Christmas at Martha Stewart’s table is all about classic dishes done beautifully, and that is exactly what these easy Martha Stewart Christmas recipes bring to your holiday. Her cooking is built on fresh ingredients, careful technique and recipes that have been tested until they simply work, which is precisely what a busy Christmas cook needs when the house is full and the day is long. Every recipe below comes from her kitchen, and every one of them has already earned its place on our site.
The best Christmas menus mix a show-stopping main dish with reliable sides and desserts that everyone remembers, and this list does exactly that. There is a golden roast turkey and a creamy baked risotto for the main table, a bright cranberry relish and rich scalloped potatoes for the sides, and a carrot cake, creme brulee, lemon cookies and key lime cheesecake for dessert. Pick a main, add two sides, finish with a dessert, and your holiday is done.
10 Easy Martha Stewart Christmas Recipes for a Cozy Holiday
1. Martha Stewart Roast Turkey
Martha Stewart roast turkey is the golden, juicy centerpiece that belongs at the heart of every Christmas dinner. The bird roasts until the skin is crisp and deeply golden while the meat stays tender and moist, and a simple herb butter gives it that classic holiday flavor everyone expects. It is a wonderful Christmas pick because it feeds a whole table from a single dish, it looks spectacular when it comes out of the oven, and the leftovers are just as good the next day in sandwiches and soups. It is perfect for the holiday because a roast turkey is the dish Christmas dinner is built around, and this version is reliable enough for a first-time cook and impressive enough for a seasoned one. Serve it carved at the table, with the pan juices spooned over each slice.
https://recipeswalay.com/martha-stewart-roast-turkey-recipe/
2. Martha Stewart Cranberry Relish
Martha Stewart cranberry relish is the bright, tart-sweet condiment that wakes up the whole Christmas plate. Fresh cranberries are cooked down with sugar and citrus until they turn into a glossy, jewel-red relish that cuts through rich turkey, stuffing and gravy. It is a wonderful Christmas pick because it takes only minutes to make, it can be prepared days ahead and kept in the fridge, and a small spoonful transforms every bite on the plate. It is perfect for the holiday because cranberries are the flavor of Christmas itself, and this relish brings color and freshness to a table full of warm, rich dishes. Serve it chilled in a small bowl, right next to the turkey.
https://recipeswalay.com/martha-stewart-cranberry-relish-recipe/
3. Martha Stewart Scalloped Potatoes
Martha Stewart scalloped potatoes are the creamy, golden side dish that disappears first at Christmas dinner. Thinly sliced potatoes bake slowly in a rich cream sauce until they are tender all the way through, with a golden, bubbling top that everyone wants a corner of. It is a wonderful Christmas pick because it can be assembled in the morning and baked while the turkey rests, it feeds a crowd from one dish, and it tastes just as good next to ham as it does next to turkey. It is perfect for the holiday because it is pure comfort food, the kind of side dish that makes the whole meal feel generous and complete. Serve it hot from the baking dish, with the creamy sauce spooned over each helping.
https://recipeswalay.com/martha-stewart-scalloped-potatoes-recipe/
4. Martha Stewart Carrot Cake
Martha Stewart carrot cake is the moist, warmly spiced cake that makes a wonderful Christmas dessert. Fresh carrots keep the crumb tender and sweet, cinnamon and nutmeg give it that cozy holiday warmth, and a smooth cream cheese frosting finishes it beautifully. It is a wonderful Christmas pick because it feeds a crowd from a single cake, it can be baked a day ahead and actually tastes better the next day, and it looks gorgeous on a holiday dessert table. It is perfect for the holiday because it is a classic cake with real heart behind it, the kind of dessert that gets requested again every single year. Serve it at room temperature, in generous slices, with coffee or tea.
https://recipeswalay.com/martha-stewart-carrot-cake-recipe/
5. Martha Stewart Creme Brulee
Martha Stewart creme brulee is the silky, elegant dessert that ends Christmas dinner on a truly special note. A rich vanilla custard bakes gently until it is just set, then gets a thin layer of sugar that is caramelized into a crisp, glassy top that cracks beautifully under the spoon. It is a wonderful Christmas pick because the custards can be made ahead and chilled, the sugar topping takes only a minute to finish, and each guest gets their own individual dessert. It is perfect for the holiday because it feels like a restaurant dessert without asking for any complicated technique, and the contrast of cold, creamy custard with warm, crackling caramel is unforgettable. Serve it chilled, with the caramelized top freshly torched.
https://recipeswalay.com/martha-stewart-creme-brulee-recipe/
6. Martha Stewart Chicken Pot Pie
Martha Stewart chicken pot pie is the golden, flaky comfort dish that warms up a cold Christmas evening. Tender chicken and vegetables simmer in a creamy sauce under a buttery, golden crust that shatters beautifully with every spoonful. It is a wonderful Christmas pick because it is a complete meal in one dish, it can be assembled ahead and baked when guests arrive, and it is the kind of food that makes everyone feel looked after. It is perfect for the holiday because it is the definition of cozy, a dish that turns an ordinary winter night into something worth gathering around. Serve it hot from the oven, in deep bowls, with the crust still crackling.
