19 French Christmas Foods for the Holiday

In France, Christmas food traditions are some of the most beloved in the country. They include fresh seafood, special cakes, and decadent treats like galettes.

These are French Christmas foods filled with fruits or chocolate. Often, they are eaten with crème fraîche or ice cream on top (talk about indulgence!). 

We’ve got you covered if you’re wondering what to serve at your French Christmas celebration this year. Look no further than this list of authentic French Christmas foods to make you swoon!

We’ve got everything from oysters to roasts and everything in between. Which ones will make an appearance at your celebration?

So, as we enter the final days of December, it’s time to start thinking about what you will do with your family on the 25th.

And what better way is there than by indulging in a little French cuisine? But before diving into that baguette, consider trying other French Christmas foods from your local market. 

There are plenty of delicious treats out there that are perfect for celebrating this holiday season. Whether it’s a sweet or savory option, some traditional French Christmas foods will make you feel like royalty on the 25th!

1. Quiche Lorraine

Quiche Lorraine is the starter of this list of delectable French Christmas foods that will sweep you off your feet. This traditional dish comprises eggs, cream, and bacon (or ham). It can be eaten cold or warm and makes for great breakfast food.

2. Oysters

Oysters are not only delicious French Christmas foods, but they are also symbolic of fertility. This makes them a perfect holiday treat you can serve up at your Christmas dinner.

If you’re wondering where to start, here is a list of everything you will need: 

• Oysters per person. 
• Lemon wedges. 
• Pickled cucumbers.
• Horseradish sauce. 
• A small pot of melted butter.
• Salt and pepper to taste. 
• Wine vinegar.
• Sugar.

3. Lobster

This one of the French Christmas foods is my favorite. I love it because the lobster gives it a rich and luxurious flavor you don’t get from any other dish.

It’s one of the most expensive dishes on this list, but I think you’ll agree it’s worth every penny. 

To prepare: In a medium-sized bowl, mix cream cheese, lemon juice, white pepper, and salt to taste. Next, add finely chopped lobster meat and mix well until the mixture is smooth.

Heat butter with flour in a small saucepan over medium heat to make your sauce more elegant. Do this for about 2 minutes until the mixture turns golden brown.

4. Foie Gras

Foie gras is a French delicacy that can be found as a stuffing for other foods and served on its own. It is made from the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened with corn over 12 weeks.

Foie gras goes back centuries and may have been mentioned in the Bible. The word foie gras means fatty liver. There are many arguments about whether this dish should be eaten.

One argument says it should not be eaten because it’s unhealthy for you because it’s so high in fat and cholesterol. 

Others say that you shouldn’t eat it because some people don’t want animals to suffer so that they can enjoy this tasty dish. Still, others say they’re worried about how the animals were treated before slaughtering them.

Regardless of your opinion, there’s no denying that this delicacy of traditional French Christmas foods will leave you swooning!

5. Escargots

Escargots are traditional French Christmas foods that are gaining popularity in America. Escargots is the French word for snails, which have been eaten since ancient times.

The escargot was mentioned in French literature as early as 1656 when they were described as being cooked with butter and garlic. 

In the 18th century, they were served with parsley butter sauce. The escargot dish called escargots à la bourguignonne is made by cooking snails in white wine.

This is done together with mushrooms, onions, garlic, and herbs, including thyme and bay leaves, then adding cream. And finally, top it all off with some fresh grated Parmesan cheese!

6. Coquilles Saint Jacques

Coquilles Saint Jacques is a French dish that translates as scallops of St. James. It’s typically made with a mixture of cream, fish stock, and white wine.

Add in some finely chopped onion and parsley, and then you’re ready for the next step, which is shaping the scallops into little shells. 

Next, dredge them in flour, dip them in beaten egg, and then coat them in bread crumbs, crushed crackers, or panko.

And then deep fry them until they are golden brown all over. Serve with a lemon wedge, if desired. Looking for French Christmas foods to wow your guests? Here’s one!

7. Roast Turkey With Chestnut Stuffing

Another delicious one of French Christmas food is a roast turkey with chestnut stuffing. It’s amazing! The best way I’ve found to make it is first to buy a raw turkey. And put it in a roasting pan with onion, celery, thyme, salt, and pepper. 

Then chop up an onion, celery, and mushrooms and fry them in a frying pan with olive oil until they’re soft.

Next, add them to the roasting pan, the chestnuts (chopped up), bread crumbs, egg whites, parsley flakes, salt, and pepper.

Stuff the turkey with this mixture and bake at 350 degrees for two hours. Or until you can poke the thickest part of the thigh with a knife without any resistance.

8. All Kinds Of Birds And Wild Fowl

A well-known traditional French dish is canard à l’orange. This is a roast duck with an orange sauce, and it’s served with oranges and sliced onion.

The duck may be cooked in various ways, but the most common method is roasting it on a spit. 

Also, it’s common for the ducks to be marinated overnight in garlic, wine, oil, salt, and pepper before cooking them up in the morning. Duck confit is another popular dish.

This is when you submerge the duck into boiling fat until it’s completely submerged (a process known as confit). In all, these are French Christmas foods that you are bound to love!

9. Quatre-quarts (Four quarters)

Quatre-quarts is a traditional Christmas dessert in France that is usually made with a shortcrust pastry crust. Usually, it is filled with frangipane, almond cream, or jam. 

Also, it can be topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with powdered sugar or icing sugar for decoration. Similarly, this is one of the French Christmas foods you should try!

