6 Holiday Recipes to Make in Advance

This year, say “yes” to a stress-free holiday feast by avoiding making everything at the last minute. Get a head start by cooking recipes or certain parts of dishes that can freeze well, as well as stocking the freezer with a few ready-to-eat appetizers from the grocery store. Here are a few suggestions for what to keep in the freezer until the holidays begin.

1. Panache Appetizers

As you get ready for the holidays, avoid excess work by stocking up on tasty bites you can keep in the freezer and simply cook on Christmas Day. Before serving your appetizers, place them on large serving dishes. Bacon-wrapped wild scallops, tempura shrimp and crispy wontons stuffed with crab and cream cheese are all perfect for starting the festivities off right. Just a quick bake in the oven and your guests will truly be impressed.

 2. Jerusalem Artichoke Soup with Toasted Hazelnuts

Soup is one of the many parts of a holiday feast that can be made ahead of time and freezes well. Try a more refined soup, like this version with Jerusalem artichokes and leeks, that will take some extra time to prepare but will make a lasting impression on your guests. Freeze it in plastic freezer bags and on Christmas Day, add cream and gently reheat it. Garnish with toasted hazelnuts and some chervil, and then serve.

3. Traditional Tourtières

There’s always room for the inimitable tourtière during the holidays. With a combination of ground pork and veal as well as spices and cubed potatoes, it’s always a welcome sight at the Christmas Eve table. Given that it takes many hours to make, prepare it in advance and freeze it raw, wrapped tightly with wax paper and covered with plastic film. All that’s left is to bake it for about 40 minutes before serving.

4. Delicious Meatball Stew

Tender ground pork meatballs with cranberries, lardons, pork shanks and shoulder slowly simmering in a savoury brown sauce make for an exceptional holiday meal. And by preparing this dish ahead of time, the flavours will have even more time to develop. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator, reheat and serve.

5. Pecan Pie

Pecan pie always shines bright on the holiday dessert table. Its caramel taste and crunchy, nutty texture go well with the sweet filling made with eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar and butter. Make it in advance and freeze it without baking. To thaw, just put it directly in the oven and follow the recipe’s baking instructions. You may need to add about five minutes to the bake time.

6. Chocolate Yule Log

 Have a wonderful Christmas with your guests, knowing that the king of desserts had already been made weeks ago. This yule log cake is easy to make and it can also be frozen, allowing you to make it in advance and then easily thaw it on D-Day. Freeze it well by wrapping it in plastic film. You can even freeze the cake without its decorations, and then simply garnish it with the chocolate syrup, Alunga whipped cream and dark chocolate flakes.