Christmas is in 5 days! For me, this season always meant new clothes—what we call “krismos close”—and, if I was lucky, a new pair of shoes. It’s also a time to cook and eat a lot. I love Christmas menus: the aroma of well-spiced chicken simmering on the stove, the rich, satisfying jollof rice, cakes, and all kinds of festive treats. Christmas has always inspired many of us to prepare our best meals.
Planning what to cook, however, can feel overwhelming. To help, I’ve put together a practical list of ideas so you can create delicious meals, minimise time spent slaving in the kitchen on the big day, and enjoy Christmas with less stress.
This menu plan includes breakfast suggestions because Christmas morning deserves something special. It also covers appetisers, main dishes, salads, and desserts. Pick the recipes that appeal to you, print them if you like, and use them to build a realistic plan. As the saying goes, failing to plan is planning to fail—so decide ahead of time what you will cook for your own peace of mind.
Things to do before Christmas day
– Three days before, prepare marinades and spice blends. I usually make my spice blends about three days in advance so flavours have time to develop. Typical ingredients include garlic, ginger, celery, parsley, basil and onions. You can also add rosemary, thyme, green onions, white pepper or leeks depending on what you have and what you’ll be cooking. Store marinades in the fridge, or if refrigeration is limited, add a thin layer of vegetable oil and seal in an airtight container.
– Four days before, bake snacks and cookies. In Cameroonian tradition, snacks like Chin Chin (a crunchy, cake-like bite) are often made several days ahead.
– The day before, marinate all the meat and fish you plan to use, cover them and refrigerate. This step makes them more flavorful as they soak up the seasonings.
– The day before, prepare pastry dough for snacks such as meat or fish pies and store it in the fridge. I prefer baking pies fresh on the day they’re eaten, so having the dough ready speeds things up. If you don’t mind pies made the day before, you can fully bake them ahead.
– The day before, thaw any frozen meat or fish. For large items like a big turkey, start thawing at least three days in advance.
Below is a variety of dishes to choose from. Click the recipes that appeal to you and use them to assemble your menu.
Special Christmas Breakfast
- Chocolate Bread
- Coconut Rolls
- Crepe Cake
- Breakfast Frittata
Make-Ahead Snacks
- Chin Chin
- Shortbread Cookies
- Drop Doughnuts
- Peanut Butter Cookies
Christmas Appetisers
- Fish Rolls
- Fish Pie
- Chicken Suya / Soya
- Beef Suya / Soya
Main Dishes
- Coconut Fried Rice
- Poulet DG (Fried Plantain and Chicken)
- Eru
- Ndole
- Jollof Rice
- Grilled Fish
- Roasted Whole Chicken
- Fried Rice
- Pepper Soup
- Khati Khati (Smoky Spicy Chicken) and Corn Fufu
Desserts
- Carrot Cake
- Plain Cake
- Yogurt Cake
- Ice Cream
Salads
- Fruit Salad
- Coleslaw
- Vegetable Salad
Drinks
- Folere – Zobo
- Orange Julius
What I will make
- Chocolate Bread
- Chin Chin
- Grilled Fish
- Eru
- Fruit Salad
I’ve shared my menu to give you an idea of how to build yours. I plan to wake up early on Christmas morning so I can finish cooking and then enjoy quality time with family. I don’t want to spend the whole day tied to the stove and miss the heart of the season. Keep your plans simple and avoid overworking yourself. If you expect guests, start the prep now and avoid dishes that demand excessive time on the day.
I hope this list makes Christmas cooking easier for you. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments and I’ll be glad to help.
Merry Christmas!