Looking to bring a touch of French elegance to your holiday table? French Christmas food recipes are the epitome of festive fine dining. Known for its meticulous cooking methods and high-quality ingredients, French cuisine offers some of the most delightful holiday dishes. Here’s a selection of classic French Christmas recipes that will add a touch of culinary sophistication to your celebrations!
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Foie Gras French Toast
It’s not a French appetizer menu without foie gras making an appearance! This foie gras French toast is a delicious way to improve your appetizer game with rich and buttery flavors that are simply irresistible.
Foie Gras French Toast Recipe
Classic French Foie Gras recipe for a good appetizer menu!
I’m absolutely in love with this flatbread! Socca is the perfect Christmas appetizer to get everyone’s appetites going, and it doubles as a tasty side dish or light meal—so perfect!
Socca Recipe
Socca is a crispy chickpea pancake from Nice, France. Learn how to make it with this easy recipe, and enjoy it as an appetizer or flatbread! Gluten-free.
This Leek and Pancetta Quiche Recipe combines savory leeks, crispy pancetta, and creamy cheese in a buttery, flaky crust, perfect for any meal of the holiday. If you have bacon on hand, feel free to use it as a substitute for pancetta.
Leek and Pancetta Quiche
Leek and Pancetta Quiche is a rich, savory dish that’s perfect for brunch, lunch, or dinner. With its buttery crust and creamy filling, it’s a versatile crowd-pleaser that’s easy to make and always delicious! Try this easy leek and pancetta quiche recipe from scratch today!
French Baked Ham With Spiced Apples and Pears Recipe
Let’s talk Christmas staples, and here’s why you need to try this French-baked ham with spiced apples and pears—it sounds incredible just from the title, and I can already imagine how delicious it’ll be. I swear, his one’s going to be a hit on your holiday table!
Spiced Apples and Pears Give This French Baked Ham Lots of Flavor
This easy-to-make Christmas French baked ham is flavored with spiced apples, pears, maple, and fresh fruits.
Another main dish you need to try is this French roast chicken! The blend of garlic, herbs, and spices in this recipe creates a flavor that’s simply out of this world.
French Roast Chicken (Poulet Rôti)
Known as Poulet Rôti, a French Roast Chicken is an unbeatable favorite in any household to wrap up the week. In true French fashion, mine is full of garlic, herbs and lots of butter!
This French-style roasted turkey is seasoned with garlic and white wine, then served with glazed chestnuts and buttery mushrooms. It’s a festive centerpiece that brings both richness and elegance to the holiday table.
Roast Turkey with Chestnuts
This turkey recipe is roasted in French style – rubbed in garlic and white wine, and served with a side of glazed chestnuts and buttery mushrooms.
The tangy orange sauce in this recipe balances the duck’s richness with citrusy brightness. A classic French favorite, it’s a dish that delivers bold flavors and an impressive presentation.
Duck à l’Orange Recipe
The sauce for this duck à l’orange recipe is designed to walk the tightrope of flavor, perfectly suited to cutting through the richness of the roasted duck.
These creamy scallops baked with cheese and breadcrumbs make for an indulgent and festive appetizer. Their rich, buttery flavor is perfect for special occasions.
Coquilles St Jacques
Scallop Gratin an easy, festive appetizer recipe for Holiday Entertaining. Includes video recipe tutorial
This roasted capon is juicy and tender, paired with a creamy mushroom and white wine sauce. It’s an impressive alternative to turkey for the holiday meal.
Christmas Capon
This Christmas Capon is tender, juicy and flavorful. Served with a luxurious mushroom, white wine and cream sauce, perfect for a holiday meal.
Le Gigot D’Agneau Pascal (French Roast Leg of Lamb)
Seasoned with rosemary and garlic, this roast leg of lamb is a show-stopper for gatherings. It’s a dish that perfectly combines simplicity with robust, herby flavors.
Le Gigot D’Agneau Pascal (French Roast Leg of Lamb)
This traditional French preparation of roast leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic is the perfect dish to wow any guests!
Beef Bourguignon features slow-cooked beef in a red wine gravy, complemented by tender vegetables. This dish is a hearty and luxurious addition to any holiday menu.
Classic French Beef Bourguignon
Fork-tender beef in a rich red-wine gravy nestled with veggies makes the Beef Bourguignon one of the most acclaimed French recipes around the world.
