12 Caribbean Christmas Recipes (2024)

It’s Christmas! It’s Christmas! It’s the time of the year when everyone is nice to each other, so much love in the air.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Please share using the hashtags #Top12Caribbean #caribbeanholidayrecipes12 Caribbean Christmas Recipes (2)

It’s the end of the year! It’s the holidays, It’s Christmas time and we are celebrating. OH! and it’s cold outside.

This my first holiday roundup post, and let me tell you, these recipes here are the best of the best in the Caribbean Food Bloggers hemisphere.

A big thank youto all the amazing bloggers who are allowing me to use their recipes and images.

So, without further-ado, here are myTop 12 Caribbean Christmas/ Holiday Recipes

Top 12 Caribbean Holiday Recipe, coming at ya!

Merry Christmas

A decadent Caribbean black cake made with rum soaked fruits.

From the Blog HomeMadeZagat

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This is the ultimate Christmas cake in the Caribbean. It’s also popularly known as “Black Cake” as its color is darkened when made.

From the Blog HomeMadeZagat

This vegan Trinidad black cake is moist, dense and filled with fruits and alcohol. It’s the perfect vegan alternative to a traditional Trini Christmas rum cake.

From the Blog Exsloth

12 Caribbean Christmas Recipes (4)

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What is Trinidad black cake? Well, it’s basically a cross between a fruit cake and a rum cake but much more moist and a bit more dense.

It’s filled with dried fruit like raisins, mixed peel, sultans and cherries as well as a boatload of alcohol, of course. From the Blog Exsloth

The perfect topping for your Christmas ham, this chow chow is the ideal pairing. Pickle vegetables in a mustard base is the perfect holiday condiment.

From the Blog Homemadezagat

12 Caribbean Christmas Recipes (5)

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The process for this relish is to brine your vegetables then simmer them down in a base of flavor. Though I keep mentioning ham, because it is the popular meat of choice in the Trinidad and Tobago at the time, this is easily used on sandwiches, with fried meats, on hot dogs (my favorite).

From the Blog HomeMadeZagat

Pineapple Honey Glazed Ham-Tender, juicy ham with a pineapple and Spiced rum Glaze-Flavored with Caribbean Spices ; nutmeg, cloves and thyme. Sweet Spicy and Spiced.

From the blog Immaculate Bites

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The Festive Season is here. And most people are celebrating during this period. If you are…. What is better than a flavorful tender and Juicy Pineapple Ham, on the table to WOW your families and friends?

From the blog Immaculate Bites

This dish is one of my family’s favorite. It really bring the family together, whether it’s cooked the Jamaican way or the Trinidad way , I like calling this dish the family reunion dish. That’s because when word goes out that I’m making Oxtail and Rice, everyone shows up for dinner!

From Simply Caribbean12 Caribbean Christmas Recipes (7)

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Growing up in Trinidad, Oxtail was and probably still an expensive meat, it was rarely cooked in our home, I guessed because it was too expensive,we had it once or twice a month along with goat meat, fish, chicken, and some other things which I will save for another post.

I saw Escovitch Fish prepared for the first time when my aunt’s friend brought over fresh snapper to fry for us. Seasoned with spices, she put the whole fish in a frying pan filled with oil. The oil bubbled around the fish as she added the scotch bonnet peppers.

From the Blog Seasoning Bottle

12 Caribbean Christmas Recipes (8)

As a child, my mom sent my siblings and I to Jamaica for summers. Aunt Judy’s house is where we stayed. As soon as I stepped foot into her driveway, the sweet aroma of mangoes from the trees outside floated around me. Aunt Judy was never an avid cook but, her kitchen was filled with cooks.

From the Blog Seasoning Bottle

How to Make Puerto Rican Arroz con Gandules in a Rice Cooker (Rice with Pigeon Peas) {Recipe}.

From the Blog ModernMami

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Rice can be served in so many different ways. You can have white rice alone, white rice with a variety of beans (served on top of the rice, not on the side), and yellow rice. Yellow rice is when you really get a variety since you can mixjust about anything into yellow rice: beans, vegetables, meat, etc.

