Getting together is one of the most important elements during the Christmas holidays. And eating together is what makes the festival special. However, everyone knows the problem: the many courses that are usually prepared overwhelm our stomachs and we often feel sluggish and tired afterwards. In addition, thePreparation of the menus, which often consists of a starter, main course and dessert or even more courses, takes quite a lot of time. You can avoid both problems with a simple alternative called the Christmas buffet. You can put this together quickly and easily using our Christmas buffet recipes.
You can also ask guests to help you to save time and effort. Nobody likes to go to a party empty-handed, but instead of buying expensive or useless gifts, guests can instead help with the preparations and simply bring something of their own to fill up the buffet. And a full stomach is also avoided because everyone can eat as much food as they want at any time. You are not under pressure or tempted to finish your plate. You kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, and at the same time everyone leaves your party satisfied. But what should you prepare? Should the food be cold or warm. Is for the Christmas buffetFinger food is a good optionor is it rather inappropriate for such an occasion? Our Christmas buffet recipes and ideas will help you and allow you to have a stress-free Christmas!
Christmas buffet recipes – cold or warm, whole dishes or would you prefer finger food?
In principle it doesn't matter at all, the main thing is that it tastes good and fills you up. If you can't decide, just combine everything together. Guests in particular are more likely tocold platesor bring finger food, as these are easier to transport. You can prepare the warm dishes at home and keep them warm until it is time to serve them. Talk to your guests so that nothing ends up on the buffet table twice. A few Christmas buffet recipes you can use follow:
Christmas buffet recipes – prepare a cold buffet
Fruit and vegetables, cheese and sausage are perfect for the cold part of the buffet. But of course we don't mean simple salads in bowls (although those are also suitable). It should be Christmassy so that the Christmas buffet radiates the right atmosphere. That's why the chopped bites can also be arranged on a platter or board in the shape of Christmas trees, snowmen, Santa Claus, reindeer, stars, snowflakes and similar Christmas motifs. In this way, vegetables on the Christmas buffet become much more attractive for children and you don't even need special Christmas buffet recipes for them. There is also space for a homemade dip, for example. The perfect and above all healthy starter.
The Christmas tree in the picture above is made of fruit, and more specifically grapes, as well as various types of cheese and sausage, which can be cut into simple slices or cubes and then arranged in strips to represent a Christmas tree. Then all you need is a log made from a cracker, for example, and a star made from cheese for the top. Add baguette slices or crackers. Wine can also be included on the buffet. Here you will find outwhich wine goes with which cheesefits.
Cold Christmas buffet recipes – form dips and cheese spreads
Toothpick appetizers are also a great idea for which you don't necessarily need Christmas buffet recipes. You can put them together according to your ideas. Or you can use one of our delicious ideas above. You can simply serve dips and cheese spreads in bowls or shape them as in the examples above and decorate them for Christmas - with almonds, for example, to imitate pine cones or with cranberries, pecans, leeks and a pretzel stick for a Christmas tree ball.
Ideas for Christmas buffet – appetizers with guacamole
A very simple Christmas buffet recipe idea is this one. Stock up on tacos and veggies,prepare guacamoleand design such Christmas trees. Cut the tacos into triangles, then insert pretzel sticks into them, spread them with the guacamole, top them with vegetables and decorate them (e.g. with peppers in three colors and chopped coriander). But of course you can also come up with something yourself.
Wreath of bay leaves, rosemary sprigs, cheese, mozzarella balls and tomatoes drizzled with olive oil
Edible decoration for the table
Hummus in the shape of a wreath, mixed with spring onion and feta and decorated with parsley, halved cherry tomatoes and peppers in the shape of a bow
Warm Christmas buffet recipes
After these tasty morsels designed to whet your appetite, it's of course time for something really filling, preferably warm. A soup as a starter that can be drunk from the cup is well suited.A pumpkin soupFor example, everyone will definitely like it. A casserole is also quick to make, tastes delicious and can be served directly on the buffet in portions. For example, how about the followingSweet potato casserole with pecans? It's perfect if you're looking for special Christmas buffet recipes.
For 8 servings:
- 2.2 kg sweet potatoes (5 to 6 pieces)
- 1 large spring onion, chopped
- 80 ml milk
- 2 large eggs, smashed
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh sage, chopped
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 225g unsalted butter, melted
- 2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 1/4 TL Pfeffer
- 165 g pecan halves
- 70 g coarse breadcrumbs (preferably from sourdough)
- 55 g Parmigiano Reggiano
- fresh parsley, chopped
Preheat the oven to 175 degrees, line a baking tray with aluminum foil and spread the potatoes on it. Bake them until tender, about an hour and a half, then let them cool for 30 minutes. Now peel the sweet potatoes and discard the peel. Mix the potatoes with the onion, milk, eggs, sage, nutmeg and half of the melted butter as well as two teaspoons of the salt and one teaspoon of the pepper in a bowl with a fork and spread the mixture into a baking dish ( approx. 22 x 33 cm).
