Carlsbad Cravings

The BEST Christmas Recipes from breakfast, appetizers, sides, main course and dessert – all in one place!

Christmas is just around the corner which means everyone is busy planning their Christmas dinner menu.  I’m here to help by providing over 100 Christmas Dinner Ideas  all from CARLSBAD CRAVINGS all in ONE place to make your holiday prep that much easier and delicious!  You can scroll down for categorized Christmas recipes with large photos or my Holiday recipe index will give you a glance of all my Christmas Recipes in one spot.   The appetizers are fabulous for New Year’s too!

Christmas Breakfast

Creme Brulee French Toast (Video!)



 

Cream Cheese Stuffed Banana Bread Coffee Cake

The best Banana ANYTHING ever! Moist Banana Coffee Cake riddled with chocolate chips and walnuts (optional) with an INCREDIBLY creamy cheesecake-like cream cheese filling all topped with brown sugar walnut streusel and vanilla drizzle.

The BEST Frittata

top view of egg frittata recipe baked in the oven

Maple Bacon Monkey Bread

Maple Bacon Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread made easy with refrigerated cinnamon rolls and made irresistible with maple crispy crumbled bacon, pecans and a maple caramel topping. The perfect special occasion breakfast, brunch or dessert!

Peaches and Cream French Toast Muffins

Baked Peaches and Cream French Toast Muffins are an irresistible STRESS FREE make-ahead breakfast bursting with sweet peaches, crowned with Cinnamon Streusel, doused with syrup and topped with luscious cream! !

Sausage Breakfast Casserole

Cinnamon Eggnog French Toast

Easy Overnight Cinnamon Eggnog French Toast Casserole all made in advance makes it perfect for Christmas breakfast. And the Brown Sugar Pecan Streusel is amazing! Seriously the best French Toast Casserole ever.

Cranberry Pecan Gingerbread Waffles

Eggs Benedict Casserole with Blender Hollandaise (Video!)

Southern Living Eggs Benedict Casserole on a speckled plate with a fork taking a bite

Pecan Praline French Toast

Nutella Pumpkin Crepes

Blueberry Muffin Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Glaze

I've died and gone to heaven! This EASY Blueberry Muffin Cake is like a giant blueberry muffin and the Maple Cream Cheese Glaze is amazing! Everyone always asks me to make this for brunch!

Ham and Cheese Breakfast Enchiladas with Creamy Salsa Sauce

Easy, hearty Breakfast Enchiladas stuffed with your favorite breakfast ingredients then smothered with intoxicatingly delicious Creamy Salsa Sauce! These enchiladas are totally customizable, perfect for your leftover holiday ham AND you can assemble the night before and bake the next day!

Nutella Stuffed Snickerdoodle Muffins

EASY Nutella Stuffed Snickerdoodle Muffins AKA muffins dunked in butter and generously coated in cinnamon-sugar for a baked muffin that tastes like a fried donut AND each stuffed with creamy Nutella! These muffins are super quick to whip up and make the best special occasion breakfasts or dessert (like Christmas!)

Dulce de Leche French Toast

Easy Overnight Dulce de Leche French Toast Casserole infused with wonderfully sweet caramel-like dulce de leche is decadently delicious and all prepared in advance making it ideal for busy or special occasion breakfast. And don't skip the Brown Sugar Pecan Topping - its out of this world!

Christmas Main Course

Baked Ham with Apple Cider Maple Glaze

Baked Ham with Apple Cider Maple Glaze: beautifully caramelized, flavorful and deliciously moist baked ham takes minutes to prep and the glaze is out of this world! Perfect for Christmas, Easter and feeds a crowd!

Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

juicy baked Ham with brown sugar glaze for ham on a white platter

Honey Baked Ham

juicy honey glazed ham on a white platter

Roasted Turkey with Herb Butter

This is the juiciest, most tender, flavorful Roast Turkey I have ever made! EVERYONE wanted the recipe!   I will never use another turkey recipe again, this one is a winner!  

