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Party guide

A Classic Christmas Open House

Drop in anytime between 2 and 6, stay as long as you like. A glazed ham, a pan of cheesy potatoes, cookies on every surface and Christmas music on all afternoon. This is the easiest way to see everyone in December without planning a seated dinner.

Host tip: Put the start and end times on the invite and set the food out buffet-style, so people can come and go without you serving a dinner on repeat.

Shop the look on Amazon ↗

The menu

Starter
Baked brie with cranberries and pecansRecipe from Spend With Pennies ↗
Main
Honey-glazed spiral ham, served with rolls for little sandwichesRecipe from Spend With Pennies ↗
Side
Cheesy potato casseroleRecipe from Spend With Pennies ↗
Roasted Brussels sprouts with baconRecipe from Cafe Delites ↗
Dessert
Cut-out sugar cookiesRecipe from Sally's Baking Addiction ↗
Peppermint barkRecipe from Sally's Baking Addiction ↗

Drinks and ice

  • Christmas punch, with a non-alcoholic version: recipe
  • Homemade eggnog, rum on the side: recipe

Cranberry and rosemary ice ring

Fill a bundt pan with cranberries, rosemary sprigs and orange slices, add water (or some of the punch itself) and freeze overnight. It floats in the punch bowl, keeps it cold for hours and looks like a wreath.

Make ahead

  1. 1 week before: Bake the sugar cookies and freeze them undecorated. Make the peppermint bark.
  2. 2 days before: Make the eggnog (it gets better as it sits). Freeze the ice ring.
  3. 1 day before: Assemble the potato casserole. Ice the cookies. Set up the buffet and the punch bowl.
  4. Morning of: Ham in the oven. Trim the Brussels sprouts.
  5. 30 minutes before: Potatoes and sprouts in, brie in last. Punch in the bowl with the ice ring.

The music

The 25 songs
  1. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Andy Williams
  2. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Judy Garland
  3. The Christmas Song, Nat King Cole
  4. White Christmas, Bing Crosby
  5. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, Dean Martin
  6. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Brenda Lee
  7. A Holly Jolly Christmas, Burl Ives
  8. Jingle Bell Rock, Bobby Helms
  9. It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, Michael Bublé
  10. Sleigh Ride, The Ronettes
  11. Feliz Navidad, José Feliciano
  12. Blue Christmas, Elvis Presley
  13. Run Rudolph Run, Chuck Berry
  14. Here Comes Santa Claus, Gene Autry
  15. Silver Bells, Bing Crosby & Carol Richards
  16. I'll Be Home for Christmas, Bing Crosby
  17. Winter Wonderland, Tony Bennett
  18. Baby, It's Cold Outside, Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan
  19. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), Darlene Love
  20. Wonderful Christmastime, Paul McCartney
  21. Last Christmas, Wham!
  22. All I Want for Christmas Is You, Mariah Carey
  23. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, The Jackson 5
  24. Happy Holiday / The Holiday Season, Andy Williams
  25. O Holy Night, Nat King Cole

Little touches

  • A gift for the host

    What guests can bring.

    A tin of cookies, an ornament, or a bottle of something festive

  • To take home

    A little something at the door.

    A cellophane bag of cookies tied with ribbon

  • Something to do

    An ornament swap: everyone brings one wrapped ornament and goes home with a different one

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