Christmas Movie Foods: 19 Famous Bites From Home Alone, Elf and the Films Your Family Loves

Christmas movie foods have a funny way of sticking with us long after the credits roll. You might not remember every line of Home Alone, but you remember the mac and cheese. You might forget the plot of Elf, but never the spaghetti drowning in syrup. These little food moments are part of why we watch the same films every single December, with the same people, on the same couch. So this year, why not bring them to the table? Below you will find the most famous bites from the holiday films families love, each one told in a line or two, followed by an easy home version you can actually cook. Some are silly, some are cozy and a few are proper feast dishes. Pick one for each movie night, or line them all up for one big marathon..

Christmas movie foods for your next family movie night

Some movies you remember for the plot. Christmas movies you remember for the food: the lonely cheese pizza, the syrup soaked spaghetti, the hot chocolate on a midnight train. Food is how these films show us comfort, chaos and family, all in one bite. Before we go movie by movie, here is a simple snack tray that sets the mood for any holiday film night. Which movie does your family put on first every year..

You will need: 1 box of crackers, 8 oz cheddar cut into cubes, 1 cup red and green grapes, 1 cup pretzel twists, 1 cup mini marshmallows, 12 strawberries, 1 cup popcorn, a handful of chocolate candies

How to make it: 1. Put a big board or tray on the coffee table. 2. Add the crackers and cheese at one end. 3. Fill the middle with grapes, strawberries and pretzels. 4. Pile popcorn, marshmallows and candies at the other end. 5. Dim the lights, press play and let everyone graze.

Home Alone: Kevin’s mac and cheese, the first of our Christmas movie foods

In Home Alone (1990), Kevin McCallister shops for his own groceries, then sits down to a microwaved mac and cheese dinner all by himself. It is one of the sweetest scenes in the film, because it shows a little boy trying hard to be a grown up. Our version is made on the stove in 15 minutes and is far creamier than anything from a box. Would you rather eat it on a TV tray or at the big table?

You will need: 8 oz elbow macaroni, 2 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp flour, 1 1/2 cups whole milk, 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp mustard powder, pepper

How to make it: 1. Boil the macaroni in salted water until tender, then drain. 2. Melt butter in the same pot and stir in the flour for 1 minute. 3. Whisk in the milk and simmer until thick. 4. Turn off the heat and stir in the cheese, salt and mustard powder. 5. Fold in the pasta, add pepper and serve hot.

Home Alone: the plain cheese pizza everyone fights over

The trouble in Home Alone starts at a pizza dinner, when Kevin finds out his brother Buzz has eaten all the plain cheese pizza. Later, home alone, Kevin finally gets a whole cheese pizza delivered just for himself, and his face says it all. Of all the Christmas movie foods, this is the easiest win. A simple homemade cheese pizza is cheap, fun to make with kids and perfect for a December movie night. Be honest: are you a plain cheese person, or does pizza need toppings?

You will need: 1 lb pizza dough, 3/4 cup pizza sauce, 2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tbsp olive oil, cornmeal for the pan

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 475 F with a sheet pan inside. 2. Stretch the dough into a 12 inch round on a cornmeal dusted board. 3. Spread the sauce, leaving a small border. 4. Top with mozzarella, Parmesan and oregano, then brush the edge with oil. 5. Slide onto the hot pan and bake 12 to 14 minutes until bubbly and golden.

Christmas movie foods from Home Alone 2: the giant room service sundae

In Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), Kevin checks into a fancy New York hotel and orders a huge ice cream sundae from room service, then eats it while watching a movie in bed. Every kid who saw it wanted that night. You can make a just as tall sundae at home in five minutes. Quick poll: A) hot fudge, B) caramel, C) strawberry or D) all three at once?

You will need: 3 scoops vanilla ice cream, 1 scoop chocolate ice cream, 1/4 cup hot fudge sauce, 2 tbsp caramel sauce, whipped cream, 2 tbsp chopped peanuts, sprinkles, 1 maraschino cherry

How to make it: 1. Chill a tall glass in the freezer for 10 minutes. 2. Drizzle a spoon of fudge into the bottom. 3. Layer the scoops with more fudge and caramel between them. 4. Top with a big swirl of whipped cream. 5. Finish with peanuts, sprinkles and the cherry, then grab a long spoon.

