New Christmas recipes for 2024
It’s beginning to taste a lot like Christmas…
This year, I can promise you our food editors have delivered. Their latest batch of Christmas recipes are fresh, fun and fabulous. But more importantly, they are easy to make and they taste delicious (trust me, I’ve tried them all).
So, here are the 5 favourite Christmas recipes that I’m most excited about for 2024 so far. I think they’re going to be huge!
Gingerbread Christmas crack
Christmas crack dominated the festive season in 2023 – and this year will be no different. Crack is the ultimate sweet treat because it’s easy to make, doesn’t require many ingredients but still looks and tastes incredible.
This version of crack was created by our very own Senior Food Editor Elisa Pietrantonio, who describes it as “the perfect combination of salty and sweet”.
So how did Elisa make it? She says: “We’ve stayed true to the original crack recipe and kept that crispy Salada base, flecked with bursts of salt, and then topped it with a spiced caramel toffee that tastes exactly like gingerbread would.”
(If you love the original, check it out again: below)
Elisa decorated hers with crushed gingerbread men, gold star sprinkles and gold sugar crystals to decorate, but you could also use crushed ginger nut biscuits or any other type of sprinkles you have on hand.”
Cypriot grain salad-stuffed butternut pumpkin
For those of you who struggle to find an impressive vegetarian Christmas main, this is your guy. It’s sweet and salty, crunchy and tender, light yet filling.
Based on our viral Cypriot grain salad (which has been our top-trending salad for the last 3 salad seasons and is one of my most-made recipes of all time), it’s definitely the dish that ticks all the boxes.
As recipe developer Tracy Rutherford says: “The roasted flesh becomes part of the salad, the shells become vessels to hold the salad and the seeds can be roasted for a crunchy treat.”
But that’s not all – it’s also a make-ahead masterpiece. Tracy says: “I love any recipes that help me get ahead when guests are coming over. Cook the rice and quinoa up to 1 day in advance. The pumpkin can be roasted up to 1 day in advance. Toast the walnuts in advance.” Win, win, win!
(Added bonus: this dish is almost a no-waste recipe, with every part of the pumpkin being used, except for the stringy pulp.)
Salmon sandwich Swiss roll
Food Director Michelle Southan is acutely aware that money could be tight for many Aussie families this Christmas, but she’s got you covered with easy yet affordable dishes like this salmon roll.
She says: “When having people over, especially at Christmas time, the cost can be high. So, I am always on the hunt for entertaining ideas that look impressive, stretch far and won’t break the bank. This sandwich Swiss roll is a time and money saver, without skimping on the end result.”
Based on traditional Christmas salmon canapes or the afternoon tea classic cream cheese smoked salmon finger sandwiches, this version is much more eye-catching. Michelle says the cream cheese mixture “helps hold the roll together and is perfectly paired with classics, like smoked salmon, cucumber and avocado, for a bit of fancy flare”.
Michelle added goat’s cheese to the cream cheese for extra flavour and decorated the roll with salty salmon roe, but both are optional if you want to keep things simple. This will definitely be making an appearance on my Christmas table, perhaps before lunch when we pop the bubbly.
Mini ‘Christmas pudding’ chocolate jellies
In the famous words of Beyonce, I don’t think you’re ready for this jelly. These mini Christmas puddings are made with a chocolate jelly – at first, this sounded weird to me but they actually taste like the silkiest panna cotta.
Recipe creator Elisa decorated them with a white chocolate drizzle, chopped spearmint lolly leaves (because is it even an Aussie Christmas without spearmint leaves?) and M&M Minis. The result? The cutest individual Christmas desserts ever!
They’re easy to make, too, with only 3 ingredients in the jelly. Elisa says: “Don’t be fooled by how fancy these treats look. It’s as simple as bringing the sugar and water to the boil, then stirring through the chocolate and gelatine until melted.”
Mini desserts have been growing in popularity over the last couple of Christmasses and we think they will be bigger than ever in 2024. Thanks to the dome shape and next-level glossiness of these, we think they have viral potential..
Risoni and roasted chickpea tabbouleh
Searches for tabbouleh are up 219% year-on-year on site, while budget-friendly risoni and chickpeas continue to grow in popularity. Because of the use of risoni, this dish has a bit of a pasta salad vibe and is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.
Also created by Michelle, she says it’s a great practical option if you want to prep ahead or need to bring a plate to a gathering. “You can cook the pasta a day ahead and store it in an airtight container in the fridge, ready for tossing on the day,” she says. “This dish can be served in a nice big bowl on the table or transported in an airtight container for a picnic in the park.”
The cherry on the top of this salad is the crispy chickpeas – they bring some much-needed crunch, but are optional if you don’t want the extra work.
While it may be October, Christmas has indeed come early thanks to the busy elves in the taste.com.au workshop – and they’ve allowed plenty of time for organised types (guilty!) to test out our enticing new festive recipes before December. Cue Mariah.
So yes, it might only be October. But I’m starting the festive feasting now, so I can get through all our latest creations by December.
Originally published as New Christmas recipes for 2024
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