Garlic Butter Pork Tenderloin

easy pork tenderloin oven sliced on a cutting board

Crockpot Pork Loin with Honey or Berry Citrus Glaze

Slow Cooker Honey Balsamic Beef

REPLACE

World’s Best Lasagna

a slice of traditional lasagna with layers of ricotta, noodles, meat sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan with fresh parsley garnish on a white plate

White Chicken Lasagna

Slow Cooker Beef Tips and Gravy

Ridiculously tender, Homemade Slow Cooker Beef Tips and Gravy (without any “cream of” anything!) is richly satisfying, comforting and flavorful and the perfect make ahead meal for busy weeknights! I also love serving it for special occasions or holidays because it is so easy, make ahead and super easy to double or triple the recipe!

Rigatoni in Sausage Tomato Cream Sauce

Slow Cooker Beef Brisket

Wonderfully juicy, flavor exploding, melt-in-your-mouth Slow Cooker Beef Brisket is my favorite meat dish EVER and "better than any restaurant” according to my food critic husband!   It's the ultimate easy company dinner because it can be made days in advance then reheated in the slow cooker for stress free entertaining!

Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

This is by far my family's favorite Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff recipe! An ultra rich and creamy, amazingly flavorful sauce (without any "cream of" anything!), crazy tender meat all made in the crockpot for a gourmet meal with hardly any effort! I love serving this for holidays like Christmas!

Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches

Crazy tender Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches seeping with spices are unbelievably delicious and make the easiest dinner or party food. You haven't had French Dip Sandwiches until you try these! absolutely the best!

Asparagus Stuffed Chicken Piccata

top view of easy Chicken Piccata recipe in a cast iron skillet

Mississippi Pot Roast

showing how to make Mississippi Pot Roast in crock pot with potataoes

Mom’s Crazy Tender Pot Roast

Melt in Your Mouth Pot Roast and carrots with mouthwatering gravy is the best pot roast I have ever had! Juicy, fall apart tender, seasoned to PERFECTION with hardly any effort! Amazing for company, easy enough for everyday.

Chicken Fricassee

top view of chicken fricassee garnished with parsley and thyme

Chicken Parmesan

top view of a single piece of Chicken Parmesan on a bed of spaghetti on a white plate

Chili Dijon Pork Tenderloin

Sheet Pan Chili Dijon Pork Tenderloin with Green Beans and Potatoes all baked on ONE PAN! This is the most tender pork I have ever had and the tangy sweet and spicy flavors are out of this world!

Blackberry Hoisin Pork Tenderloin

Lemon Garlic Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo

20 MINUTE Lemon Garlic Shrimp Fettuccine is wonderfully creamy, bursting with flavor and so easy!  The most gourmet tasting  dinner you can make in under 30 minutes!

Pan Seared Steak with Balsamic Herb Cream Sauce

Easy Pan Seared Steak with a deeply caramelized seared crust and the most amazing Balsamic Herb Cream Sauce! This recipe includes step by step instructions, tips and tricks to achieve melt in your mouth, restaurant quality top sirloin steak even if you have never made steak before! Perfect for Valentine's Day!

Pistachio Gruyere Chicken Cordon Bleu

Spaghetti Bolognese

One Pan Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon

25 MINUTE Baked Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon with Crispy Parmesan Panko & Broccoli!  This salmon is not only bursting with flavor and sooo tender but the easiest, most satisfying meal that tastes totally gourmet!  My parents were blown away by this meal!

Christmas Appetizers

Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log (10 Minute prep!)

10 Minute prep creamy, sweet and tangy Cranberry Pistachio Cheese Log is the EASIEST yet most impressive appetizer you will ever make! And it can be made DAYS in advance so it’s the perfect appetizer for Thanksgiving, Christmas or any holiday party!

Artichoke Dip Bites

up close shot of Artichoke Dip Bites on a white marble pedestal

Spinach Artichoke Dip

up close of a piece of bread dipping into spinach and artichoke dip

Baked Jalapeno Poppers

Crab Rangoons

French Onion Soup

up close of a bowl of easy French Onion Soup with a bowl resting in the soup with cheesy bread

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Quick and easy Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps smothered in an unbelievable Pineapple Hoisin Peanut Sauce are 1000X better than takeout and on your table in under 30 minutes!

Honey Buffalo Meatballs

Tender juicy slow cooker Honey Buffalo Meatballs simmered in the most tantalizing sweet heat sauce that everyone goes crazy for! Perfect appetizer or delicious, easy meal with rice!

Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Cranberry Meatballs

Sweet-and-Spicy-Cranberry-Meatballs4

Cocktail Meatballs

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms With Sun-dried Tomatoes and Basil

side view of best sausage stuffed mushrooms on a baking sheet with cream cheese filling and panko topping

Garlic Herb Cheese Log

front shot of goat cheese log with garlic, zemon zest, basil, chives, parsley and rolled in pecans

Egg Rolls with Sweet and Sour Sauce

two homemade egg rolls cut in half leaning next to each other on a white cutting board

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Clam Chowder

top view of white bowl England Clam Chowder with a spoon with potatoes, bacon, onions, celery and garlic

Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball

This Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball is a hit every time I make it and is always the first appetizer gone! Its super easy and make ahead for stress free entertaining!

Easy Bruschetta Cheese Ball

Super easy Bruschetta Cheese Ball takes just minutes to whip up and is always a total show stopper, make ahead appetizer! Loaded with fresh tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil and garlic and herb cream cheese then rolled in crispy panko breadcrumbs all served with toasted baguette slices! So irresistibly delicious!

Cheesy Pesto Pull Apart Bread

4 Ingredient, make ahead Cheesy Pull Apart Pesto Bread will make your life easier and all your parties more delicious!

Pineapple Coconut Cream Cheese Wontons

easy cream cheese wonton recipe with sweet and sour dip

Brie Spinach Dip

Brie Spinach Dip - my friends could not get over this appetizer! Its your favorite spinach dip made even more delicious with BRIE! Creamy, cheesy and so addicting!

Stuffed Baked Brie in Puff Pastry

Rich and creamy Baked Brie in Puff Pastry is always a total luxuriously tasting crowd pleaser with minimal effort!  (step by step pictures included)  It can be prepped in advance then baked when you're ready for company! 

Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls

Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread

Easy Spinach Dip Stuffed French Bread is your favorite cheesy dip baked right into the loaf! Crazy delicious side or easy crowd pleasing appetizer!

Cranberry Raspberry Punch

Cranberry-Raspberry-Punch-1

Christmas SIDE Dishes

Million Dollar Macaroni and Cheese

This mega creamy Million Dollar Macaroni and Cheese Casserole is the only macaroni cheese recipe you will ever want to make! make this for guests or family and they will love you forever! The homemade sauce itself is rich and crazy creamy and the casserole is stuffed with a hidden layer of provolone cheese and sour cream that melts when baked for a ridiculous amount of velvety creamy, cheesy goodness.

BEST Ever, Creamy Company Mashed Potatoes

BEST EVER Creamy Company Mashed potatoes infused with butter, garlic, and Parmesan! I could eat these all day alone with a spoon - they are incredibly velvety, flavorful and so good everyone will beg you for the recipe!


Cranberry Apple Pecan Wild Rice Pilaf

Easy one pot Cranberry Apple Pecan Wild Rice Pilaf simmered in herb seasoned chicken broth and apple juice and riddled with sweet dried cranberries, apples and roasted pecans for an unbelievable savory sweet side dish perfect for the holidays. Everyone always asks for this recipe!

Creamy Bacon Brussels Sprouts

top view of creamy Brussel sprouts in large pan

Maple Dijon Green Beans with Caramelized Pecans and Bacon

Dijon-Maple-Grean-Beans-main3

Slow Cooker Ricotta Bacon Creamed Corn

REPLACE

Berry Salad in Honey Mascarpone Dressing

Fresh Berry Salad is one of the BEST fruit salads you will ever make! Smothered in sweet and tangy, incredibly creamy Honey Mascarpone that takes minutes to whip up and tastes incredible! Perfect for brunch, barbecues and all your pool side parties!

Herbed Gruyere Scalloped Potatoes and Bacon

Potatoes Au Gratin with layers of potatoes, cheese and cream in a white casserole dish being scooped up

Roasted Root Vegetables  (2 Ways!)

balsamic roasted root vegetables in a white bowl garnished with parsley with a servings spoon

Hashbrown Casserole

Over 75 of the BEST Thanksgiving Recipes!