Elf: Buddy’s breakfast spaghetti with syrup and candy

In Elf (2003), Buddy makes breakfast spaghetti for his new family, covering the noodles in maple syrup, chocolate syrup, marshmallows and candy. It looks wild, but it is really just a dessert pasta, and food YouTuber Binging with Babish even recreated it in a video that passed 3.6 million views. Here is a sweet version kids love for a once a year treat. Watch the Elf pasta recreation here. Would you dare try it?

You will need: 8 oz spaghetti, 2 tbsp butter, 3 tbsp maple syrup, 2 tbsp chocolate syrup, 1/2 cup mini marshmallows, 1/4 cup candy coated chocolates, 2 tbsp sprinkles, 1 crumbled frosted toaster pastry

How to make it: 1. Cook the spaghetti, drain and toss with butter. 2. Pile it onto plates while warm. 3. Drizzle with maple syrup and chocolate syrup. 4. Scatter marshmallows, candies, sprinkles and the crumbled pastry on top. 5. Serve right away with a big glass of milk.

Elf: the four main food groups snack board

Buddy famously explains that elves stick to four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup. It is one of the most quoted lines from Elf, and it makes a brilliant snack board for a family viewing of the film. It might be the silliest of all Christmas movie foods. Lay it out before the movie and watch the kids light up. Which of the four food groups would you grab first? Tell us in the comments.

You will need: 1 cup candy corn, 12 mini candy canes, 1 cup mixed hard candies, 1 cup chocolate candies, 1 cup gumdrops, 1/2 cup maple syrup for dipping, 1 cup pretzel rods, 1 cup apple slices

How to make it: 1. Put the maple syrup in a small bowl in the center of a large board. 2. Arrange the candy canes in a fan on one side. 3. Fill the gaps with candy corn, gumdrops and chocolates in little piles. 4. Add pretzel rods and apple slices for dipping in the syrup. 5. Serve with napkins, lots of napkins.

The Polar Express: thick hot chocolate, one of the coziest Christmas movie foods

In The Polar Express (2004), dancing waiters serve steaming cups of hot chocolate to the children on the train to the North Pole. It is pure holiday magic, and it is the drink most families pour on movie night. This version is thick, rich and made from real chocolate, not a packet. Do you like your cocoa topped with whipped cream or marshmallows?

You will need: 2 cups whole milk, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 4 oz semisweet chocolate chopped, 2 tbsp cocoa powder, 2 tbsp sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla, pinch of salt, whipped cream or marshmallows

How to make it: 1. Warm the milk and cream in a saucepan until steaming, not boiling. 2. Whisk in the cocoa powder, sugar and salt. 3. Add the chopped chocolate and whisk until smooth and glossy. 4. Stir in the vanilla. 5. Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows.

Christmas movie foods from A Christmas Story: Randy’s meatloaf and mashed potatoes

In A Christmas Story (1983), little brother Randy will not eat his dinner of meatloaf, mashed potatoes and red cabbage, until his mother gets him to eat like a little piggy. It is a scene every parent of a picky eater knows well. A good glazed meatloaf is still one of the best cheap family dinners in December. Does your family eat meatloaf with ketchup glaze or brown gravy?

You will need: 2 lb ground beef, 1 cup breadcrumbs, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, 1 small onion grated, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp vinegar

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F. 2. Mix the beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, milk, onion, salt and garlic powder gently with your hands. 3. Shape into a loaf on a lined pan. 4. Stir the ketchup, brown sugar and vinegar and spread half on top. 5. Bake 55 minutes, add the rest of the glaze and bake 10 minutes more.

A Christmas Story: the Chinese restaurant Christmas duck

When the neighbor’s dogs run off with the family turkey in A Christmas Story, the Parkers end up having Christmas dinner at a Chinese restaurant, where a whole roast duck arrives at the table. It became one of the most loved endings of any holiday film. Of all the Christmas movie foods on this list, this one feels the most grown up. A glazed duck at home is easier than it looks and feels very special. Would your family ever swap the turkey for duck?

You will need: 1 whole duck (5 lb), 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp five spice powder, 3 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 2 green onions, 1 inch ginger sliced

How to make it: 1. Pat the duck very dry and prick the skin all over. 2. Rub with salt and five spice, then stuff with green onions and ginger. 3. Roast on a rack at 325 F for 2 1/2 hours, draining the fat now and then. 4. Mix honey, soy sauce and vinegar and brush over the skin. 5. Roast at 425 F for 10 more minutes until shiny and crisp.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Who roast beast for a crowd

In the Dr. Seuss story, the Grinch steals everything from Whoville, right down to the Who pudding and the roast beast. Nobody knows exactly what a roast beast is, so most families make a big slow roasted beef. It is one of the heartiest Christmas movie foods you can serve. Bring it out on Grinch night and call it by its proper name. Who in your house plays the Grinch every December?

You will need: 4 lb beef top round or sirloin roast, 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 4 garlic cloves minced, 1 tbsp chopped rosemary, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 cup beef broth

How to make it: 1. Let the roast sit out 1 hour, then heat the oven to 450 F. 2. Rub with oil, salt, pepper, garlic, rosemary and mustard. 3. Roast 15 minutes, then lower to 275 F. 4. Cook until the center reads 130 F, about 1 1/2 hours. 5. Rest 20 minutes, slice thin and serve with pan juices.

Grinch inspired green sugar cookies, Christmas movie foods for kids

No Grinch movie night is complete without something green. These soft sugar cookies, frosted in Grinch green with a little red heart, are a fun way to talk about the ending of the story, when his small heart grows three sizes. Kids can do all the decorating. Quick poll: A) cut out trees, B) round cookies with a heart, C) candy canes or D) gingerbread men?

You will need: 2 3/4 cups flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup butter softened, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 cups powdered sugar, 3 tbsp milk, green and red food coloring

How to make it: 1. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy, then add the egg and vanilla. 2. Mix in the flour, baking powder and salt, and chill the dough 30 minutes. 3. Roll out, cut shapes and bake at 350 F for 9 minutes. 4. Stir the powdered sugar and milk into an icing and tint most of it green. 5. Frost the cooled cookies and add a tiny red heart.

Christmas Vacation: the turkey done right

In National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989), Clark proudly carves the family turkey, and it collapses into a dry, empty shell. It is one of the funniest dinner scenes ever filmed and a warning for every holiday cook. Of all the Christmas movie foods, this is the one you want to get right. The secret to avoiding it is a quick dry brine and a thermometer. Has a holiday turkey ever gone wrong in your kitchen?

You will need: 1 whole turkey (12 to 14 lb), 3 tbsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp pepper, 1/2 cup butter softened, 1 onion, 1 lemon, a few sprigs thyme and sage

How to make it: 1. A day before, rub the turkey all over with salt, sugar and pepper and chill it uncovered. 2. Heat the oven to 350 F and rub the skin with butter. 3. Stuff the cavity with onion, lemon and herbs. 4. Roast about 13 minutes per pound until the thigh reads 165 F. 5. Rest 30 minutes before carving, so it stays juicy.

Christmas Vacation: Aunt Bethany’s retro gelatin mold

In Christmas Vacation, sweet Aunt Bethany arrives with a gelatin mold she wrapped as a gift, and it turns out to have a very strange surprise inside. Our version has no surprises at all, just bright, wobbly layers like the ones on every 1960s holiday table. It is a fun nostalgic dessert that kids find hilarious. Did your grandma have a gelatin mold she made every Christmas?

You will need: 4 small boxes gelatin in red, orange, yellow and green, 4 cups boiling water, 2 cups cold water, 1 cup sour cream, cooking spray

How to make it: 1. Spray a loaf pan or mold lightly. 2. Dissolve the red gelatin in 1 cup boiling water, stir in 1/2 cup cold water and 1/4 cup sour cream for a creamy layer, or leave it clear. 3. Pour in and chill until just set, about 40 minutes. 4. Repeat with each color, letting every layer set before adding the next. 5. Chill 4 hours, dip the mold in warm water and turn it out.

Christmas Vacation: eggnog in the famous moose mugs

One of the most copied bits of Christmas Vacation is Clark and cousin Eddie sipping eggnog from goofy moose head mugs. Those mugs are now sold everywhere each winter. Homemade eggnog is creamy, cooked for safety and completely family friendly with no alcohol at all. Do you love eggnog, or is it the one holiday drink you skip?

You will need: 4 egg yolks, 1/3 cup sugar, 2 cups whole milk, 1 cup heavy cream, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg, pinch of cinnamon, cinnamon sticks to serve

How to make it: 1. Whisk the yolks and sugar until pale. 2. Heat the milk and nutmeg until steaming. 3. Slowly whisk the hot milk into the yolks, then return to the pan. 4. Stir over low heat until it reaches 160 F and coats a spoon. 5. Stir in the cream and vanilla, chill well and serve with a cinnamon stick.

A Christmas Carol: the Cratchit family’s Christmas goose

In every version of A Christmas Carol, the poor Cratchit family gathers around a small Christmas goose, and they could not be happier with it. By the end, a changed Scrooge sends them the biggest turkey in the shop. It is one of the oldest Christmas movie foods of all. A roast goose is rich, golden and a true old fashioned feast. Have you ever tasted goose, or is this one on your bucket list?

You will need: 1 goose (10 lb), 1 tbsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, 1 apple quartered, 1 onion quartered, 3 sprigs sage, 1 orange halved, 2 tbsp honey

How to make it: 1. Prick the goose skin all over without piercing the meat. 2. Season inside and out, and fill the cavity with apple, onion, orange and sage. 3. Roast on a rack at 350 F for about 2 1/2 hours, spooning off the fat every 40 minutes. 4. Brush with honey for the last 15 minutes. 5. Rest 20 minutes, then carve.

A Christmas Carol: Mrs. Cratchit’s Christmas pudding

The other star of the Cratchit dinner is the Christmas pudding, a round, dark fruit pudding that Mrs. Cratchit carries in with pride while the whole family holds its breath. This easier steamed version takes an afternoon, not weeks, and tastes like a warm spiced fruitcake. Serve it with custard or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Would you try a real English Christmas pudding?

You will need: 1 cup raisins, 1 cup chopped dried figs, 1/2 cup currants, 1/2 cup orange juice, 1 cup flour, 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup butter melted, 2 eggs, 1 tsp mixed spice, 1 tsp baking soda

How to make it: 1. Soak the dried fruit in orange juice for 1 hour. 2. Mix in the flour, breadcrumbs, sugar, butter, eggs, spice and baking soda. 3. Spoon into a greased 6 cup bowl, cover tightly with foil and tie with string. 4. Set on a trivet in a big pot with water halfway up and steam 3 hours, topping up the water. 5. Turn out onto a plate and serve warm.

The Family Stone: the Christmas morning breakfast strata

In The Family Stone (2005), nervous guest Meredith makes a breakfast strata to win over her boyfriend’s family, and on Christmas morning the whole dish ends up on the kitchen floor. It is the most practical of all the Christmas movie foods here. Make yours the night before, keep it safely in the middle of the table, and you will have a stress free holiday breakfast. Do you make a special breakfast on Christmas morning?

You will need: 8 cups cubed day old bread, 8 oz breakfast sausage cooked, 2 cups shredded cheddar, 8 eggs, 2 1/2 cups milk, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 2 green onions sliced

How to make it: 1. Grease a 9 by 13 inch dish and spread half the bread inside. 2. Add the sausage and half the cheese, then the rest of the bread and cheese. 3. Whisk the eggs, milk, mustard, salt and pepper and pour over. 4. Cover and chill overnight. 5. Bake at 350 F for 50 minutes until puffed and golden, then add green onions.

Harry Potter: treacle tart from the Hogwarts Christmas feast

In the Harry Potter books, treacle tart is Harry’s favorite dessert, and the Hogwarts Christmas feasts in the films are some of the most magical food scenes ever put on screen. This sticky, lemony British tart is simple to make with golden syrup and breadcrumbs. It is a lovely way to end a wizard movie marathon. Which Harry Potter film does your family watch at Christmas?

You will need: 1 refrigerated pie crust, 1 1/4 cups golden syrup, 1 1/2 cups fresh white breadcrumbs, 1 lemon zested and juiced, 1 egg, 2 tbsp heavy cream, pinch of salt

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 375 F and press the crust into a 9 inch tart pan. 2. Warm the golden syrup until runny. 3. Stir in the breadcrumbs, lemon zest and juice, egg, cream and salt. 4. Pour into the crust and add a few strips of pastry on top if you like. 5. Bake 30 to 35 minutes until set and golden, then cool before slicing.

Build your own Christmas movie foods night with holiday popcorn

Now you have a dish for every film, so plan a week of Christmas movie foods: mac and cheese for Home Alone, spaghetti for Elf, cocoa for The Polar Express and roast beast for the Grinch. Every movie night still needs popcorn, and this sweet and salty holiday mix is the easiest treat on the list. For more ideas, try these popcorn recipes that make movie night feel brand new. Which movie are you watching first this year?

You will need: 10 cups popped popcorn, 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 2 tbsp corn syrup, 1/4 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup mini pretzels, 1/2 cup red and green candy coated chocolates, 3 oz white chocolate melted

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 250 F and spread the popcorn and pretzels on a lined pan. 2. Boil the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and salt for 3 minutes. 3. Stir in the baking soda and pour over the popcorn, tossing to coat. 4. Bake 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. 5. Cool, drizzle with white chocolate and scatter the candies on top.