Twelve Days of Christmas Themed Recipes (2024)

The Twelve Days of Christmas is an English Christmas carol, published in 1780. Thought to be of French origin, it features a series of increasingly grand gifts given on each of the twelve days of Christmas, starting on Christmas Day and ending on January 5. The Twelve Days of Christmas Themed Recipes each borrow from some aspect of the specific day, with a bit of poetic license for some!

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The Twelve Days of Christmas was first published without any music. It wasn’t until 1909 that the familiar tune was added in an arrangement by English composer Frederic Austin. In that arrangement, each verse is built on top of the previous verses.

Day 1. Partridge in a Pear Tree: Pear Tart with Goat Cheese, Rosemary & Honey – Home and Plate

Goat cheese, rosemary and honey are the stars on this pear tart. This simple fall dessert is delicious and can be on your table in 30 minutes.

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Day 2. Two Turtle Doves: Chocolate Turtle Cake with Caramel Pecans and Chocolate Ganache– Wyldflour

This chocolate turtle cake has two layers of moist, fudgey chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream, caramel sauce, and chopped pecans in the middle. Then the turtle cake is covered with a thin layer of chocolate buttercream and scraped for a naked effect. Finally, a thick layer of rich chocolate ganacheand sprinkles of extra pecans. Chocolate Overload. Chocolate Decadence. Caramel Pecan Turtle Goodness. There is no perfect name that embodies all the flavors of this chocolate turtle cake.

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Day 3. Three French Hens: Cornish Game Hens with Cranberry Stuffing – Grits and Pinecones

Roasted Cornish Game Hens with Cranberry Stuffing is a delicious, elegant, and inexpensive main course for your Christmas dinner or a special dinner party!

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Day 4. Four Calling Birds: Chicken au Champagne – Cooking with Curls

Calling all Birds with this Chicken au Champagne. The flavors are absolutely amazing. I am not a Champagne lover, I actually can’t stand the taste of it.However, when combined with chicken, and tarragon,il est magnifique!

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Day 5. Five Golden Rings: Baked Apple Cider Donuts – Veggie Inspired

Baked Apple Cider Donuts – Golden Rings of soft, fluffy, moist baked donuts with all the flavors of fall. Dairy free, egg free, and oil free!! Trust me, you are going to love these!

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Day 6. Six Geese a Laying: Easy Potato Salad with Eggs – Melanie Cooks

This easy potato salad with eggs is the best potato salad recipe ever! Once you try this amazing recipe, you’ll never have potato salad any other way! Secret ingredient is revealed below!

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Day 7. Seven Swans a Swimming: Lemon Cream Cheese Bundt Cake – Pudge Factor

Brighten your holiday season with this rich and moist Lemon Cream Cheese Bundt Cake made with Swans Down cake flour. It feels like springtime, and tastes amazing under a layer of lemon glaze.

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Day 8. Eight Maids a Milking: Frozen S’Mores Hot Chocolate – A Turtle’s Life for Me

Homemade hot chocolate with frothy milk has to be one of the most decadent beverages out there, but this recipe for frozen s’mores hot chocolate just kicked it up several notches!

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Day 9. Nine Ladies Dancing: No Bake Black Forest Tiramisu – Food Meanderings

I love tiramisu with ladyfingers and black forest anything so I created this easyno bake dessert. Quick and delicious, it is a combination of tiramisu and my family’s favourite black forest trifle.

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Day 10. Ten Lords a Leaping: Rosemary French 75 – Nomageddon

You’ll definitely want a Rosemary French 75 with the bubbles leaping out of the glass? The classic champagne co*cktail made with London Dry Gin, Brut Champagne, and Rosemary Simple Syrup.

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Day 11. Eleven Pipers Piping: Meringues with Marmalade and Cream – Little Sunny Kitchen

Sweet piped meringues filled with fresh clotted cream, orange marmalade and dark chocolate…

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Day 12: Twelve Drummers Drumming: Sweet Cherry Chicken Lollipops – Rum Smoked – BBQ Bastard

Chicken lollipops (a.k.a. drumsticks) are trending in the BBQ scene for a while now. They look incredible and the technique used for these “Sweet cherry chicken lollipops” is leading to a juicy tasteful and well balanced result.

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Are you drooling yet? Isn’t this an amazing array of Twelve Days of Christmas Themed Recipes?

