The holiday season is here, and it wouldn’t be complete without delicious food. This list of Brazilian Christmas food highlights must-have favorites for celebrating — whether you’re hosting a summer feast or dreaming of a white Christmas. These recipes will bring unmistakable Brazilian flavors to your holiday table.
Start planning your Brazilian New Year’s party with these Brazilian New Year recipes!
Christmas in Brazil
Oi Gente!!
In Brazil, Christmas falls in the middle of summer, often with temperatures soaring above 90°F. Instead of snow and cold, we enjoy beachy, sun-soaked celebrations — warm, lively and full of flavor.
Our Ceia de Natal (Christmas dinner) usually begins late on Christmas Eve and stretches past midnight, giving everyone time to eat, drink and wish each other Feliz Natal as the new day begins.
Brazilian Christmas food showcases local ingredients and the cultural blend that defines Brazil. Because it’s hot, cold salads and chilled desserts are common, and drinks are typically served cold. That said, warm dishes and international holiday classics are also welcome at the table.
While turkey appears on many tables, the roast most Brazilians choose is often chester (a large, tender poultry) or a holiday ham (tender), which remains a favorite. Other baked options include loins and bacalhau (salted cod). Many sides and salads are served cold, such as salpicão de frango (Brazilian chicken salad), macarronese pasta salad and various bacalhau salads. Bolinhos de bacalhau — salted cod fritters — are a traditional and beloved holiday appetizer.
Nuts and dried fruits are common both as table decoration and in dishes like walnut rice and Brazilian Christmas rice (with champagne, raisins and cashews). Raisins spark lively family debates — some love them, some don’t — which is part of the holiday charm.
A sweet staple is rabanada, a Brazilian version of deep-fried French toast often served as dessert on Christmas Eve or enjoyed for breakfast. And of course, Panettone is everywhere during the season, perfect for breakfasts and afternoon coffee breaks.
How to use these Recipes
Use these recipes as written or as inspiration for adding Brazilian touches to your holiday celebration, wherever you are. The selections include traditional family favorites, adaptations made while living abroad, and recipes influenced by travels — all bringing Brazilian flair to your table.
I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I do. Boas Festas!! Happy Holidays!
When in doubt, pick an easy side!
If you’re not planning a complete Brazilian feast, add at least one unmistakable Brazilian side: farofa. It’s an easy, flavorful way to introduce Brazilian taste to your holiday spread. Another quick addition is Brazilian collard greens with bacon (couve à mineira), which I often use to garnish and accompany turkey or ham.
Even a couple of Brazilian sides will add brightness and personality to your holiday table. Below are recommended dishes across categories to help you plan.
Here are some of our favorite Brazil holiday foods!
Cocktails and Drinks
Beyond champagne, try tropical Brazilian drinks that pair perfectly with festive gatherings. A few highlights:
Leftover Cranberry Sauce Cocktail with Cachaça
A festive, pretty cachaça cocktail that transforms leftover cranberry sauce into a Brazilian-inspired holiday drink.
Classic Caipirinha
Brazil’s national cocktail: a simple, refreshing lime, sugar and cachaça drink perfect for summer gatherings and barbecues.
Caipirinha de Maracujá – Passion Fruit Caipirinha
A tropical variation of the caipirinha using passion fruit for a sweet-tart, crowd-pleasing cocktail.
Batida de Coco – Brazilian Coconut Cocktail
A creamy, coconut-forward cocktail that brings tropical sweetness to any celebration.
Quentão – Brazilian Grog
A warm, spiced grog made with cachaça or rum — ideal for cooler nights around a fire.
Brazilian Hot Chocolate
Rich, velvety hot chocolate with an airy texture — a comforting option that can be spiked for adults.
Appetizers
Begin your gathering with shareable finger foods that can be prepared ahead of time. Favorites include:
Tuna Dip (Pastinha de Atum)
A speedy, flavorful tuna dip made from canned tuna and simple pantry ingredients — perfect on crackers, bread or as a sandwich spread.