This delicate fish dish is served with a buttery lemon sauce that enhances its mild flavor. A simple yet refined recipe, it’s ideal for seafood lovers.
Julia Child’s Filet Of Sole
This simple recipe for Julia Child’s filet of sole pairs tender filet of sole with a lemony, butter sauce for the perfect seafood dinner.
Chicken with Black Truffles and a Mushroom Cream Sauce
This dish combines the earthy aroma of black truffles with the richness of mushroom cream sauce. It’s a decadent choice for truffle enthusiasts and special celebrations.
Chicken with Black Truffles and a Mushroom Cream Sauce
This elegant dish features the rich flavour of black truffles and is a surefire way to impress any truffle-lover.
Salmon en croûte features tender salmon topped with creamed spinach and baked in golden puff pastry. This elegant dish is surprisingly easy to make and always impresses guests.
Salmon en Croûte. Puff Pastry Wrapped Salmon!
This puff pastry wrapped salmon, also know as salmon en croûte, is an incredible meal – easy and fancy! Buttery salmon is topped with creamed spinach and wrapped in a puff pastry crust. It’s impressive but not that difficult to make!
Cassoulet is a slow-cooked casserole made with beans, pork sausage, and chicken, embodying French comfort food. It’s hearty, flavorful, and perfect for colder months.
Classic French Cassoulet
This Classic French Cassoulet is a classic and simple yet delicious casserole with beans, pork sausage and chicken breast.
These creamy, cheesy potatoes are infused with thyme and nutmeg, adding a subtle aromatic depth. They’re a luxurious and comforting side dish for any festive meal.
Dauphinoise Potatoes with Thyme and Nutmeg
This weekend, I made two dishes of dauphinoise potatoes in two days. A tale of two gratins. We mustn’t compare or pick a favourite – just like a careful
This simple yet elegant side features tender green beans tossed with buttery, toasted almonds. It’s a lighter alternative to heavier sides while still being full of flavor.
Green Beans with Almonds
If you’re looking for something lighter than green bean casserole for Thanksgiving, try these crisp and tender Green Beans with Almonds.
This versatile chestnut purée is creamy, slightly sweet, and perfect for pairing with savory or sweet dishes. Use it as a side for roasts or as a filling for desserts.
Chestnut Puree Recipe + Best Ways to Use It
Learn how to make chestnut puree and use it in sweet & savory recipes.
Ratatouille is a colorful medley of eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes cooked to tender perfection. This plant-based dish is both healthy and packed with Mediterranean flavors.
Homemade Classic French Ratatouille
This Homemade Classic French Ratatouille is a great recipe for gatherings and family lunches. An easy, plant-based, and gluten-free recipe.
Cooked in goose fat with garlic and parsley, Potatoes Sarladaises are crispy, golden, and deeply flavorful. They’re a classic French side dish that pairs wonderfully with roasted meats.
Potatoes Sarladaises Recipe
Potatoes, garlic, and goose fat. Could three things ever come together more beautifully than this peasant-hardy, stick-to-your-ribs, perfect potato dish?
This creamy zucchini bake, topped with crunchy almonds, is a comforting and nutritious side. It’s a vegetarian-friendly option that adds variety to the holiday spread.
Almond Zucchini Gratin, an easy family bake
This Zucchini Gratin with almonds is a family favorite, it’s a vegetarian dish. This comforting bake is cheesy, easy, healthy and delicious!
Endive wrapped in ham, smothered in béchamel sauce, and topped with bubbling cheese creates a decadent side dish. This French classic is savory, silky, and satisfying.
Endive Bechamel
This family dinner of Endive Bechamel is a French classic that is a fantastic combination of silky endive, rich bechamel, salty ham and bubbling cheese!
This lentil salad combines earthy lentils with fresh vegetables and a zesty vinaigrette. It’s a light and refreshing option to balance richer main dishes.
Lentil Salad Recipe
Easy lentil salad recipe with green or black lentils, cucumber, bell pepper, parsley, and mint. Vegan and gluten free!
This Alsatian flatbread features a thin crust topped with crème fraîche, onions, and bacon. Serve it as an appetizer or a festive side dish with a glass of Riesling.
