Christmas Dinners - Christmas With the Kranks

While it might be an unpopular opinion, Christmas With the Kranks is hands-down my mom’s and my favorite holiday movie. So, when I decided to turn it into a themed dinner, I knew I had to do it justice and capture every quirky, unforgettable moment in dish form.

For the appetizer, I started with cranberry pistachio goat cheese bites. This nods to the scene where Luther forgets the pistachios Nora asked for. The combo of tangy goat cheese, tart cranberry, and crunchy pistachio was perfect to start our night.

For the main course, what else but a ham would do? While it wasn’t exactly canned hickory honey ham, this brown sugar-glazed ham was, dare I say, more iconic. Sweet, savory, and melt-in-your-mouth good, it was the kind of dish Nora would’ve fought for on Christmas Eve!

For sides, I had to include peaches—yes, because of Luther’s infamous Botox scene! I made a spinach salad with blueberries, peaches, candied pecans, and a sweet balsamic dressing. Alongside, maple rosemary roasted sweet potatoes brought out the best cozy flavors of the season.

To keep the vacation vibe alive, I served a Caribbean mule—after all, the whole movie revolves around that elusive island escape! With cranberry juice, ginger-ale, lime, and a mix of vodka and rum, it was tropical and refreshing.

And finally, dessert: Blair’s favorite caramel cream pie. I made my own caramel by slow-cooking cans of condensed milk for a silky, dreamy topping. It’s rich, sweet, and perfectly creamy—definitely worth every minute spent in the kitchen!

The dinner was an absolute hit with my family, with my mom claiming that a bite of ham, goat cheese, and salad together was the ultimate combo. If you’re a fan of Christmas With the Kranks, this dinner brings all the movie’s charm and cheer right to the table!