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Bored Panda

Donata Ruzgaitė

50 Festive Christmas Meals That Look Almost Too Good To Cut Into (New Pics)

Bored Panda (Person)

The Christmas spirit is at an all-time high, with the holiday being a mere two days away. Mariah Carey has been fully awakened from her slumber, and we can almost taste the delicious meals that will be waiting for us at the festive dinner table. Your stomach has growled at you even at the thought of it, hasn’t it?

A juicy turkey, delicious sides, sweet pecan pies, and freshly baked gingerbread cookies—these are the foods that we usually save for Christmas and get to savor during the holidays.

But if you haven’t planned your meals or you might feel overwhelmed wondering what to serve this year, don’t worry; Bored Panda is here to help!

We’ve compiled a list of some of the most stunning Christmas dishes that creative cooks have whipped up in their kitchens. So kick back and feast your eyes on the mouth-watering meals below that might give you some inspiration for your own festive table.

#1 Here's The Completed Snow Globe Cake. A White Chocolate Chiffon Fresh Cream Drip Cake, Butter Cookie Decorations, And A Crystal Sugar Dome That Took Years Off My Life. Merry Christmas

Image credits: petrichoro

#2 Gingerbread Imperial Star Destroyer

Image credits: alfosn

#3 This Christmas Focaccia Was Definitely, Not A Waste Of Thyme, Sage Or Rosemary

Image credits: Typically-lost

Usually, our Christmas table is full of meals that we enjoy the most, making each one of them unique. But the festive dinner isn’t the same without traditional staples like a roasted bird, Brussels sprouts, mash with gravy, or gingerbread cookies.

For example, in the UK, people eat over ten million turkeys at Christmas, and even though there’s always someone complaining about the meat being dry or bland, it’s a fan favorite across the country.

#4 I Made A Van Gogh Gingerbread House

Image credits: IndigoSalsa

#5 First Attempt Ever At Royal Icing And Flooding. Not Perfect, So I Think The Melted Snowman Cookies Were The Right Choice For A First Project. They’re Authentic Looking

Image credits: querencia34

#6 Snowy Chocolate Pinecones

Image credits: cravingcrafts

But have we ever stopped to think about the origins of the dishes we put on our tables every year? The turkey, for example, initially started as a goose. People avoided slaughtering cows for meat, as they produced milk all year round, while chickens produced eggs, which were quite expensive. Geese only lay eggs seasonally, which makes them the perfect candidates for the Christmas table.

This holiday dish quickly became a staple in many households. However, the bird wasn’t enough to feed bigger families, and eventually, imported turkeys replaced them by the mid-twentieth century.

#7 A Simple Definition Of Christmas

Image credits: letsbakesby

#8 I Also Made An Apple Pie For Christmas. And Wanted Someone To See It

Image credits: tafunast

#9 My Attempt At A Cupcake Wreath For My Son's Preschool Staff

Image credits: rubyredrising

Gingerbread is also a classic during the holidays, but did you know that the tradition of building and decorating it as a house began in Germany? Food historians say that this activity started with the Brothers Grimm publishing their book of fairy tales in the 1800s. The story of Hansel and Gretel, two children who found a house made of bread and sugar decorations, circulated throughout the country and inspired German bakers to create their own versions.

Today, the edible structures have become vastly bigger and more intricate, like this Downton Abbey one.

#10 Vanilla Cupcake Wreaths With Chocolate Peppermint Ganache

Image credits: BabyCakesBakeryyy

#11 I Baked This Book Stack Chocolate Christmas Cake. It Is 100% Edible

Image credits: Jesuka

#12 Christmas Tree Canapés. I'm So Ready For All Things Festive

Image credits: fancyplantsfoodie

Besides, we also have to thank Germany for coming up with our beloved candy canes. The popular legend says that they date back to 1670 when the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral handed out sugar sticks to the younger singers to quiet them down during the Living Creche ceremony. People complained that sweets weren’t appropriate at church, so he bent them into shepherd's hooks in honor of Christmas.

There’s also another version, a less fun one, that says that it’s possible that Germans angled candy canes to hang them from trees alongside other decorations like cookies and fruits.

#13 "Up" Gingerbread House

Image credits: therealhlmencken

#14 Christmas Rubik's Cube

Image credits: Newbee_3000

#15 I Made A Gingerbread House From Scratch. All Edible

Image credits: viktor72

Additionally, it’s common that during the holidays, most avid bakers and cooks pull out spices like cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger from their cupboards. Afterward, they appear in all sorts of dishes, and it’s all because of some soldiers who fought in the Crusades (a religious war). They were the ones who brought back the spices and the style of combining them with dried fruit and meat. At first, they were so valuable that they were saved for the most important celebrations, particularly Christmas. Now they are easily accessible and can be found in pies, cookies, and chicken dishes.

#16 Happy December Everyone. I Made This Charcuterie Wreath

Image credits: makefoodlovely

#17 I Used Pomegranate Arils To Make Christmas Trees On The Side Of This White Chocolate Pomegranate Cake, And It Turned Out So Cute

Image credits: thefloralapron

#18 Christmas Cake With Festive Decor

Image credits: a.bite.of.heaven

#19 Ordered Some Sprinkles On Etsy And Made These Door Cookies With Wreaths

Image credits: Rb011389

The famous Yule log, or rolled chocolate sponge, goes all the way back to Scandinavian paganism when the ancient Norse burned round firewood to celebrate the sun's return at the winter solstice. After Christianity swept the UK, the tradition continued by scorching them in fireplaces. But as homes got smaller, it became harder to fit large logs in them. Instead, someone decided to bake a cake as a reminder of it, and the Yule log was born. In the 19th century, it became popular across Europe when Parisian bakeries started making and embellishing them to place on their displays.

#20 Christmas Cake With Something Cute

Image credits: letsbakesby

#21 Christmas-Themed Macarons. Hope Santa Likes It

Image credits: hotdogs-r-sandwiches

#22 Santa's Bag

Image credits: anna_murz

#23 Since You Guys Loved The Wreaths, Here's Another Simple Royal Icing Technique

Image credits: Owlbbaking

Eggnog, as we know it today, is a concoction of eggs, milk, and sugar spiked with rum or bourbon. While its lineage can’t be accurately traced back, most historians agree that it originated from the medieval British drink “posset.” It was made with hot milk that was curdled with wine or ale and flavored with spices. The ingredients were the food of the wealthy, so eggnog was often used in toasts for prosperity and good health. It was tied to the holiday when the drink reached America. In fact, George Washington shared his own eggnog recipe that was very alcohol-heavy, with four different types of booze included in it. What a fun guy!

#24 My Grandma's Christmas Cookies

Image credits: kartoffelfee

#25 I Made Santa Macarons Today. Filled With Nutella Buttercream

Image credits: Gibby5683

#26 We Have A Running Joke With My Friends That I Only Cook Hotdogs. I Hope They Enjoy Their Christmas Cookies

Image credits: Giblet15

#27 A Cheese & Olive Christmas Tree

Image credits: train_spotting

As we can see, we've come a long way before we ended up with unique dishes like the ones on the list. If you lack the confidence to try the creative Christmas foods you see in the pictures, maybe you can try returning to the traditional ones; no one will judge you for it!

And those of you who have planned your Christmas menu in advance, let us know in the comments what whimsical treats you’ll be surprising your loved ones with.

For more holiday-inspired foods, make sure to check out our earlier publications here and here.

Lastly, we wish you delicious upcoming holidays and happy cooking!