Fall Salad with Pomegranate Dressing

top view of fall salads with apples

Honey Garlic Roasted Carrots

Tender, sweet and savory Secret Ingredient Honey Garlic Roasted Carrots are the most delicious carrots and easiest side dish EVER with only 10 minutes prep! I eat these like candy! #Thanksgiving #Easter #Christmas

Twice Baked Potatoes

front up close view of make ahead twice baked potatoes with cheese, sour cream and bacon

Apple Cranberry Bacon Candied Walnut Salad with Apple Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

Apple-bacon-cranberry-salad-with-apple-poppyseed-dressing-12

Perfect Soft and Fluffy Dinner Rolls

Perfect-soft-and-fluffy-dinner-rolls-main01

Herb Scalloped Sweet Potatoes with Gruyere and Bacon

Looking for the BEST scalloped sweet potatoes ever EVER?! Fresh herbs simmered in cream poured over layers of potatoes, bacon and onions topped with Gruyere cheese. Perfect for Thanksgiving, company or every day!

Cranberry Pomegranate Ambrosia Salad

up close of a spoon scooping classic ambrosia salad with pineapple, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows, cranberries and pomegranate seeds in a glass bowl

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Cranberries, Caramelized Pecans and Goat Cheese

Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad with Cranberries, Caramelized Pecans and Goat Cheese with the most incredible CRANBERRY VINAIGRETTE belongs on your table this Thanksgiving and all Autumn long! This is one of my favorite salads EVER and is the perfect STRESS FREE make ahead side!!!

Garlic Butter Smashed Potatoes

top view of garlic smashed potatoes lined on a baking sheet

Baked Butternut Squash Risotto with Pine Nuts

No Babysitting, easy, creamy BAKED Butternut Squash Risotto! This simple to prepare risotto is wonderfully smooth and creamy, seasoned to perfection and is absolutely fool proof! It makes the most amazing Thanksgiving or holiday side but is easy enough for every day!

Parmesan Risotto

up close of a serving of favorite risotto recipe on a grey plate garnished with parsley

Mushroom Risotto

Maple Dijon Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash

Easy Maple Dijon Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash tossed with cranberries and bacon for the BEST combo ever! tangy, salty, sweet, crunchy, crispy! Thanksgiving worthy, but everyday easy!

Winter Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

Irresistibly delicious, fresh and vibrant Winter Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Poppy Seed Vinaigrette is simple to whip together but can’t stop eating delicious! It makes the perfect Thanksgiving or Christmas side!

Mushroom Orzo with Asiago Cheese Sauce

up close of a spoon scooping orzo pasta recipe with mushrooms and bacon

Christmas DESSERTS – Cakes & Cheesecakes

Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake

Kentucky Butter Cake

showing how to make the best Kentucky butter cake by glazing cake with butter sauce

Cranberry Eggnog Cheesecake

Cranberry Eggnog Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust - this cheesecake is divine! Its become a family tradition because it tastes just like creamy eggnog and the Eggnog Cream Topping and Cranberry Topping make this worlds better than any other I've tried! A must for Christmas!

Toffee Pecan Caramel Pound Cake

Red Velvet Cheesecake

Pear Crisp

Pecan Pie Cheesecake

up close taking a slice of pecan pie cheesecake with graham cracker crust on a pedestal

Chocolate Raspberry Cake

Chocolate Raspberry Cake with sliced removed showing layers of dark chocolate cake, raspberry jam filling, chocolate ganache and chocolate mousse

Chocolate Eclair Cake

top view of a forking taking a bite of Chocolate Eclair Cake

White Cake with Cranberry Filling 

White Cake with Cranberry Filling and Buttercream Frosting – everyone always asks me for this recipe! The moist, bakery style white cake is the BEST ever and the sweet and tangy cranberry filling is melt in your mouth delicious and Christmas festive!

German Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganche  Filling

German Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache Filling - these are the best cupcakes I've had in my entire life! They are super rich and chocolaty without being over the top and the filling and frosting are divine! Everyone always asks me for this recipe!

Almost No Bake Ultimate Mud Pie

Wonderfully rich, crazy creamy, heavenly Mississippi Mud Pie with 4 EASY layers of decadence! Everyone will beg you for this TO LIVE FOR recipe!

Eggnog Cake with Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting

top view of southern Eggnog Cake on a white and gold platter with two slices cut and laying on their sides

Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Tres Leches Cake

showing how to serve tres leches cake cold on a plate dusted with cinnamon

German Chocolate Cheesecake

German Chocolate Cheesecake AKA the best German Chocolate anything! The rich and creamy chocolate cheesecake has a hidden layer of traditional caramel-eaque sweet and crunchy Coconut Pecan Frosting and another layer on top! This cheesecake is to live for!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Mousse

Creamy, rich chocolate mousse smothered with silky peanut butter whipped cream cradled in an Oreo crust. You won’t be able to stop eating this pie!