Leave me a comment and let me know which one of these recipes is your favorite or which one you plan to try first. Even better,leave me a link to your favorite Christmas recipe!

I hope you have a wonderful Holiday season!

Twelve Days of Christmas Themed Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is a 12 days of Christmas party? ›

The Twelve Days of Christmas, also known as the Twelve Days of Christmastide, are the festive Christian season celebrating the Nativity. Christmas Day is the First Day. The Twelve Days are 25 December to 5 January, counting first and last.

How do you observe the 12 Days of Christmas? ›

Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas with Your Family
  1. Play "Name that Christmas Carol." ...
  2. Sing "The 12 Days of Christmas." ...
  3. Open your Christmas gifts throughout the 12 days of Christmas. ...
  4. Look through your Christmas cards together. ...
  5. Set aside a special family day. ...
  6. Host an Epiphany party to celebrate the visit of the magi.

Why do we eat 12 on Christmas Eve? ›

A twelve-dish Christmas Eve supper is traditionally prepared to commemorate Jesus' twelve disciples in Central, Northern and Eastern European cultures, especially those that were formerly part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and neighbouring countries.

When should you start the 12 Days of Christmas? ›

The 12 days of Christmas actually start on Christmas Day, and last until Epiphany (AKA Three Kings Day) on January 6th. So in theory, you shouldn't start singing the 12 Days of Christmas carol until Christmas Day proper. It's your call whether you opt to celebrate those days with some lords a-leaping or ladies dancing.

What is the most expensive gift in the 12 Days of Christmas? ›

Lords-a-leaping were the most expensive gift, followed by swans.

What is the 7th day gift in 12 days of Christmas? ›

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five gold rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

What is the most common Christmas Day dinner? ›

Traditional Christmas dinner features turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and vegetables. Other types of poultry, roast beef, or ham, are also used. Pumpkin or apple pie, raisin pudding, Christmas pudding, or fruitcake are staples for dessert.

What is the best Christmas dinner to make? ›

  • Lasagna. Regina Schrambling. ...
  • Easy. Prime Rib Roast. ...
  • Pepperpot. Millie Peartree. ...
  • Jansson's Temptation (Creamy Potato Casserole) Eric Kim, Jens Linder, Johanna Westman. ...
  • Christmas Glazed Ham. Yotam Ottolenghi. ...
  • Vegan Jackfruit Pernil. Christina Morales, Lyana Blount. ...
  • Easy. Cola-Braised Beef With Chile-Lime Onions. ...
  • Easy.

How to do a 12 days of Christmas campaign? ›

What is the 12 Days of Christmas marketing strategy? A 12 Days of Christmas marketing strategy is a marketing campaign where you reveal a new deal or piece of content every day for 12 days. Businesses use this strategy to engage their target audience, drive sales, and build brand awareness during the holiday season.

How do you do the 12 days of Christmas Secret Santa? ›

Here's how it works: You choose a family to surprise and every day for the 12 days leading up to Christmas you leave a little treat on their doorstep along with part of a poem, ring their doorbell, and run away… 12 Days of Christmas Gifts for Him (36 different gift tags to use!)

How do you celebrate the 12 days of Christmas at work? ›

For the 12 days of Christmas at work, consider a different festive activity each day. This can include themed dress-up days, a Secret Santa gift exchange, a holiday trivia quiz, crafting sessions, caroling, a charity drive, and culminate in a big holiday party or luncheon on the final day.

How many total gifts were in the 12 Days of Christmas song? ›

364 presents, contrary to what some might say because, in the classic song, the “narrator” says that along with the day's new presents, his/her true love also sends the same amount of each present. For example, on the second day, his/her true love sends two turtledoves, and a partridge in a pear tree.

What was the first gift in the 12 Days of Christmas? ›

Each day represents a new gift, starting with 'a partridge in a pear tree' and ending with 'twelve drummers drumming'.

How much would it cost to buy all the items in the 12 Days of Christmas? ›

It would cost an estimated $46,729.86 to purchase all 78 gifts from the classic English carol, according to PNC Financial Services' 2023 Christmas Price Index, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Are the 12 Days of Christmas cumulative? ›

"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is a cumulative song, meaning that each verse is built on top of the previous verses. There are twelve verses, each describing a gift given by "my true love" on one of the twelve days of Christmas.

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