Food Holidays & Occasions Christmas 10 Recipes for a Traditional Goose Dinner Try these Food & Wine recipes to replicate the holiday meal that famed chef Jacques Pépin grew up with. By Food & Wine Editors Food & Wine Editors This is collaborative content from Food & Wine's team of experts, including staff, recipe developers, chefs, and contributors. Many of our galleries curate recipes or guides from a variety of sources which we credit throughout the content and at each link. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on December 1, 2024 Close Photo: Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle When legendary chef Jacques Pépin was growing up in France, his family always served goose on Christmas Eve. The French holiday centerpiece is a tradition in Britain, Denmark, and Germany as well. Here are recipes for roast goose, plus side dishes and desserts, that are typical of holiday meals in Europe. 01 of 10 Roasted Goose Legs with Sour Cherry Glaze and Gravy Photo by Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee In Bavaria, it's not Christmas without roast goose. Food & Wine editor Melanie Hansche reimagines the traditional German dish in her recipe for sour cherry–glazed roasted goose legs, an easier endeavor than roasting the whole bird. Get the Recipe 02 of 10 Braised Red Cabbage with Apples and Bacon Photo by Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Torie Cox / Prop Styling by Prissy Lee This sweet-and-sour, traditional Bavarian braised red cabbage is always served with goose, duck, or pork. To make it, the cabbage is gently braised with tart apple, smoky bacon, orange zest, and spices. Get the Recipe 03 of 10 Brown Butter-Cardamom Spitzbuben Photo by Caitlin Bensel / Food Styling by Rishon Hanners / Prop Styling by Christine Keely German for "cheeky boys," these traditional Bavarian Christmas cookies get a tantalizing upgrade with the addition of brown butter and the robust, citrusy flavor of freshly ground cardamom. Paired with your favorite jam, the finished cookies will stop your guests in their snowy tracks. Get the Recipe 04 of 10 Roast Goose with Crispy Skin Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Josh Hoggle The secret to Jacques Pépin's roast goose with irresistibly crispy skin is a little extra prep and a lengthy steam to jumpstart the rendering process. Get the Recipe 05 of 10 Rustic Bread Stuffing with Swiss Chard and Chestnut David Malosh Chestnut stuffing is a French holiday tradition; Justin Chapple's recipe starts by infusing dried porcini mushrooms into the broth for a hearty, earthy, and rich side dish. Get the Recipe 06 of 10 Cherry and Chocolate Bûche de Noël © Michael Turek French pastry chef Dominique Ansel's exquisite yule log dessert is lighter than many, thanks to the beaten egg whites in the batter and the use of whipped cream in place of buttercream as frosting. His inclusion of kirsch syrup and brandied cherries is a delicious nod to German Black Forest cake. Get the Recipe 07 of 10 Goose Stuffed with Apples and Armagnac-Soaked Prunes Ditte Isager Cookbook author Nadine Levy Redzepi hits the nail on the Christmas roast head by combining plump Armagnac-soaked prunes, apples, and garlic for an elegant stuffing to accompany goose, a Danish holiday tradition. Get the Recipe 08 of 10 Cranberry-Glazed Sweet Potatoes © John Kernick Glazed potatoes are a classic Danish side dish. This version spreads sweet potatoes in a single layer, resembling an apple tart, and uses the liquid from simmered cranberries as a tart glaze. The cooked berries make an attractive garnish. Get the Recipe 09 of 10 Root Vegetable Pan Roast with Chestnuts and Apples © Victoria Pearson This complexly flavorful side dish is seasoned with thyme and sweetened with a touch of maple syrup. Roasted potatoes, apples, and chestnuts are customary ingredients of the holiday season throughout many European countries. Get the Recipe 10 of 10 Mixed Fruit Trifle © Abby Hocking Star chef Grant Achatz crafts a sweetly old-fashioned trifle. Made with macerated berries, sponge cake, lemon curd, pastry cream, and vanilla-scented whipped cream, the layered dessert is a British holiday staple. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit