The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes the joy of gathering with loved ones, gifts, and enjoying the festive decorations. But let’s face it—preparing for Christmas can sometimes feel overwhelming. From planning the perfect holiday menu, and getting all the traditional foods on the table, there’s a lot to juggle. My Caribbean Christmas Prep Guide is a step by step guide on how to get it all done.

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What you will find in this Christmas guide

This Caribbean Christmas Prep Guide is here to take the stress out of the season so you can focus on what matters most: creating magical memories. This guide will help you to prep ahead so that Christmas day is seamless. It provides time management by giving a week by week, day by day countdown along with recipe ideas and new recipes for the upcoming holiday. I’ve added lists of kitchen essentials to get it on done on my Amazon storefront.

2 Weeks Before Christmas

If you didn’t set fruits for your black cake already, this is the time to do so using the steep method. It is traditional in most Caribbean households to soak dried fruits in alcohol in preparation for black cake and fruit cake which is typically made for the holidays. Be sure to check my post on how to soak fruits!

  • Plan the Menu: Decide on which dishes you plan on serving. Be sure to include appetizers to keep guests satisfied as they wait for the main course. Select your main course, sides, and desserts – be sure to include crowd favorites and any family traditional recipes as these are the dishes most people look forward to.
  • Create a Shopping List: Take stock of what you already have and what will be needed. That means doing an inventory of your pantry, fridge and freezer. Don’t forget essentials like spices, aluminum foil, to go containers and parchment paper.

1 Week Before Christmas

  • Purchase Meats and Specialty Items: If you’re serving items like ham, specialty cuts of meat from the butcher, or seafood, order now to ensure availability. Check with your grocer ahead to time to see how soon an order can be placed.
  • Make Black Cake: Black cake tastes best when made ahead of time.  Prepare cakes and feed with rum or brandy daily for the best flavor.

3 Days Before Christmas

  • Shop for Groceries: Get everything fresh and shelf-stable. It is best to get vegetables, fruits and herbs as close as possible to Christmas day to ensure freshness however it is not necessary to wait until the day before. Check off your list to avoid last-minute dashes.
  • Prepare Make-Ahead Dishes:
    • Set garlic pork.  If you prefer a stronger flavor then set it one week ahead.
    • Brew ginger beer and mauby and let sit in a cool place.
    • Defrost meats for pepperpot.

2 Days Before Christmas

  • Start Pepperpot: Pepperpot tastes best if made a day or two ahead of time.  Cook slowly so that the meats tenderize and become infused with the flavors of the dish.
  • Make Sorrel: Brew sorrel and mauby ahead of time. Place in fridge to chill until Christmas day.
  • Make Eggnog and Coquito: Make eggnog and coquito. Add alcohol if using any and place in bottles for serving. Place in the fridge to chill.

Christmas Eve

  • Prep Ingredients: Chop vegetables, marinate meats, and set aside spices. Store ingredients for each dish in containers or ziplock bags for easy access.
  • Set the Table: Lay out tableware, centerpieces, and napkins. Add festive touches like candles or place cards.
  • Bake Ahead: This would be the time to get all of your baking done. Prepare sponge cake, plait bread, fruit cake or any cake or dessert that you plan to serve.
  • Final Touches: Skim excess fat off the Pepperpot. Finish cooking Pepperpot by making sure the meat is tender so that you will simply reheat the next day.
  • Chill beverages: Strain ginger beer and mauby and place in fridge to chill.

Christmas Morning

  • Prepare Breakfast: Heat Pepperpot, fry garlic pork and make cocoa tea.
  • Cook the Main Dish: Get your ham, or roast in the oven early if it’s the star of the meal.

Christmas Afternoon

  • Finish Sides: Prepare sides such as macaroni pie, rice and cheese loaf or mashed potatoes.
  • Gravy & Sauces: Make gravies and sauces just before serving to ensure they’re hot and fresh.

Christmas Evening

  • Dinner time: It’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Serve dinner. If serving a large group, display the dishes on the dining room buffet, kitchen island and countertops and have everyone serve themselves. If its a small gathering, set some of the dishes on the table and on the dining room buffet for a more intimate setting.
  • Dessert and Drinks: Bring out sponge cake, black cake, fruit cake and butter cookies. Pair with coquito, ginger beer and sorrel.

Step by Step Christmas Video Playlist

Christmas Recipes Ideas

Here’s a master list of recipes for Christmas. It includes breakfast, appetizers, mains, sides and appetizers. New recipes will be added soon so be sure to check or sign up for my newsletter to have it sent to your inbox!

Christmas Breakfast Menu

  1. Aniseed Bread
  2. Plait Bread
  3. Garlic Pork
  4. Pepperpot
  5. Whole Wheat Bread

Finger Foods

  1. Cheese Straw
  2. Chicken Puffs
  3. Southern Style Deviled Eggs
  4. Cheese Stars

Christmas Dinner Menu

  1. Roast Leg of Lamb
  2. Orange Brown Sugar Glazed Ham
  3. Ginger Glazed Ham
  4. Roast Pork Shoulder
  5. Roast Duck with Cranberry Pepper Jelly
  6. Macaroni Pie
  7. Braised Short Ribs
  8. Maple Roasted Vegetables
  9. Rice and Cheese Loaf
  10. Trini Corn Pie
  11. Garlic Mashed Potatoes
  12. Scalloped Potatoes
Slice of black cake

Desserts

  1. Black Cake
  2. Alcohol Free Black Cake
  3. Sponge Cake
  4. Caribbean Rum Cake
  5. Fruit Cake
  6. Danish Butter Cookies
  7. Eggnog Cheesecake
  8. Coconut Sweet Bread
Festive eggnog with Bailey’s, topped with nutmeg in a holiday setting

Beverages

  1. Coquito
  2. Baileys Eggnog
  3. Mauby
  4. Sorrel
  5. Ginger Beer
  6. Sorrel Sangria Punch