French Holiday Recipes to cook between Christmas and New Years. Looking for some inspiration for your holiday menu? Over the years I have written lots of recipes for Christmas eve and Christmas Day but what about that delicious expanse of time that is between Christmas Day and New Years? The one week in the year where time seems to slow down. Where the top priority is spending quality time with family and dear friends. A time that seems to call for slow roasting, if you ask me!
I look forward to the week between Christmas and New Years each year. It is a time to truly reconnect and recharge. You might even want to try out a new recipe - something you wouldn't have tried necessarily on a busy weekend in November, but that seems perfectly suited for that delicious Wednesday when you are at home with nothing else to do.
Here are my suggestions of French recipes to cook over the holidays
Authentic Swiss Cheese Fondue - the perfect dish for a fun night at home. The dipping of bread in cheese always brings a smile to your guests face!
Daube Provençal - tender pieces of beef slow roasted with wine and orange zest. The French Riviera version of Boeuf Bourguignon that is our family favorite.
Le Chef's French Onion Soup Gratinée - the BEST recipe for French Onion Soup! Le chef learned to make this while working at a 2 Michelin star restaurant in Courchevel. This recipe calls for chicken broth (not beef) and whiskey (not wine). It is amazing!
Super Simple French Roast Chicken Recipe (Poulet Rôti) - Nothing warms a cold day like a Roast Chicken and Potatoes hot out of the oven. Surprisingly simple to make.
Roasted Duck Magret with Apples and Squash
Seared White Wine Scallops and Leeks Recipe
Christmas Capon - The traditional Christmas Meal in France. The white wine, mushroom, shallot and cream sauce is incredible!
Soups
Do yourself a favor and make a big pot of vegetable soup before you start the week. It freezes beautifully and will offer you a light, healthy meal when you need to balance out all the Christmas Cookies and Roasts.
Here are some suggestions of my favorite light soups:
Healthy Potage aux Légumes - French Vegetable Soup
La Poule au Pot - the easiest way to cook a whole chicken
Creamy Butternut squash Soup with Crispy Sage
Holiday Baking
The Best Lemon Sugar Crêpes Recipe
French Baguettes for Beginners - if you haven't tried baking your own baguettes at home yet, this is the time to try! This recipe is so easy and takes only 2 hours start to finish. A great starting point for learning to bake delicious, crusty French bread at home.
Simple French Toast Recipe - great for using up any leftover baguette!
Easiest Lemon Cranberry Cake Ever
Classic French Desserts
Perhaps you want to try your hand at a classic French Pâtisserie Recipe? Once you have made your own Crème Brulée you will never go back!
How to make Crème Brûlée like a French Chef
Le Chef’s Moelleux au Chocolat
The Best Chocolate Soufflé Recipe
Thanksgiving Recipes
I wrote an article about how to host a Thanksgiving Dinner Party that you will enjoy. It includes hosting tips and a selection of elevated Thanksgiving recipes
Christmas Recipes
If you are looking for the best French Christmas Recipes, I have a whole post dedicated to these:
French Christmas Traditions: The French Riviera
La Bûche de Noël is worth trying - the chocolate ganache is a masterpiece!
New Year's Traditions
I have also written two articles on how the French Celebrate New Year's Eve.
French Themed New Year's Eve at home
or
6 Tips for Hosting a Chic French Themed New Year's Eve Party
I hope you have enjoyed this roundup of my favorite French Holiday Recipes. What will you be cooking this holiday? I would love to hear from you!
About Le Chef's Wife
Bonjour! I am Anina Belle. I translate the fancy cooking of my Michelin-star trained French Chef Husband, Le Chef, into easy to make dishes that busy people with no culinary training (like me!) can make at home. We have two young kids (5 and 2) and I have a full time job in hospitality in addition to this blog. I strongly believe that even busy people deserve to eat well at home.
I share our home cooking on Instagram, pinterest and tiktok. Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to receive my new recipes and have advance access to cooking classes. I look forward to cooking with you!
Au plaisir,
Le Chef's Wife
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