In another bowl, mix the remaining butter with the rest of the salt and pepper as well as the nuts, breadcrumbs and cheese and distribute everything over the potato mixture. Bake the casserole for about 30 minutes and then keep it warm in the oven at about 60 degrees. Sprinkle with parsley before serving.
Christmas buffet recipes – prepare asparagus cream soup
If you are looking for recipes for a Christmas buffet, you can also opt for such a soup in addition to the casserole. Because who doesn't like asparagus? It is best to serve with baguette or croutons.
Christmas buffet recipes – For 4 servings:
- 2 THE BUTTER
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 900g asparagus, ends removed and cut into 2.5cm pieces
- kosher salt
- freshly ground pepper
- 500 ml chicken stock
- 115 g Crème fraîche or Sahne
- fresh leek, chopped
- fresh dill, chopped
Melt the butter in a saucepan and fry the garlic for a minute. Add the asparagus, season with salt and pepper and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Now add the vegetable stock and cook the soup, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes, until the asparagus is soft but still green. Puree everything with a hand blender, stir in the cream and heat the soup again. If necessary, season with salt and pepper. Have the leeks and dill available on the buffet so everyone can add additional seasoning to their portion.
Christmas buffet suggestions for dessert
Cakes, biscuits, cookies, pudding, cream, tarts, snacks made from butter dough – in principle, pretty much anything is suitable for dessert on the Christmas buffet. Anything that is not prepared in portions or bite-sized pieces can instead be cut into bite-sized pieces (e.g. in the case of cake). Desserts in a glass are also ideal. Or what do you think of homemade chocolates? We're about to show you delicious puff pastry pockets with apple and cranberry filling that you can make yourself for the Christmas buffet. But the following three articles also contain great ideas that you can use as Christmas buffet recipes.
Cranberry and apple filling for puff pastry
For 12 pieces:
- 1 medium apple, peeled and chopped very small
- 130g fresh or frozen cranberries
- 100g brown sugar
- 1-2 pinches kosher salt
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 TL Vanilleextrakt
- 1 pinch of ground nutmeg
- Puff pastry
- White of a large egg
- 1 tbsp brown cane sugar
Preheat the oven to 220 degrees. Cook the apple pieces, cranberries, brown sugar and salt in a saucepan over medium heat for 8 minutes, until the apples soften and the berries burst. You should stir often. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with the water and add the mixture to the pot. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, then cook for a minute until the sauce thickens. Then pour the sauce into a bowl and stir in the butter, vanilla extract and nutmeg.
Then let the sauce cool for about 20 minutes. During this time it should thicken even more. After the time is up, stir it a few times. Cut the puff pastry into small squares, put a little of the sauce on each square and seal them into bags. Bake until golden brown, about 14 to 16 minutes, and serve chilled.
Muffins with frosting and strawberry in Santa Claus look
Brownies or chocolate cake decorated like reindeer or with sprinkles in Christmas colors
Christmas buffet drinks recipes
Also think about the drinks when you search and collect Christmas buffet recipes! Liqueur, punch and punch, sparkling wine with ice and cocktails are among the most popular drinks on this occasion. You can also choose cocktails and punch if non-alcoholic drinks are desired. It's best to combine alcoholic and non-alcoholic Christmas buffet ideas so that there is something for everyone.
Cranberry Christmas cocktail with rum and coconut
For 2 glasses:
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 tsp water
- 3 THE Kokosraspeln
- 180 ml Cranberry-Saft
- 60 ml Coconut Rum
- 2 THE Grenadine
- Eis
- optional: candy canes as decoration
Mix the powdered sugar with the water to form a thick mixture. This serves as glue to decorate the edges of the glasses with the coconut flakes. Place the coconut flakes and icing on two flat plates. Dip the glass first in the icing and then in the coconut flakes. Fill a mixing bowl 3/4 full with ice, add rum, juice and grenadine and shake vigorously to combine. Divide the cocktail between the two glasses and decorate with a candy cane. The finished cocktail looks like a Santa Claus hat.
Decoration for the buffet - It's not just the Christmas buffet recipes that are important!
Christmas buffet recipes aren't the only thing you should collect and think about. Finally, you should of course decorate the buffet appropriately. Anything associated with Christmas is permitted: fir greens and cones, a Christmas tree, Christmas wreaths and Advent wreaths, Christmas tree decorations, candles and fairy lights and whatever else you can think of. Don't forget a nice tablecloth too. Also provide dishes, cutlery and glasses so that everyone can help themselves at any time. A few fruits in a fruit bowl (e.g. tangerines, oranges, apples, grapes) are also a great idea because they serve as decoration on the one hand, but can also be eaten on the other.
More Christmas buffet ideas
Stack gingerbread cookies in the shape of stars for a Christmas tree
Drinks with a Christmas look
Buffet decoration in red and white
Cut the wraps into slices and arrange them as a Christmas tree
Stack brittle into a Christmas tree with caramel or icing
