Make Ahead Christmas Dinner Menu
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This Make-Ahead Christmas Dinner Menu is a much-loved collection of easy, delicious holiday recipe favorites, including appetizers, main and side dishes, desserts, and more. With included make-ahead, storage, and serving tips, you can easily prepare these tasty recipes ahead of time for a stress-free Christmas dinner everyone will love!
I love hosting Christmas dinner for my family. Preparing much of it ahead of time with this Make Ahead Christmas Dinner Menu makes it much easier for me to enjoy spending the most time with all of my family and friends. It’s such a stress-free way to make our Christmas dinner!
I’ve included our full Christmas Dinner Menu along with my schedule for getting it all ready for a stress-free holiday! I hope you find it as useful as I have throughout the years!
Make Ahead Appetizer Recipes
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Make Ahead Tips: Prepare the dip according to the recipe instructions without baking, cover well, and refrigerate for 1 to 2 days. When ready to cook, remove from the refrigerator and bake as directed, or add to the slow cooker and cook as directed in the recipe.
Store: Allow spinach and artichoke dip to cool. Wrap well and refrigerate for up to four days. Reheat in the oven or briefly in the microwave until warmed throughout.
Freeze: Prepare the dip without baking and place it in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake as directed. Note – If you use mayonnaise, it may slightly change the texture.
Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe
Chicken Cheese Ball
Make Ahead Tips: Assemble up to four days in advance. Wrap tightly and refrigerate.
Allow to reach room temperature for serving.
Chicken Cheese Ball Recipe
Make Ahead Main Dish Recipes
I have included a few options for the main dish for Christmas Dinner so you can choose the one your family likes best.
Perfect Prime Rib served with Horseradish Sauce
Follow the schedule in this recipe post for the best results.
Refrigerate: Wrap well and refrigerate for up to 7 days.
Freeze: Wrap well and store in an airtight freezer container for up to 6 months.
Reheat: Allow frozen prime rib to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Leftover prime rib is delicious cold, but if you want to reheat it, do so carefully at a low oven temperature of 250 degrees, with a bit of broth or au jus in the dish to preserve its tenderness.
Perfect Prime Rib Recipe
Make Ahead Tips: Prepare the horseradish sauce up to a week in advance.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Allow to reach room temperature for serving.
Horseradish Sauce Recipe
Easy Roast Turkey
For best results, follow all preparation and thawing instructions in this recipe so your timeline aligns with the required time.
Store: Place the turkey leftovers in airtight containers or plastic storage bags and refrigerate for up to 3 or 4 days. If the breast meat isn’t already sliced, leave it as whole as possible to refrigerate, retaining the juices in the larger cut.
Freeze: If you will not eat or cook with the leftover turkey within 3 or 4 days, it’s best to freeze it. Cut the meat away from the turkey carcass, leaving sections as whole as possible, and seal in airtight containers or bags, then freeze for up to 3 months.
Cook and slice the turkey as directed. Arrange on an oven-safe serving platter or on a rimmed baking sheet. Cover and leave at room temperature for up to 1 hour before reheating in the oven. Be sure to reheat until the temperature reaches 165º F.
Easy Roast Turkey Recipe
Best Baked Ham
Store: Cooked ham should be wrapped tightly and refrigerated as soon as possible after serving. Stored properly, cooked ham should keep for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Freeze: Wrap the cooled ham tightly with freezer-safe wrap and store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
Serving Tips: Allow it to thaw in the refrigerator and then reheat and serve or serve it cold.
Best Baked Ham Recipe
Make Ahead Sides Recipes
Twice Baked Potatoes
Store: Leftover twice-baked potatoes keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store in an airtight container. Reheat them in a 350º F oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until heated through. You can also reheat them in the microwave, covered with a damp paper towel.
Make Ahead Tips: Twice-baked potatoes make a wonderful make-ahead recipe. Prepare without baking them. Cover well with a tight-fitting lid or foil and refrigerate for 3 days. To serve, preheat the oven, remove the covering from the potatoes, and bake as directed. A few more minutes may be needed since baking refrigerated potatoes.
Twice Baked Potatoes Recipe
Apple Pear Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
Toast the pecans up to a few days in advance, but assemble the salad right before serving.
Apple Pear Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
Make Ahead Christmas Desserts
Peppermint Chocolate Cake
Make Ahead Tip: Make up to two days in advance and store it under a covered dome.
Freeze: Let the baked cake layers cool completely. Wrap them well in plastic wrap, then in foil. Put each layer into a freezer bag and freeze for up to 2 months.
Serving Tips: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight with wrapping intact. The next day, the layers are ready to be filled and frosted.
Peppermint Chocolate Cake Recipe
Cinnamon Rolls
Baked Make-Ahead Cinnamon Rolls: These cinnamon rolls keep well on the counter for up to 3 days. Cover them and keep them in a cool, dry place.
Unbaked Make-Ahead Cinnamon Rolls: I am often asked if you can keep the unbaked cinnamon rolls in the refrigerator overnight and bake them the following day. Yes! You sure can! We love to prepare them on Christmas Eve and then bake them fresh on Christmas morning!
