one left in the pan.

Dessert – Christmas Cookies / Christmas Sweater Cake

Cocktails – Christmas Punch (kids) I like to make something fun for the kids to sip on too. Just don’t get it mixed up with the adult version.

Christmas Punch I like a punch at a holiday party because you don’t have to make drinks and typically everyone will give it a try.

• 2 – 750ml bottles of Prosecco or sparkling wine
• 3 cups cranberry juice
• 1 bag cranberries (freeze)
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 sliced orange
• 3 cups gingerale

Stir juices, gingerale and wine together in drink container. Garnish with frozen cranberries and sliced oranges.

Cranberry Thyme Gin Cocktail / Winter Aperol Cocktail / Moscow Mule / Cranberry Mulled Wine / White Christmas Margarita / Christmas Sangria