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Extra, extra! ‘Tis the season to be oh so very extra, and that absolutely includes food. Each year as we creep towards Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Eve, our favorite food brands begin to roll out seasonal spins and limited edition holiday mashups. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you gotta admit they get pretty creative, and if nothing else, keep publicists employed.
Check out the 19 most extra, interesting and over-the-top holiday food items currently on the market. And because we somehow made it through fall, we promise NO pumpkin spice.
Eggnog Flavored Splenda
Amazing Grass Holiday Cookie Flavored Superfood Powder
Peppermint Twist Smirnoff
Ben & Jerry’s Bourbon Pecan Pie Ice Cream
24 Karat Gold Champagne Gummy Bears
Wise Peppermint Mocha Popcorn
Oreo Flavored Candy Canes
Jack Daniels Winter Jack Tennessee Cider
Peppermint Bark Keurig Cups
Hanukkah House
Trader Joe’s Peppermint Flavored Hold the Cone
Sugarfina Gingerbread Cookie Bites
Mint Kit Kat
Gingerbread Spice Tea
Whole Foods Peppermint Gelato
Pillsbury Funfetti Cake Mix with Bits of Candy
Rice Krispies Holiday House Kit
Hanukkah Fortune Cookies
Starbucks Eggnog Latte
Ham is a staple on holiday tables throughout many parts of the world. It’s a crowd-pleaser that’s elegant enough to crown a holiday feast yet approachable enough to entice even the most finicky holiday guest. It’s also a substantial amount of meat that virtually always results in leftovers which makes it perfect to transform into appetizers for your next round of holiday feasting.
The reason why the iconic ham graces the holiday table is not an arbitrary one. Its significance is frequently attributed to the Germanic god Freyr, a pagan deity associated with fertility and an abundant harvest along with the wild boar. During ancient holiday feasts, a boar would be sacrificed as a tribute to Freyr. It was often only the boar’s head that was placed at the center of the banquet table, complete with a roasted apple in its mouth.
Many of Freyr’s attributes were later applied to Saint Stephen in Britain, including the appearance of the ham on the holiday table, especially on Dec. 26 which is the saint’s feast day across the pond. During Victorian times, when mince meat and Christmas puddings were required staples, ham was often glazed in honey, resulting in a crispy caramelized crust.
Ham will most likely always be a fundamental feature of holiday parties throughout Europe and America. It evokes memories of festive celebrations and preserves traditions that are so critical to keeping our rituals alive. Holiday appetizers are an ideal vehicle for ham. Here are a few recipes to kick off the meal at your next holiday gathering. Happy feasting!
From Valerie’s Kitchen
This is a simple recipe with minimal ingredients that can be made ahead of time and has a fun retro look to it. Ham is rolled into tortillas along with cream cheese, cranberries, feta, sour cream, and onions before the rolls are sliced into colorful segments resembling pinwheels. Mix up the color palette by selecting green and red tortillas that will not only provide additional flavor but an infusion of holiday color too. Get the recipe.
Caramelized Pineapple, Ham, and Cheese Turnovers
Half Baked Harvest
It’s virtually guaranteed that not a single turnover will remain at the end of your ham-filled holiday party. These are so addictive with their flaky, buttery puff pastry shell wrapped around ham, melted Swiss cheese, and sweet caramelized pineapple that a double batch is recommended. They can be made ahead of time and baked just before the festivities begin. The result is an elegant appetizer that will become a new staple beloved by everyone gathered around your holiday table. Get the recipe.
The Farm Girl Gabs
Brunch was made for ham appetizers and these sweet ham and cheese bites are distinguished enough to grace the holiday brunch table yet simple enough to make ahead of time. Wonton wrappers form the base for a silky bite of quiche speckled with flecks of scallions and ham bound together by a handful of cheddar cheese. Get the recipe.
Bread Booze Bacon
Sliders are the perfect vehicle for leftover holiday ham. These three-bite crowd pleasers feature melted provolone cheese along with ham and smoked turkey tucked into buttery rolls slicked with mayonnaise and spicy mustard along with a dash of garlic powder and dried parsley. They’re the perfect enticements to gather the family around after a holiday game of touch football or to keep energy up during a demanding gift wrapping (or unwrapping) session. Get the recipe.