To do this, skip the second rise of the dough, cover them tightly, and refrigerate. Then, bake them fresh when you plan to serve them. They will last in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, but are best cooked within 48 hours.
When ready to bake, remove them from the refrigerator as your oven preheats, then bake, frost, and serve!
Cinnamon Roll Recipe
Coconut Cream Pie
Refrigerate: Cover the pie well and store any leftover pie for up to 3 days.
Freeze: If you wish to freeze coconut cream pie, do not add the whipped topping or toasted coconut topping. After the custard has cooled and completely set in the pie, wrap it well and store it in an airtight, freezer-safe container for 2-3 months.
Serving Tips: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and add the whipped topping and toasted coconut just before serving.
Coconut Cream Pie Recipe
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Make Ahead Tips: Place cookie dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until frozen, about 30 minutes. Then, remove the scoops from the baking sheet and place them into a freezer-safe, airtight container.
When ready to bake one, two, or ten cookies, pull that number out and bake. You may need to add a few more minutes to the baking time since they are being baked frozen.
Store Baked Cookies: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days.
Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Chewy Sugar Cookie Recipe
Make Ahead Tips: You can prepare the dough and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. When you are ready to bake, scoop the dough into balls and follow the baking instructions in the recipe.
Freezing Chewy Sugar Cookie dough: Scoop dough by the tablespoon, roll it into a ball, and place it onto a parchment-covered baking sheet. Cover and freeze for 1 hour, or until the dough is frozen. Remove from the freezer and place the cookie mounds into airtight containers or freezer bags. Label the bag with the date and name of the cookies.
When you are ready to bake the cookies, remove the container from the freezer, remove the number of cookies you wish to bake, and place them in the refrigerator to thaw. Once the dough has thawed, roll the balls in the granulated sugar and place them at least 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake as directed in your recipe, but you will probably need to add a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.
Storing Baked Cookies: Cool the baked sugar cookies thoroughly. Layer the sugar cookies between pieces of parchment or waxed paper, then place them in an airtight container. These cookies should keep up to 1 week.
The BEST Chewy Sugar Cookies Recipe!
Make Ahead Tips: You can prepare the dough and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. When you are ready to bake, roll the dough to the desired thickness and follow the recipe instructions.
Freezing Rolled Cookie Dough: Divide your dough into two equal-sized balls. Place each dough ball between two pieces of plastic wrap and flatten each into a disc. Place each disc into an airtight freezer bag. Label each bag with the date and name of the cookies. Place the discs on a baking sheet to keep them flat, then freeze.
When you are ready to bake the cookies, thaw the dough for about 30 minutes or until it is softened. Follow your recipe instructions to roll the dough to the desired thickness of your cookies. Then, cut the dough into the desired shapes. Bake as directed in your recipe.
You can also freeze the dough after cutting it into desired shapes. Place the cut-out cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for about 30 minutes. Remove the cookies from the cookie sheet and place them into an airtight freezer bag. Label with the date and name of the cookies and freeze.
When ready to bake, remove the cookies from the freezer and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake as directed in the recipe. You may need to add a couple of minutes to the baking time.
Storing the Baked Cookies: After baking, cool the cookies completely. Place the sugar cookies in a layer between waxed paper or parchment. You may frost these cookies either before or after storing them.
If you frost before storing, be sure the frosting is completely dry before beginning storage.
Store them in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Cut Out Sugar Cookie Recipe
Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
Make Ahead Tips: You can prepare the dough and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. When ready to bake, roll the dough to the desired thickness and follow the recipe instructions.
Freezing Gingerbread Men Cookie Dough: Divide your dough into two equal-sized balls. Place each dough ball between two pieces of plastic wrap and flatten it into a disc. Place each disc into an airtight freezer bag. Label each bag with the date and name of the cookies. Place the discs on a baking sheet to keep them flat, then freeze.
When you are ready to bake the cookies, thaw the dough for about 30 minutes or until it is softened. Follow your recipe instructions to roll the dough to the desired thickness of your cookies. Then, cut the dough into the desired shapes. Bake as directed in your recipe.
You can also freeze the dough after cutting it into desired shapes. Place the cut-out cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for about 30 minutes. Remove the cookies from the cookie sheet and place them into an airtight freezer bag. Label with the date and name of the cookies and freeze.
When ready to bake, remove the cookies from the freezer and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake as directed in the recipe. You may need to add a couple of minutes to the baking time.
Storing the Baked Cookies: After baking, cool the cookies completely. Place the cookies in a layer between waxed paper or parchment. You may frost these cookies either before or after storing them. If you frost before storing, be sure the frosting is completely dry before beginning storage. Store them in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
Snickerdoodle Recipe
Make Ahead Tips: You can prepare the dough and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. When you are ready to bake, scoop the dough into balls and follow the baking instructions in the recipe.