Pão de Queijo – Brazilian Cheese Bread
Tender, cheesy tapioca rolls with a lightly crisp exterior — a beloved snack that disappears fast at any party.
Air Fryer Roasted Garlic
Fragrant, caramelized roasted garlic made quickly in an air fryer — great as a spread or appetizer addition.
Salads
Because Brazilian Christmas is hot in many regions, cold salads are a staple. Popular choices include:
Salpicão de Frango (Brazilian Chicken Salad)
A popular, filling chicken salad with vegetables, mayonnaise dressing and crispy potato sticks on top.
Pear Salad with Port Wine Dressing and Grilled Cheese
A pretty, textural salad combining arugula, sweet pears, pecans and grilled cheese tossed in a port wine reduction.
Brazilian Potato Salad
A cool, creamy potato salad that’s simple to make and pairs with a variety of mains.
Vegan Potato Salad
A no-mayo potato salad dressed with a simple vinaigrette — light, make-ahead and crowd-friendly.
Brazilian Pasta Salad with Mayo
A classic Brazilian pasta salad with fusilli, peas, corn and diced ham tossed in mayonnaise — festive and familiar.
Side Dishes
These sides are easy ways to introduce Brazilian flavors without committing to a full menu overhaul:
Brazilian Christmas Rice
Festive rice made with champagne (or stock), onions, cashews and raisins — pairs beautifully with roasts and grilled meats.
Walnut Rice
An elegant rice side with toasted walnuts that complements many holiday mains.
Farofa | Toasted Cassava Flour
A signature Brazilian side made from toasted cassava flour, often cooked with bacon or aromatics to add texture and savory crunch to plates.
Air Fryer Butternut Squash
A simple, flavorful vegetable side that’s quick to prepare and fits many holiday menus.
Mashed Yuca
Creamy purê de mandioca (yuca puree) — buttery, comforting and a lovely alternative to mashed potatoes.
Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Rich, garlicky mashed potatoes made quickly in a pressure cooker — a dependable crowd-pleaser for any holiday table.
Brazilian Collard Greens with Bacon
Crisp, garlicky collard greens sautéed with bacon — a savory green side that pairs well with many mains.
Main Dishes
Choose a standout centerpiece for your celebration. Here are several crowd-pleasing options:
Dry Brine Spatchcock Turkey
A brined and spatchcocked turkey yields juicy meat and crisp skin. This method works for roasting, grilling or smoking and brings consistent, delicious results.
Grilled Turkey Breast
A faster alternative to a whole bird: juicy, flavorful turkey breast with crispy skin, ideal for smaller gatherings.
Rotisserie-Style Brazilian Chicken
A savory rotisserie-style chicken made in the oven with a flavorful marinade — classic, comforting and shareable.
Ham with Pineapple Sauce
A holiday ham glazed with tropical flavors like pineapple and brown sugar — sweet, savory and easy to prepare ahead.
Brazilian Christmas Desserts
No celebration is complete without sweets. These make-ahead desserts highlight classic Brazilian flavors:
Rabanada – Brazilian Deep-Fried French Toast
A holiday favorite made with sweetened milk and coated in cinnamon-sugar — served for dessert or breakfast.
Arroz Doce Cremoso – Rice Pudding with Condensed Milk
Creamy, sweet rice pudding made with condensed milk and warm spices — comforting and quick to prepare.
Brazilian Flan (Pudim)
A jiggly condensed milk flan with decadent caramel — impressive yet simple to make ahead of time.
Passion Fruit Mousse
Light, tart and fluffy, this three-ingredient mousse is a refreshing make-ahead dessert for celebrations.
Beijinho de Coco – Coconut Balls
Sweet, condensed-milk coconut treats rolled into bite-sized rounds — adorable, shareable and perfect for gifting.
Brigadeiro Cake
A rich chocolate layer cake filled and frosted with fudgy brigadeiro — festive and indulgent for larger gatherings.
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