https://recipeswalay.com/martha-stewart-chicken-pot-pie-recipe/
7. Martha Stewart Lemon Cookies
Martha Stewart lemon cookies are the bright, buttery cookies that belong on every Christmas cookie plate. They bake up soft and tender with a fresh lemon flavor that cuts through all the rich holiday food, and a light dusting of sugar makes them look like they have been kissed by snow. They are a wonderful Christmas pick because one batch makes dozens, they travel well to cookie swaps and family gatherings, and they are simple enough to bake with kids. They are perfect for the holiday because they are exactly the kind of sweet, shareable treat Christmas is made for, and they keep beautifully in a tin for days. Serve them piled on a festive plate with hot cocoa or tea.
https://recipeswalay.com/martha-stewart-lemon-cookies-recipe/
8. Martha Stewart Key Lime Cheesecake
Martha Stewart key lime cheesecake is the cool, tangy dessert that balances a rich Christmas dinner perfectly. A smooth, creamy cheesecake filling gets its bright citrus lift from key lime, set on a buttery graham cracker crust that adds just the right crunch. It is a wonderful Christmas pick because it is made ahead and chilled overnight, it slices cleanly for a crowd, and its fresh, zesty flavor is a welcome change after a heavy holiday meal. It is perfect for the holiday because it looks beautiful on the dessert table and tastes even better, the kind of cake that has guests asking for the recipe before they finish their slice. Serve it chilled, with a dollop of whipped cream.
https://recipeswalay.com/martha-stewart-key-lime-cheesecake-recipe/
9. Martha Stewart Baked Risotto
Martha Stewart baked risotto is the creamy, hands-off main dish that makes Christmas dinner feel effortless. Arborio rice bakes slowly in the oven with broth and parmesan until it turns rich and velvety, without the constant stirring a stovetop risotto demands. It is a wonderful Christmas pick because it frees the cook from the stove while the turkey rests, it works beautifully as a vegetarian main or as a side, and it feels far fancier than the effort it takes. It is perfect for the holiday because it is warm, generous and deeply comforting, the kind of dish that keeps everyone at the table a little longer. Serve it hot, with extra parmesan and a drizzle of good olive oil.
https://recipeswalay.com/martha-stewart-baked-risotto-recipe/
10. Martha Stewart’s Scones
Martha Stewart’s scones are the tender, buttery bakes that make a Christmas morning feel special. They come out of the oven golden on the outside and soft and crumbly inside, ready for jam, clotted cream or a smear of butter while they are still warm. They are a wonderful Christmas pick because they bake in under half an hour, the dough can be made ahead and chilled, and a basket of warm scones turns an ordinary breakfast into a holiday occasion. They are perfect for the holiday because they are the kind of simple, homemade treat that fills the house with a wonderful smell and brings everyone to the kitchen. Serve them warm from the oven, with jam and cream on the side.
https://recipeswalay.com/martha-stewarts-scones-recipe/
Tips for a Cozy Martha Stewart Christmas
Plan the menu backwards from dinner time. Write down when the turkey needs to go in the oven, then fit the scalloped potatoes and baked risotto around it, since both can share the oven at a similar temperature. Make the cranberry relish and the desserts the day before, because a cold fridge full of finished dishes is the calmest way to start Christmas morning.
Use the best ingredients you can find. Martha Stewart’s recipes are simple on purpose, so the quality of the butter, the cream and the fresh herbs really shows. Buy a good turkey, fresh cranberries and real vanilla, and the recipes will reward you. Keep the flavors classic and let the dishes speak for themselves.
Make ahead wherever you can. The cranberry relish, carrot cake, creme brulee and key lime cheesecake all improve with a night in the fridge, and the scones can be shaped and chilled the night before, then baked fresh in the morning. A little planning means you spend Christmas with your family instead of in the kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make Martha Stewart’s roast turkey ahead of time?
The turkey itself is best roasted on the day, but almost everything around it can be prepared ahead. The cranberry relish, carrot cake, creme brulee and key lime cheesecake can all be made a day or two before, and the scalloped potatoes can be assembled in the morning and baked while the turkey rests.
What is the easiest Martha Stewart Christmas recipe on this list?
The cranberry relish is the quickest, taking only minutes on the stove, and the lemon cookies are the simplest bake. Both are great first choices if you are new to her recipes, and both keep well, so there is no pressure to get them perfect on the first try.
Which Martha Stewart dessert is best for a crowd?
The carrot cake feeds the most people from a single bake and actually tastes better the next day, which makes it ideal for a busy holiday week. The key lime cheesecake is the next best choice, since it slices cleanly and can be made well ahead of time.
Can I use these recipes for Christmas Eve dinner too?
Yes, the whole list works beautifully for Christmas Eve. The chicken pot pie and baked risotto are especially good for a relaxed evening meal, while the roast turkey, scalloped potatoes and desserts are perfect for the main Christmas dinner the next day.
Final Thoughts
A Martha Stewart Christmas is not about complicated cooking or a table full of fussy dishes, it is about classic recipes done well and shared with the people you love. Start with the roast turkey and cranberry relish, add the scalloped potatoes and one dessert you love, and you already have a holiday dinner worth remembering. Save this list, pick your favorites, and let these easy Martha Stewart Christmas recipes make your holiday table feel warm, generous and truly special.