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!
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.
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 ganache and 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.
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!
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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 easy no bake dessert. Quick and delicious, it is a combination of tiramisu and my family’s favourite black forest trifle.
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 cocktail made with London Dry Gin, Brut Champagne, and Rosemary Simple Syrup.
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…
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.
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!
This is such a creative post!! It’s also my daughter’s favorite Christmas song, so she’ll think this is great. Thank you for including my Apple Cider Donuts in all their golden ring glory! 🙂 Happy Holidays!
I thought that they were the perfect recipe and picture for the golden rings!
You used the wrong image, but thanks for including me!
Sorry about that.