Christmas is just around the corner! It’s hard to believe how quickly it sneaks up on us each year. One of the best ways I’ve found to enjoy the day to its fullest is to plan ahead, especially when it comes to the menu. Having a clear plan ensures you know exactly what you’re doing in the kitchen, which helps keep your energy up and allows you to focus on the most important part of the day: spending time with loved ones.
For our family, Christmas is about more than just the feast. It’s a whole day filled with special moments. We start with a relaxed breakfast, sharing some time together as a little family. Then comes a cold lunch with my husband’s side of the family, followed by dinner with my side of the family, or vice versa. Yes, that’s two big family gatherings in one day!
To make things manageable, I keep the menu consistent between lunch and dinner, doubling up on everything. This helps simplify the cooking process so I can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the day.
Good planning is key! I make sure to get my shopping list just right so I don’t miss out on essentials like a quality ham, ordering prawns in advance, and having all the condiments ready (there was one year we forgot the cranberry sauce, never again!). I also print out all my recipes ahead of time to avoid scrambling on the day I am preparing the food.
Whether you’re hosting a small gathering or a big celebration, I can’t recommend planning ahead enough. It’s the best way to ensure you’re organised and able to soak up all the joy Christmas has to offer.
Planning ahead of time
I like to plan my Christmas menu a few weeks in advance to make sure everything runs smoothly. Once I’ve decided on the dishes, I book an online grocery delivery at least 10 days ahead, aiming for it to arrive on the 22nd or 23rd of December. This gives me plenty of time to check everything off my list and avoid any last-minute dashes to the shops. On Christmas Eve, I prepare as much of the food as possible, cooking, chopping, and assembling, so that on Christmas Day, all I need to do is dish and platter everything up. This approach keeps the day stress-free and allows me to enjoy every moment with family and friends.
CHRISTMAS DAY (ALL DAY) MENU
Christmas Breakfast Menu
Pancakes with Blueberries and Whipped Cream – We always begin Christmas morning with a special breakfast together as a family, right after the presents have been unwrapped. Our family tradition is to make pancakes topped with fresh berries and whipped cream, because Christmas Day just isn’t complete without berries! I use this recipe, and simply swap out the bananas for blueberries to make it perfect for Christmas morning.
Eggnog – The pancakes are accompanied by none other than my homemade Eggnog. When the kids were younger, we always kept it alcohol-free, but now that they’re older, I make a batch just for them without the alcohol and add a splash of brandy for Scotty and I. Let’s keep it our little secret that we’re into the spirits by 9 am, after all, it’s Christmas! The Eggnog pairs beautifully with the pancakes and berries, adding an extra touch of festive cheer to our morning.
Christmas Lunch / Dinner Menu
Cold Tiger Prawns – We love having cold tiger prawns with some prawn cocktail sauce for the eager beavers who love to peel prawns on Christmas Day. Growing up we only ever had prawns at Christmas, as they are an indulgent treat. The cold, meaty and salty flavour of the prawns is a fond memory most of us share.
Turkey – To keep things simple, I purchase a cooked turkey breast from the supermarket—all I need to do is slice it up and serve it with some cranberry sauce.
Glazed Ham – A glazed ham is always a showstopper and the best part is how simple it is to prepare ahead of time. I like to make it the day before, glazing and baking it to perfection, then letting it cool and storing it in the fridge overnight. On Christmas Day, we enjoy it cold, which not only saves time but also brings out the delicious flavours of the glaze. It’s perfectly served with a selection of salads and condiments, making it an effortless yet impressive dish for the festive feast.
Coleslaw – is a fresh and crunchy addition to any Christmas spread, and it’s so easy to make with just a few simple ingredients. I love combining shredded cabbage, carrots, and a creamy dressing for a classic version that pairs perfectly with ham and turkey. However, if you’re short on time, there’s no shame in buying a pre-made coleslaw from the supermarket, it’s a great way to simplify your preparations without sacrificing flavour. Whether homemade or store-bought, coleslaw is always a crowd-pleaser!
Homemade Potato Salad – My classic Homemade Potato Salad is a must at Christmas. Everyone is just used to it being a comfort food that is always available to go with the ham and turkey. I never liked it as a kid, but I’ve perfected this recipe and am now converted. It’s my son’s favourite too.
Sweet and Sour Cucumber & Watermelon Salad – The salad dressing only takes a few seconds to whip up and once I added it to the salad, the flavour combination was just lovely. This Sweet and Sour Cucumber & Watermelon Salad is a tasty medley, with the vinegar complementing the dish as a whole… It’s very Christmassy too, with a bowl filled with red and green.
Christmas Treast & Desserts Menu
Christmas day has to have sweet surprises available, so I’m also making some treats that will be ready to go all day. Tea, coffee and my Eggnog will be served with the sweet treats whenever anyone wants some, and my treats will include my mum’s Christmas Berry Trifle, my White Christmas, Nan’s Rum Balls and my friend’s Nuts & Bolts recipe.
Christmas Berry Trifle
This Christmas Berry Trifle recipe is a twist on the one my mum used to make every Christmas. This dessert is one that’s dear to my heart, but funny enough I really didn’t like it as a child. After losing my mother a few years back, this dessert has made it to our Christmas table ever since and has become a special tradition in memory of my mum. And you know what, with a few of my added tweaks, I love this dish now!!!
Christmas Summer Berry Punch
I like to serve up a festive and special Christmas Summer Berry Punch. The punch is non-alcoholic and is so refreshing to have throughout the day.
White Christmas
I did a test run of this recipe about a month ago just to see if everyone would like it for Christmas day and the kids couldn’t get enough of it. I hadn’t had White Christmas in years and just thought, well why not make it this year. It’s an Australian tradition after all.
Nan’s Christmas Rum Balls
Nan’s Rum Balls. Oh, these are just heavenly and I love making them every year because everyone loves them. Who doesn’t love rum balls right! They also make me feel close to my Nanna at Christmas time, so I like to make these every year.
Nuts & Bolts – This is something new for my family this Christmas. A friend of mine let me try her Nuts & Bolts recipe and it had such interesting flavours and looked so pretty when served, that I asked her if I could use the recipe for Christmas Day. This one is certainly a keeper. Sweet and savoury at the same time.
That’s my Christmas Menu! I hope it inspires you as you plan for the big day. I’ve included links to all the recipes, so feel free to use them for your Christmas feast. If you do, I’d love to hear about what you cooked and how it all turned out. For even more festive ideas, be sure to check out my Christmas Recipe Collection.
