These Unique Christmas Dinner Ideas Will Impress Your Guests

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Are you tired of the traditional Christmas dinner dishes? If so, say goodbye to turkey, bread stuffing and pie! This article will introduce you to some exciting and festive holiday foods that are sure to satisfy. Whether you want to make something fun and unexpected for family or want to impress party guests with a dinner they will remember for years, there are plenty of ideas to inspire you. This is a collection of some of the most scrumptious ideas for appetizers, side dishes, main courses and desserts.

Holiday Crostini

This idea gives you plenty of room for creative freedom. If you host a party and want to make your appetizer menu more fun, this is a winner. You can approach this a couple different ways. First, you can create your own combinations of spreads, toppings and garnishes. This Holiday Crostini Trio recipe is a great example of some delicious ideas. You can add other ingredients if you prefer. Another way to approach it is to set out a few different spreads, toppings and garnishes for your guests to build their own custom crostini. Think of it like a hot chocolate bar but with crostini. A great benefit of this option is that you can plan your toppings to meet different diet needs or restrictions.

Christmas Charcuterie Board

Another fun way to let your guests build their own appetizer creations is with a charcuterie board. Instead of just setting out some random meats, cheeses and olives, you can make them look more festive by arranging them in Christmas-themed ways. For example, you can turn pepperoni into a holiday wreath with mozzarella balls and olives for decorations like this Christmas Charcuterie Board recipe. You can arrange greens in the shape of a tree with tomatoes or other ingredients as decorations. The sky is the limit here, and the versatility you have with this option also makes it great for satisfying different dietary preferences or needs.

Cinnamon-Spiced Sweet Potato Soup With Maple Croutons

For a side or an appetizer, this Cinnamon-Spiced Sweet Potato Soup With Maple Croutons recipe will not disappoint. The sweet potatoes with a vegetable base give it a nice balance of savory and sweet, and the cinnamon adds a little warmth to make it the perfect Christmas soup. To top it off, there are homemade maple croutons with a satisfying crunchiness.

Ukrainian Beet Salad

Also commonly called Salat Vinaigrette or Vinegret in other variations, this delicious Ukrainian Beet Salad has the perfect holiday visual appeal and a scrumptious taste that will leave your guests begging for the recipe. A helpful hint for this side dish is to make plenty of it so you can send those guests home with some leftovers as well. Packed full of vegetables, the finished product has a distinct dill pickle taste that is not too overpowering. If you or your guests prefer the taste of sweet pickles instead, you can substitute those for dill pickles.

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad

This dish defies all the stereotypes of Christmas dinner being full of unhealthy foods. You can opt to skip the bacon in this Roasted Butternut Squash Salad recipe if you want to make it a vegetarian-friendly option. Roasted butternut squash, greens and pecans with a delicious apple cider dressing make this the perfect salad or side dish to enjoy all the five flavor elements.

Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprouts

A delicious twist on an unpopular cruciferous vegetable, this idea is one that even some kids may enjoy. The sweet and sour combination includes chiles for the perfect hint of heat as well. What makes this Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprouts recipe especially great is that its balanced flavors make it pair well with nearly any main dish.

Cheesy Mushroom Galette

Fun enough that it competes with pizza and delicious enough to replace a main dish, this Cheesy Mushroom Galette will also satisfy vegetarian diets. With its rich umami flavor, it is also tasty enough that meat lovers are sure to enjoy it. Spread on a thin, homemade crust, it features thick chunks of wild mushrooms, spices and creamy sharp cheddar.

Sous Vide Duck Breasts

Duck is one of those foods that sounds complicated but turns out tender and juicy if you prepare it right. Having a good recipe is the key to success, and this Sous Vide Duck Breasts With Quick Orange Chocolate Sauce recipe is a main dish that is sure to wow your dinner guests. Why orange and chocolate sauce? In addition to being elegant and visually pleasing, the two key sauce ingredients provide the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness to bring out the natural deliciousness of the duck.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin With Apple Rice Stuffing

If you want to take meat and stuffing to a whole new level, this easy recipe is the right one to accomplish that. It solves your main dish and side dish dilemmas in one recipe, and the combination of ingredients gives you a Christmas dinner idea that is bursting with flavor. The prosciutto keeps the tenderloin as juicy and soft as possible, and it gives the meat some extra saltiness and sweetness for the perfect balance. All those wonderful flavors also soak into the rice. Why apples? In addition to bringing out the flavor of pork, their acidity can help with digestion. For flavor and creativity, this Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin With Apple Rice Stuffing is a Christmas dinner winner.

Christmas Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

This is a little lighter of a holiday dessert idea if your dinner menu ends up being heavier. If you have kids, decorating the strawberries is a fun activity that they can help with as well. One great thing about this idea is that you can tweak the coating and design ideas to be anything you want. For example, you can use sugar sprinkles to make them sparkle. You can add licorice ropes and green-colored white chocolate if you want to make little trees. If you prefer snow people, you can add miniature chocolate chips for faces. This Christmas Chocolate-Covered Strawberries recipe shows you how to get started and provides some great decorating examples.

Festive Cranberry Cake

If you want a holiday dessert that tastes as good as it looks, this Festive Cranberry Cake is the answer. The cranberries add a nice tartness, dates provide subtle sweetness and pecans contribute a nutty richness that make this the perfect cake for Christmas. On the top of the wreath-like cake, the sugared cranberry and rosemary sprigs give it a frosty and festive look.

Spiced Cranberry Wassail

Forget about store-bought cider. Those packets and bottled mixtures simply cannot compare with homemade wassail, and it is an easy recipe for a drinkable Christmas treat. This Spiced Cranberry Wassail recipe combines cranberry, orange and lemon juices with sugar and spices. To add an extra kick of soothing warmth, you can top it off with candied ginger. Although wassail is supposed to be served warm, you can drink it iced if you prefer.

Christmas dinner rarely gets as much attention as all the mysterious gifts under the tree. However, with these unique ideas, your table is sure to rival those beautiful holiday boxes and bags and will certainly not disappoint when it comes to flavors. What will you make for your big holiday dinner this year?

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