From the Blog ModernMami

My family love this calypso rice during the holiday season, but it always takes a long time , almost 45 – 60 minutes to cook, so when I’m in a rush to get dinner on the table, especially during the holiday , using the regular brown rice DO NOT cut it for me. Minute Rice is a go.

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This dish is very simple to make, and I served it up with a spiced Cajun Chicken or Stew Oxtails, will be posting the chicken recipe shortly

From The Blog Simply Caribbean

If you are looking for a much better eggnog for the season, this is .drink to knock you out our socks. A Caribbean Christmas staple.

From the Blog HomeMadeZagat12 Caribbean Christmas Recipes (11)Get The Recipe

There are some things you associate with a Trini Christmas. Pastelle, black cake, and well ponche de creme, or as we say “Punch a creme”.

From the Blog HomeMadeZagat

Christmas is not the same without sorrel, ponche o creme and black fruit cake ,well at least in my household it is .

So here is my version of a True Trini Sorrel Drink. Make it a delicious co*cktail by adding some alcohol.

From The Blog Simply Caribbean

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The sorrel flower is in full bloom at Christmas time in Trinidad and most of the Caribbean so that’s one of the reasons it’s traditionally considered a holiday drink.

From The Blog Simply Caribbean

A refreshing drink with a punch of ginger.

From the Blog HomeMadeZagat

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Ginger beer is a staple drink in Trinidad and Tobago, especially around Christmas time. It isn’t really a beer beer, but it has to be left to ferment so I suppose the process is like a beer.

From the Blog HomeMadeZagat

In many Puerto Rican households, you can always tell when the holiday season has begun because coquito begins to make an appearance. Coquito is a Puerto Rican holiday drink and just as eggnog is loved in American households during the holidays, coquito also has a special place.

From the Blog ModernMami

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Just like many foods, the coquito recipe may vary slightly depending on the individual. Some people make coquito with egg and others without, but there’s no denying the basic ingredients of coconut, milk, and rum. It makes for a deliciously rich and creamy holiday co*cktail, perfect for your holiday entertaining!

From the Blog ModernMami

Pastelles A Caribbean Christmas Tradition.

From Roger Mookings

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From Roger Mookings

Guyanese Pepperpot

If you are Guyanese, then more than likely, you will be having Pepperpot for breakfast on Christmas morning- unless of course, you’re a vegetarian.Pepperpot is a unique type ofstew that is made withcasareepand some type of red meat or pork (some people use chicken, but that seems to be the exception, not the rule here)

From The Inner Gourmet

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The stew is cooked with a handful of ingredients and tends to taste better over time. It is served alongside slices ofplait breadand is typically enjoyed during the holiday time, but is also made throughout the year.

From The Inner Gourmet

My recipe is a mix of Trini and Bajan put together, this one is without the coconut filling. Lots of grated coconut, sugar and spices for a delicious Christmas Morning Sweetbread

From The Blog Simply Caribbean

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Lemon Orange Cream Cheese Glaze

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A delicious breakfast or brunch for your holiday table. Freshly baked homemade cinnamon rolls and buns are one of my favorite things to make and eat! I used fresh strawberries and made a delicious filling for the rolls as well as some for the top along with a Lemon , Orange and Cream Cheese Glaze

From Simply Caribbean

12 Caribbean Christmas Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is a traditional Caribbean Christmas menu? ›

A Caribbean Christmas involves food - and lots of it!

Every family's Caribbean Christmas dinner menu varies, but you can expect it to include dishes like traditional Christmas turkey, honey ham, jerk pork, macaroni cheese, curry goat and Christmas rum cake (also called fruit cake or black cake).

What is a signature Christmas dish throughout the Caribbean islands? ›

Trinidad & Tobago – Christmas Rice

Although rice is a common side dish all year round, and on all islands, Trinidad has a special variation known as Christmas Rice. Other than containing spices and sweet peppers, Christmas rice gets its flavour from the added ingredient: raisins.

What is a traditional Jamaican Christmas dinner? ›

A most popular meal at this time of year is dinner, as around Christmastime this meal tends to be made in a special way. Traditional Jamaican Christmas dinner typically includes ham, oven-baked chicken, curried goat, oxtail, and fish. Based on the menu, these items would be cooked in various Jamaican styles.

What do you eat on each of the 12 days of Christmas? ›

12 Days of Christmas Recipes
  • Day 1: A Partridge in a Pear Tree. These Baked Pears are EASY and delicious with 4 simple ingredients. ...
  • Day 2: Two Turtle Doves. ...
  • Day 3: Three French Hens. ...
  • Day 4: Four Calling Birds. ...
  • Day 5: Five Golden Rings. ...
  • Day 6: Six Geese a Laying. ...
  • Day 7: Seven Swans a Swimming. ...
  • Day 8: Eight Maids a Milking.
Dec 25, 2020

What is Bahamas traditional Christmas food? ›

Idea: Traditional Bahamian Christmas Feast – black cake, ginger beer, apples, garlic pork, pepper pot, baked fresh ham topped with pineapple, brown sugar and cherries; baked macaroni and cheese; and potato salad.

What is traditional Barbados Christmas dinner? ›

Christmas ham is a staple on every Bajan's menu, along with turkey, jug-jug, rice and peas, sweet potato pie, and of course macaroni pie.

What is the number 1 food in the Caribbean? ›

1. Jerk Chicken – Jamaica. Although you can find Jerk-style cooking all over the Caribbean, it's actually native to Jamaica, where meat is dry-rubbed or wet marinated with a very hot spice mixture called Jamaican jerk spice. It's traditionally applied to pork and chicken, but any meat or fish can be used.

What is a Puerto Rican Christmas dish? ›

The holiday menu in Puerto Rico includes local favorites like pernil, arroz con gandules, pasteles, tembleque, and arroz con dulce.

What are the unique Jamaican Christmas traditions? ›

Christmas in Jamaica features Gran' Market, elaborate church services, parties with sumptuous food, community gatherings and warm interaction with friends and family.

How is Christmas celebrated in the Caribbean? ›

Jamaicans celebrate Christmas much like Americans: they go to church, exchange gifts with family and friends, then gather for a big meal. Christmas Day in Jamaica is a day of feasting on some unique delicacies you may never have heard of including oxtail, curry goat, and Gungo peas.

What is the most popular Christmas drink in Jamaica? ›

A festive drink made by steeping hibiscus flowers, sorrel is a holiday favorite throughout the Caribbean. Making this burgundy treat is a Christmas tradition in many Caribbean countries including Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, St.

What country eats a 12 course meal on Christmas? ›

The tradition is especially cultivated in modern-day Poland, where alternatively thirteen meatless dishes on Christmas Eve are sometimes served.

What is the 12 thing in the 12 days of Christmas? ›

Each day represents a new gift, starting with 'a partridge in a pear tree' and ending with 'twelve drummers drumming'.

What are 3 traditional Christmas foods? ›

Every family in every part of the world serves their own traditional Christmas foods, but in the U.S., some are enjoyed nationwide:
  • Turkey.
  • Prime Rib.
  • Baked Ham.
  • Mashed Potatoes & Gravy.
  • Stuffing.
  • Green Bean Casserole.
  • Candied Sweet Potatoes.
  • Roasted Vegetables.
Dec 21, 2023

What do caribbeans do for Christmas? ›

Jamaicans celebrate Christmas much like Americans: they go to church, exchange gifts with family and friends, then gather for a big meal. Christmas Day in Jamaica is a day of feasting on some unique delicacies you may never have heard of including oxtail, curry goat, and Gungo peas.

What is traditional Christmas food in St Lucia? ›

Traditional Christmas Foods:

Food plays a central role in St. Lucia's Christmas celebrations. Families gather to prepare and enjoy traditional dishes such as “green figs and saltfish,” which consists of green bananas and salted codfish, and “black cake,” a rum-soaked fruitcake.

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