10. Brioche de Noel (Yule Bread)

Brioche de Noel is the French take on the Italian Panettone, a sweet bread that tastes best when served warm. Especially from the oven or reheated in the microwave. 

Additionally, the brioche dough includes yeast and eggs. These give it a rich flavor and an airy texture that keeps it from getting stale.

Take my word for this; this is included in the list of French Christmas foods that you don’t want to miss out on!

11. Bûche de Noël

Bûche de Noël is a traditional French Christmas cake. It’s made of three thin layers of sponge cake, filled with whipped cream, and topped with chocolate ganache.

This classic bûche starts with a basic genoise batter (eggs, sugar, flour) that gets cooked in a bain-marie (or pot of water). 

Once cooled, the genoise is split into three equal parts and lined up side-by-side on a greased and parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

The middle layer gets spread with whipped cream mixed with vanilla extract, and the next layer gets spread over it. Reconsider if you’ve decided not to try these French Christmas foods!

12. Smoked Salmon

This French Christmas food is perfect for any seafood lover. I like to start by slicing a salmon filet into thin strips and then layering it with thin slices of lemon, garlic, and shallot.

Next, I will layer with a thin layer of salt and pepper, followed by a layer of dill weed mixed in olive oil. 

The next step is to lay the salmon in a pan on medium heat for about 5 minutes on each side until it has reached the desired doneness.

The final touch is a sprinkle of fresh dill on top, which gives this smoked salmon recipe an amazing flavor. This Smoked salmon, of the French Christmas foods, would be perfect for any holiday gathering!

13. Scallops

In France, they celebrate Christmas with a feast of all their favorite things: family, friends, and plenty of food. One of the popular French Christmas foods is scallops. 

Scallops are boiled or fried in butter and then served over mashed potatoes with white wine, onion, garlic, and cream sauce. This is a very festive and delicious way to celebrate this special time of year.

14. Wild Game

The French eat Wild Game for their holiday meals. There are many types of games, but the most popular is venison. It is not uncommon for a family to have deer or boar as a part of their Christmas dinner table.

In France, it is a common belief that the more animals you have on your table at your meal, the more prosperous your year will be. 

Also, the French enjoy ducks which they often serve with oranges and chestnuts. Besides games, other French Christmas foods make up their traditional holiday spread.

They include pate de foie gras, cheese platters with grapes and apples, and quince preserves used in tarts and cakes.

15. Sophisticated Fish Preparations

The French have a reputation for being sophisticated and refined. So it should be no surprise that they would celebrate Christmas with an elegant meal.

The most celebrated French dish is the Turbot à la Nantua, which consists of turbot (a type of flatfish).

It is poached in wine and cream and covered in a velouté sauce made from onion soup and white fish stock.

Other French Christmas foods like this include lobster salad on toast; escargot served with garlic butter and boiled potatoes.

Fried quails on toast with buttery breadcrumbs, crème brûlée, baba au rhum, and profiteroles are also included.

Besides, the flavors are rich and decadent. The textures are smooth and soft. They’re perfect for any occasion – especially during the holidays!

16. Cheese Platter

The cheese platter is one of the most popular French Christmas foods. It’s easy to create and can be served in many different ways.

When you are ready for a cheese platter, make sure you purchase high-quality cheeses that will taste amazing with bread and grapes. 

Moving on, great cheeses to use include: brie, camembert, blue cheese, gouda, peccorino romano, sharp cheddar, and more! Here’s how it should look:

• Sliced bread on a large tray or cutting board.
• Sliced baguette pieces.
• Grapes in a bowl or on the tray too.
• A variety of different cheeses (listed above).

17. Exotic and Candied Fruits

Candied fruits are excellent French Christmas foods. They can be served as a dessert or put on top of a cake or pie. Candied fruit is delicious, and it’s also surprisingly easy to make at home. 

The most common ingredients for candied fruit are sugar, water, lemon juice, and cinnamon. For the best taste, use fresh fruit instead of canned fruit that has been sitting on the shelf for months.

18. Chocolate Truffles

Truffles are a must-have on any French holiday table and are just as popular at Christmastime. They’re also the perfect food gift for friends or family who can’t be with you in person.

Here’s how to make them: Melt butter, chocolate, and cream in a saucepan over low heat. Secondly, stir until smooth, and the chocolate is melted; pour into a bowl.

Next, cover it with plastic wrap, pressing it down onto the surface of the chocolate so that no air gets trapped between it and the chocolate.

This will prevent your truffles from getting too hard when they cool. If you desire to have French Christmas foods this season, here’s one that should be considered too.

19. Champagne

You must serve this for a traditional French Christmas Eve meal, even though it is not a dish. To produce a kir royal, you might choose to add crème de cassis blackcurrant liqueur. But there is no need if the Champagne is good!

Champagne, or sparkling wine, is a French staple that has been enjoyed throughout the ages. It’s perfect for celebrating, and you can’t go wrong with a bottle of Champagne on any given day. So why not make it your New Year’s Eve drink? 

With the holidays just around the corner, we’ve put together this list of French Christmas foods that will make you swoon. And this is the end of it!

Conclusion

This year, celebrate Christmas with some of the most decadent French foods you’ve ever tried. These French recipes will help you spread the holiday cheer from mouth-watering scones to mouth-watering pates.

And also give your friends and family something truly special to eat during this season of love and good tidings. 

Moreover, many of them are simple enough that inexperienced cooks like you can make them! So whip up a delicious batch of chocolate cream puffs or some French macarons and fill your home with the sweet smells of France this Christmas!