Freezing Snickerdoodles dough: Scoop dough by the tablespoon, roll it into a ball and place it onto a parchment-covered baking sheet. Cover and freeze for 1 hour, or until the dough is frozen. Remove from the freezer and place the cookie mounds into airtight containers or freezer bags. Label the bag with the date and name of the cookies.
When you are ready to bake the cookies, remove the container from the freezer. Remove the number of cookies from the container you wish to bake and place them in the refrigerator to thaw. Once the dough has thawed, roll the balls in the granulated sugar and place them at least 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake as directed in your recipe, but you will probably need to add a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.
Storing Baked Cookies: Cool them thoroughly. Layer the cookies between pieces of parchment or waxed paper, then place them in an airtight container. These cookies should keep up to 1 week.
Snickerdoodles Recipe
How to Save Your Own Favorite Recipes
We have created a Recipe Collections Tutorial as a guide. It is so easy to save your favorites, but this guide makes it even easier.
Create an Account and Save Recipes
Simply create an account and Save your favorite recipes!
Save and Customize Weekly Meal Plan
Once you have created your free account, you can save this meal plan to your personal recipe collection. If there is something else you’d rather have one night, swap out the recipes with your favorites!
Shopping Lists
Once you have your meal plan the way you like it, you can create your Shopping List by clicking on the shopping cart in the top right corner. Make sure each recipe you plan to make has a check mark beside it, then click the shopping cart in the top-right corner a second time to generate the Shopping List. Now, you can edit, save, share, print, and regenerate your Shopping List. How neat is that?
If you have any questions, please let us know!
Wishing your family a very Merry Christmas!
Robyn xo
These all look so delicious! Will you come cook my Christmas Dinner in NC😂😂I love all of your recipes and looking forward to trying many more of them. Thank you so much for sharing your talent and Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas to you, Martha! I hope you enjoy these recipes.
Everything looks so lovely, spoilt for choice
Maria, I hope these recipes will help you during the holidays. I love to make ahead as much as possible so I’m not so rushed and can enjoy all the activities with my family.
Where do I find the recipes?
Looks delicious!
Stephanie, click on the blue underlined title for each recipe and it will take you to that particular recipe. Hope you enjoy these recipes.
HI,
Merry Christmas, I am coming to your house for dinner,
looks so good. Wish you a wonderful time with your
family. Enjoy them, specially your mom.
Linda
Robyn,
I want you to know how much I appreciate your weekly menus. After 50+ years of cooking, I find the most difficult part of cooking is coming up with a menu each week. Your menus contain a variety of easy to find ingredients, and foods that are family favorites for nearly every taste-bud. You make menu planning so easy. Keep up the great work. Additionally, your recipes are wonderful too!!
Sincerely,
Jan
Oh thank you so much Jan! I am so happy you are enjoying the meal plans! It helps me so to have them planned ahead too, and I’m glad they are helpful to you as well!
I’m glad you enjoy the recipes – thanks so much!!! xo
Thank you very much. I did find it and will make it for Christmas. Thanks again
Would love to have your recipe for prime rib and potatoes.
Hi Diana,
The link to the recipes for the prime rib and the potatoes are right under each of their photos. Let me know if you need anything else. xo
ROBYN,
I LOVE TO COOK AND BAKE AT THE HOLIDAY. I AM GREEK AND ITALIAN AND HAVE SOME WONDERFUL RECIPES AND MADE SOME OF MY OWN. I HAVE A QUESTION I ALWAYS MAKE MY PUMPKIN ROLL AT THANKSGIVING THOUGH NEW YEAR THEN AT EASTER. I FOUND BEST THING TO ROLL IN FLOUR SAK CLOTHS I GET AT SMAS CLUB 12 CLOTHS FOR 8.00 ABOUT. THEY COME COMPLETELY CLEAN AND CAKE DOES NOT STICK TO THEM THIS IS ALSO FOR MY RED VELVET ROLL AS WELL THE QUESTION IS NO MATTER HOW MUCH POWDERED SUGAR I DUST WITH OR HOW LONG I LET SIT AFTER I UNROLL AND ADD FILLING AND GO TO RE ROLL THEY CRACK. DO YOU HAVE A TRICK OR HINT THAT WILL MAKE THEM NOT CRACK?
FRANKIE
Hi Frank,
There are a couple of tricks that I use to prevent a pumpkin roll or any other type of roll cake from cracking. First, make sure that you are getting the cake batter spread very evenly on the pan to make sure that it bakes evenly. Also, make sure that you do not overbake the cake as a moist cake does better rolling without cracking. Then, as soon as you remove the cake from the oven, go ahead and transfer to the towel for rolling.
I hope those tips that have helped me help you, too!
Robyn, too late for my Christmas dinner, but I plan to make the Chocolate Peppermint Cake for my January Bunko group. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, you have provided me with some wonderfuly recipes for 2014, looking forward to 2015. Merry Christmas
Looks so delicious! I am making Prime Rib as well. I will make those potatoes for the New Year, as I love Boursin cheese! Merry Christmas and all the best in 2015.
Merry Christmas to you, Winnie!