While many of us are hunkering down and cozying up at home, it’s a great time to take your Christmas movie marathon to the next level! This year, we’re pairing our favorite holiday flicks with their most craveable and signature foods. Whether that’s trying out Buddy the Elf’s maple spaghetti or carving into a “roast beast” just like the Grinch, get in the holiday spirit with these holiday movie foods!
Christmas with the Kranks: Honey-Baked Ham
No need to fight for the last canned ham like Nora Krank when you’ve got this recipe handy! This honey ham from Cooking Classy stays super moist and juicy because it’s baked in an oven bag at a low temperature.
Home Alone 2: DIY Ice Cream Sundae Bar
Because if you were a kid alone in a ritzy hotel, you’d want an epic ice cream sundae with all the fixins, too! Let your family pick, choose, and pile on the toppings with self-serve sundae bar, but forgo the store-bought sauces and wow them with decadent homemade ones like Tahini-Chocolate Sauce, Salted Whiskey Caramel, and Blueberry-Lavender Syrup!
How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Roast “Beast”
This impressive dinner is so good that the Grinch himself might just steal it in the middle of the night! This roast from Eatwell 101 is tender and juicy with a delicious garlic butter herb crust—you just need a side of Who Hash!
The Family Stone: Breakfast Casserole
If you want to make a strata, just make sure you’ve got a good grip on it and don’t drop it all over yourself and the kitchen floor like Sarah Jessica Parker does in this chaotic family classic! In the movie, the Mortons have a secret family recipe, and while we don’t know what exactly is in theirs, this one from Food & Wine is drama-free and packed with bread, ham, pepperoni, mushrooms, and gooey cheese!
Muppet Christmas Carol: Classic Turkey
Scrooge surprised Kermit and his family with the prized turkey (double the size of Bean Bunny!) for Christmas, and your family will be surprised, too, with this classic roasted bird from Martha Stewart Living. Nothing beats tradition, and this turkey is just that—brined to stay super moist and basted with the rendered juices to crisp up the skin.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: Christmas Jell-O
You won’t find any cat food in this Jell-O mold! Aunt Bethany brings this retro recipe to the Griswolds’ Christmas feast, but this version from Tablespoon is way better, plus it’s infused with booze (because you might need it this holiday season)!
Elf: Maple Spaghetti
During the holiday season, you should be enjoying Buddy’s four main food groups as much as possible: candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup! When Buddy tells his family about his travels to New York over dinner, he requests maple syrup for his pasta, and Pure Maple from Canada make his recipe a reality in this maple spaghetti that’s upgraded with Bolognese sauce.
The Polar Express: Hot Chocolate
Like the conductor of the Polar Express says, “Here we only got one rule: Never ever let it cool!” Our spiked Mexican hot chocolate is rich and spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of cayenne—just leave out the mezcal if you’re sharing with the kiddos.
A Christmas Story: Roast Duck
While we hope your holiday centerpiece doesn’t end up like Parkers’ Peking duck, a roast duck is a perfect star attraction of your feast—just make sure the head’s removed so it’s not smiling at you at the dinner table! If you’ve never roasted a duck, this recipe from Epicurious helps break down the steps.
White Christmas: Ham-and-Cheese Sliders
We can dream of a white Christmas as much as we want here in Texas, but a smorgasbord of Goodtaste sliders might be a bit more realistic. When Betty can’t sleep, Bob brings out a tray of sandwiches and explains what different sandwiches make him dream of: “If I have ham and cheese on rye, I dream about a tall cool blonde.”
Leave a Reply