Tarte Flambée: A Delicious Flatbread from Alsace
Learn how to make this delicious flatbread from Alsace, France. Then open a bottle of Alsatian Riesling and imagine you’re in a café in this fairytale region of France.
Last in my main dish lineup is the classic French stuffed rabbit saddle! I’m so excited to try this elegant dish—it’s filled with rich flavors and perfect for a special occasion.
Hearty’s Stuffed Rabbit Saddle
This is a beautiful way to prepare a rabbit saddle!
Yay, it’s time for desserts, and we’re kicking things off with a showstopper—this chocolate soufflé! Just look at how sweet, tasty, and festive it looks; it’s the perfect treat to end any meal with a sweet bite!
How to Make Chocolate Soufflé
Learn how to make fluffy, yet rich chocolate soufflé using this in-depth tutorial written for beginners.
This rolled sponge cake, filled with cream and decorated like a log, is the quintessential French Christmas dessert. It’s as beautiful to look at as it is delicious to eat.
Bûche De Noël (Yule Log)
Use this recipe and video tutorial to make a beautiful from-scratch yule log Christmas cake, also known as a Bûche De Noël in French.
Crème Brûlée is a creamy custard topped with a caramelized sugar crust that cracks with a spoon. Simple yet indulgent, it’s a timeless French dessert for any special occasion.
Classic French Crème Brûlée
This classic french crème brûlée recipe is one of my favourite individual desserts! They’re so simple to make, but a few little tips and tricks will help you to get a nice professional finish to it.
Cherry Clafoutis is a baked dessert with cherries enveloped in a fluffy, crêpe-like batter. It’s light, sweet, and ideal for showcasing seasonal fruit.
French Cherry Clafoutis
Cherry Clafoutis is a classic French recipe made with fruit, traditionally black cherries, covered with a crêpe-like batter. It is really easy to make.
This Epiphany dessert features flaky puff pastry filled with sweet almond frangipane. Traditionally, it’s served with a hidden charm inside for a lucky guest to find.
Galette des rois: French Kings’ Cake
This is a kings’ cake Frenchs make with puff pastry. They fill it with a delicious frangipane. They eat this cake in France during the Epiphany, twelve nights after Christmas. In other words: today!
These golden, shell-shaped cakes are light, airy, and subtly flavored with vanilla or lemon. Easy to bake, they’re perfect for adding a touch of elegance to any holiday gathering.
Madeleines
No resting, no tricky technique, just perfect, golden, light & airy Madeleines in under 30 minutes! Recipe includes a video!
I’m telling you, no dessert lineup feels complete without some gingerbread, and this gingerbread cake is a must-try! It’s moist, festive, and the perfect way to add some holiday warmth to your table!
Christmas Gingerbread Cake
A moist and mild Christmas Gingerbread Cake which is easy to make and looks fabulous baked in a Christmas tree bundt pan. Step-by-step photos.
This French-style apple tart is probably one of my all-time favorite desserts! The caramelized apples baked in a buttery pastry crust are simply divine—apple tarts are truly a dessert made in heaven. I seriously can’t get enough of them!
French-Style Apple Tart (Tarte Tatin) Recipe by Tasty
This French-style apple tart, also known as tarte tatin, features caramelized apples baked in a buttery pastry crust. Serve it warm with a dollop of whipped cream for a classic dessert.
Last but definitely not least is this stunning croquembouche! OMG, just look at how adorable and festive it is, shaped like a Christmas tree—it’s the perfect centerpiece for your holiday table and absolutely irresistible!
How to make Croquembouche
Croquembouche is a French dessert made of pastry cream and caramel dipped pastry puffs. Read all the easy steps so you can learn how to make it!
Laura Bais is the owner of Julie's Cafe Bakery food blog. From a young age, she had a passion for cooking, and at the age of 13, she made her first meal. After finishing high school, she undergraduates in Cultural Studies at the University of Rijeka, and graduates in Journalism at the University of Zagreb. At that time she honed her cooking skills, but also worked in marketing. Since her love for cooking never faded, in 2021 she finally decided to share her recipes with the world. Laura turned her hobby into a career and loves every moment of it. Now she writes about common mistakes in the kitchen and how to avoid them, about adding twists to traditional meals, etc. Her love for trying new foods often leads her to visit restaurants and attempt to recreate the meals at home. She has been featured on F and B Recipes and BOXROX, to name a few.