Christmas DESSERTS – Cookies & Bars, ETC.

Hot Chocolate

Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

up close stack of cookie dough cheesecake bars with graham cracker crust, cheesecake and cookie dough

Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters

FOOL PROOF Crockpot Chocolate Peanut Clusters are not only crazy delicious but are SO easy!  They make the best make ahead, stress free gifts!  This post also includes tips and tricks to make them successful every time!

Cherry Cheesecake Dip

Easy, creamy NO BAKE Cherry Cheesecake Dip is one of the easiest AND most delicious desserts/appetizers that comes together in minutes! The perfect make ahead, stress free, crowd pleaser for all your holiday parties!

Gingerbread Brownies with Eggnog Frosting

Soft and chewy Gingerbread Brownies are your favorite holiday cookie in rich chocolate brownie form all smothered in luscious Eggnog Cream Cheese Frosting!  These are destined to become a must make holiday favorite and so much easier than rolling/baking individual cookies! 

Marcia’s Famous  Toffee

Little Debbie’s Oatmeal Cream Pies

Gingerbread Whoopie pies

Gingerbread Whoopie Pies - everyone always begs me for this recipe! Super soft gingerbread cookies stuffed with luscious cream cheese filling! You won't be able to have just one!

Turtle Cookies

Closeup of four Turtle Cookies.

Chocolate Chunk Pecan Pie Bars

Easy ONE BOWL Chocolate Chunk Pecan Bars with a SUGAR COOKIE CRUST! these bars are AMAZING! Way better with chocolate chunks and the Sugar Cookie Crust is so soft and chewy.

Poke Turtle Brownies

Eggnog Cookies with Eggnog Frosting

These crazy soft Eggnog Cookies with Eggnog Frosting our our family's new favorite holiday cookie!  I have tried other versions but this one is the best!  You HAVE to make these! 

Mini S’mores Molten Lava Pies

EASY - 30 Minute - S'mores Molten Lava Pies are decadently rich, with an oozing chocolate center, topped with melty toasted marshmallows all nestled in a buttery graham cracker crust - BUT - they are super easy to make and baked in a muffin tin so no special equipment is required!

Caramel Popcorn

up close side view of crunchy caramel corn

Caramel Stuffed Brown Sugar Cookies

Caramel Stuffed Brown Sugar Cookies are incredibly soft and chewy and infused with brown butter! Best cookies EVER! and no chill time!

Snickerdoodle Bars

Incredibly EASY, thick, soft and chewy, buttery Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars taste just like the cookie but so much easier and less time consuming! The cinnamon and sugar crackle top is to die for!

Customizable  Nutella Cookies

These Super soft and chewy Nutella Cookies are my absolute favorite chocolate cookie with a whole cup of Nutella mixed right into the batter! Mix in anything you want from chocolate chips to, Reese's pieces to Andes mints for the perfect Christmas cookie!

Merry Christmas!

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Pin them to your CHRISTMAS, HOLIDAY or WINTER Board to SAVE for later!

Find me on Pinterest for more great recipes!  I am always pinning :)!

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2 Comments

  1. Wendy says

    Jen, I just wanted you to know that I left ( or thought I sent you) a message in your last post about how sorry I was that you were hospitalized recently. The only comment that showed was my stupid question about the corn syrup and really I could care less about an ingredient more than your health and well being!! Love your recipes and the tireless work you put into every single one!! Bless you young lady and your family. I sincerely hope you have a blessed Christmas and New Year!!!

    Reply

    • Jen says

      You are so sweet Wendy, thank you so much for your love and concern! I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as well! Thanks for all your uplifting comments and for making me love what I do that much more! xo

      Reply

The Face Behind the Recipes

Welcome to my food blog with all my favorite cravings! I am Jennifer, a lover of food and sharing my recipes. I am a cystic fibrosis survivor, lung & kidney transplant recipient, LOVER of life and FOOD. Start browsing recipes and subscribe to my weekly free newsletter! Read more about me here.

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