EspañolMore than 50 Mexican Christmas recipes to try for Las Posadas, Nochebuena, Christmas, New Year’s, Día de Reyes and Día de la Candelaria. Enjoy!
I thought it might be helpful to bring together links to many of my Mexican Christmas recipes.
The season includes celebrations like Las Posadas, Christmas Day, Three Kings Day, and Candlemas. The Mexican Christmas season lasts a little over two months, and there’s a lot to cover so let’s get to it.
Scroll to the bottom to see delicious desserts and beverages for the season.
The Inns (Las Posadas)
For the nine days before Christmas, we commemorate the Holy Family’s journey as they looked for a place to stay.
The piñata traces its origins to this celebration and food plays a central role. Visit this link to see my detailed description of our family’s tradition for how to celebrate Las Posadas, including song lyrics and a video.
Immediately below are links to recipes we often prepare for Las Posadas. Read on for more recipe suggestions for Christmas, Three Kings Day and Candlemas. Enjoy!
Foods for Las Posadas are usually both easy to make and easy to eat. Classic Mexican antojitos, like tacos, tostadas, and tamales work great. And Mexican Christmas Ponche is the beverage of choice.
Antojitos Mexicanos (Mexican Street Food)
Click on the name to see the recipe.
- Poblano Chile and Onion Tostadas (See how to peel poblano chiles here)
- Potato Flautas
- Tacos Dorados
- Turkey Mushroom Tostadas
Salsas
- Avocado Salsa (Salsa de Aguacate)
- Chunky Red Salsa (Salsa Roja)
- Green Salsa (Salsa Verde)
- Guacamole
- Pico de Gallo
Mexican Christmas Foods
A list with dish ideas for la Nochebuena, Christmas Day and New Year’s celebration. Click on the name to see the recipe.
Appetizers
- Broccoli, Cream Cheese and Jalapeño Pinwheels
- Poblano Peppers with Soy Sauce Pastry Braid
- Spicy Pinwheels with Cheese and Chorizo
- Chorizo Potato Bites with Salsa Verde
- Cheese Stuffed Jalapeño Peppers
- Chorizo Cheese Braid
- Chicken Enchilada Pinwheels
Dishes
- Spaghetti with Ham and Cream
- Chile Verde Tamales
- Green Tamales with Chicken
- Chicken Tamales
- Roasted Turkey with White Wine and Citrus Brine
- Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Jerez Cranberry-Chipotle Sauce
- Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Apricot-Habanero Sauce
- Tomatillo-Chipotle Pork Chops
- Pork Shoulder in Tamarind Sauce
Desserts
- Santa Claus Conchas
- Blueberry Lemon Flan
- Christmas Eve Salad
- Marbled Tres Leches Cake
- Mexican Cheesecake
- Peach and Milk Gelatin
- Milk Gelatin
- Strawberry Flan
- Three Milk Cake (Tres Leches)
- Whipping Cream
- Mexican Chocolate Pie with Cinnamon Drizzle
Mexican Christmas Beverages
- Christmas Punch
- Christmas Punch 2 (Variation of the above with substitutions for hard to find ingredients)
- Hot Chocolate
- Jamaica (Hibiscus Flower)
Three Kings Day
Three Kings Day is the day many families in Mexico open presents and eat their King’s Wreath Bread or Rosca de Reyes. You can read more about the symbolism of the bread here. Below are a few recipes to celebrate the day.
Antojitos
- Green Pozole with Chicken
- Nacho Quesadillas
- Potato Flautas
- Quesadilla Bar
- Tacos al Pastor
- Three Kings Cupcakes with Candied Fruit
Candlemas (Dia de Candelaria)
In our family, the person who finds the Baby Jesus in the King’s Wreath is responsible for a party on Candlemas, Feb 2nd. The traditional foods for Candlemas are tamales and atole or hot chocolate.
- Chile Verde Tamales with Pork
- Green Tamales with Chicken
- Tamales Oaxaqueños (Oaxacan Style Tamales)
- Sweet Pineapple Guava Tamales
- Apple-Cinnamon Tamales
¡Feliz Navidad!
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