Three-Ingredient Ham and Cheese Rollups
The Comfort of Cooking
It’s hard to believe that this addictive appetizer features only three ingredients but apparently, when ham and cheese meets freshly baked bread along with a side of spicy dipping mustard, nothing more is required. This easy recipe can be made ahead of time and baked just before the holiday fun begins. The aroma of baked bread will fill your home with cozy comfort long before this loaf filled with cheesy-porky flavor arrives at your holiday table. Get the recipe.
Gluten-Free Honey Baked Ham and Potato Empanadas
Cotter Crunch
Invite a little South American flavor to your holiday table with these tasty empanadas filled with creamy potatoes and honey baked ham. They’re the kind of appetizer that your family will never tire of so make a few batches and serve them to kick off a meal or whenever an extra dose of holiday spirit is required. Get the recipe.
For more tips, hacks, and recipes, check out our Ultimate Guide to Christmas and Holiday Entertaining Headquarters.
Related Video: How to Make Grilled Ham and Cheese Waffle Sandwiches
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Feeling the Christmas crunch? Does Santa have you running around town for the perfect gift? Too many holiday parties to keep track of? Skip the formalities and do yourself a favor by cooking this year’s Christmas dinner in a Crock-Pot! From decadent pot roasts to slow-cooked salmon, the Crock-Pot is here to save your holiday sanity. Read on for recipes to slow cook your main dish this December.
A Spicy Perspective
Everything’s better wrapped in bacon! This beef tenderloin gets the star-of-the-dinner-table treatment with a wrap in the salty pork and a coating of balsamic glaze. The impressive cut of beef is always a holiday winner, especially when it’s been cooking all day in the low maintenance slow cooker. Get the recipe.
Plains Joy
It wouldn’t be a complete Christmas in the Southwest without tamales on the table. While the hard work happens during the assembly of the tamales, this recipe uses the slow cooker to steam the tamales easily and keep them warm throughout dinner. Get the recipe.
The Creative Bite
Some Christmas traditions call for a quintessential game hen or two on the table. These cornish hens are prepared slow and low in the Crock-Pot and garnished with a savory orange sauce for an elegant meal. Get the recipe.
The No. 2 Pencil
Christmas in the South feels incomplete without ham making an appearance. This incredibly easy recipe starts with a bone-in ham and slow cooks it to perfection. The maple-brown sugar glaze dresses up the pork and is caramelized under the broiler for a few minutes for more classic flavors and textures. Get the recipe.
Tori Avey
Skip the whole turkey thing—you made a giant meal just a few weeks ago! Give yourself a break and go for a whole roast chicken. It has the same flavor profile without the hassle of the giant bird. Get the recipe.
Chelsea’s Messy Apron
If you’re set on turkey for Christmas, consider opting for a turkey breast instead. Skip the whole bird—turkey breasts are less work (no carving!) and cook more evenly for juicier, more succulent results. Don’t forget the gravy! Get the recipe.
Damn Delicious
Pork loin is always an impressive Christmas dinner, especially when it’s been filling the house with the delicious smell of roasted meat all day. The best part about this roast is the fig jam and mustard glaze—sweet, tangy, and perfectly paired with pork’s brine. Get the recipe.
Gimme Some Oven
Is your family not into meat? Your Christmas table can be full of vegetables and just as delicious. This mushroom pot roast is glistening with a delicious red wine glaze and brimming with in-season root vegetables. Get the recipe.
Clean Cuisine
You don’t have to do the whole Feast of the Seven Fishes to enjoy fish for Christmas dinner! Serve an impressive side of salmon, slow cooked in the crockpot with citrus and fresh herbs. To keep it even more low maintenance, serve alongside steam-in-bag green beans tossed in a lemon vinaigrette or a side of simple roasted potatoes. Get the recipe.
Related Video: Spicy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
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