The 12 Bakes of Christmas: Top 12 Christmas Recipes

Did you know that 184 birds are gifted throughout the 12 Days of Christmas? It’s a kind gesture but…what do you do with all those birds?! We will spare you from an excess of feathered friends (and our attempt at singing the carol); instead, we’re simply gifting you 12 of our favorite festive Christmas baking recipes that are sure to bring holiday cheer. From traditional bakes like Julekage and Italian Christmas Doughnuts to eggnog-infused cinnamon rolls and a gingerbread spiced loaf, any of these bakes will guarantee friends and family will come home for the holidays.

On the first day of Christmas, Red Star gave to me: Herbed Fontina Rolls in the Shape of a Christmas Tree 🎵

A tree that won’t leave needles all over your living room. (Crumbs, perhaps!) Make your ingredients list and check it twice, we’re baking Fontina rolls to delight! A quartet of aromatic herbs met with melty fontina cheese inside fluffy yeasted potato rolls.  Buttery, savory, and slightly sweet for a wonderful holiday treat.

Get the recipe for herbed fontina rolls with marinara sauce.

On the second day of Christmas, Red Star gave to me: Chocolate Chestnut Bread 🎵

After those chestnuts have roasted on an open fire, chop them up for these gorgeous bundled up brioche breads! Using a tall panettone mold kicks the holiday festivities up a notch. Studded with chopped chocolate and roasted chestnuts, they make for a delicious snack and a great gift.

View the recipe blog for chocolate chestnut bread.

On the third day of Christmas, Red Star gave to me: Cranberry Danish 🎵

Cranberries rise in popularity around the holidays, and for good reason! This buttery pastry is layered with rich cream cheese spread, a slightly tart cranberry compote, and drizzled with a sweet orange glaze for a true wintery delight.

Get the recipe for cranberry Danish.

On the fourth day of Christmas, Red Star gave to me: Cranberry-Sage Fantails 🎵

Elegant flowers in the heart of winter? The shape of these fantails resembles that of a flower in bloom. Tender, golden-brown dinner rolls full of dried cranberries, fresh sage, and holiday cheer.

Get the recipe for cranberry-sage fantails.

On the fifth day of Christmas, Red Star gave to me: Sweet Potato Dinner Rolls🎵

A cold winter night is no match for these fluffy, radiantly orange dinner rolls aside a warm comfort meal. Adding mashed sweet potato to your dough adds a note of sweetness while providing extra starch to create the perfectly moist texture.

View the recipe blog for sweet potato dinner rolls.

On the sixth day of Christmas, Red Star gave to me: Gingerbread Spice Loaf 🎵

A holiday loaf rich with wintery seasonal spices of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, brown sugar, and covered in a rich molasses glaze. A bake that will warm your soul and quickly become a new holiday favorite.

Get the recipe for gingerbread spice loaf.

On the seventh day of Christmas, Red Star gave to me: Kringle 🎵

This iconic Danish pastry has a wonderful buttery, flaky crust full of a sweet filling of your choosing – apple currant, apple pecan, date pecan, orange marmalade, or classic pecan. It’s shaped in a ring and finished with a drizzle of vanilla glaze.

Get the recipe for kringle.

On the eighth day of Christmas, Red Star gave to me: Yeasted Bavarian Plum Cake 🎵

Those visions of sugar-plums dancing will come to fruition! As you wait for St. Nick, bake up this coffee cake-meets-flatbread with sliced almonds and fresh plums and a cinnamon-sugar topping.

Get the recipe for yeasted Bavarian plum cake.

On the ninth day of Christmas, Red Star gave to me: Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls 🎵

As fluffy as a fresh blanket of snow, these cinnamon rolls are infused with the creamy, spiced flavors of eggnog. Topped off with a dollop of bourbon-spiked cream cheese frosting, cementing this recipe as a true holiday favorite.

Get the recipe for eggnog cinnamon rolls.

On the tenth day of Christmas, Red Star gave to me: Julekage 🎵

A traditional Norwegian Christmas bread filled with candied fruit, golden raisins, and cardamom. Glistening sugar and snow-white icing top this special holiday bread.

Get the recipe for julekage.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, Red Star gave to me: Zeppole (Italian Christmas Doughnuts) 🎵

Traditional Italian doughnuts typically served around Christmas time. A no-knead dough with notes of citrus from orange and lemon gets fried to a golden, crispy perfection and dusted with a snowfall of confectioners’ sugar.

View the recipe blog for zeppole.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, Red Star gave to me: Cranberry Raspberry Star Bread 🎵

  It’s only fitting that we cap off our recipe caroling with this show-stopping star! This gorgeous star bread begins with a simple no-knead enriched dough that gets layered with a sweet almond and cranberry-raspberry filling. This bake is truly a spectacle for any holiday table and a delicious treat.

View the recipe blog for cranberry raspberry star bread.

We hope you’ve found some delicious holiday recipe inspiration for all your holiday gatherings and feasts. If you’re still in search of more holiday cheer, head on over to our Christmas Breakfast and Brunch Recipe Ideas blog.