I love a classic holiday spread as much as anyone, but sometimes you want to shake things up and try something totally new. These Brazilian Christmas foods are exactly what your table needs, full of bright flavors and festive favorites. I’ve rounded up 17 recipes that are as fun to make as they are to eat.

1. Coxinha (Brazilian Chicken Croquettes)

I’ve tried coxinha covered in dough and mashed potato, and both were super tasty. The potato version is easier to make at home, but the dough version is more authentic. The filling is creamy and super moist, full of tender shredded chicken and cream cheese.

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2. Manjar Branco (Brazilian Coconut Flan with Plum Sauce)

Where the recipe above requires baking in a water bath for about an hour, this simplified flan cooks right on the stovetop. You’re essentially making pudding with coconut milk and cornstarch. The main thing is to watch the pot and keep it moving. If you leave it to bubble, the bottom will burn and turn lumpy.

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3. Bem Casados (Brazilian Wedding Cookies)

Dulce de leche is one of the most popular sweet ingredients in South America, and you’ll see it used in plenty of recipes. If you’ve ever tried it, you know it’s sinfully sweet and creamy. It’s also very thick, which means it holds its shape perfectly in these cookie sandwiches.

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4. Pernil (Roast Pork Shoulder)

Why would you serve dry, boring turkey when you could make this ridiculously delicious and tender roasted pork shoulder? You’ll need to let it sit in the lime marinade for at least 12 hours, so plan ahead the day before. Overnight on Christmas Eve works perfectly to make things easier.

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5. Brazilian Potato Salad

Potato salad is a summer staple, but honestly it’s too good to skip at Christmas dinner. This one is light, cool, creamy, and loaded with fresh flavor. Carrots and potatoes give it wonderful texture and color, while hard boiled eggs and crunchy onions round everything out.

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6. Ham With Pineapple Sauce

If your family is team turkey, you can go ahead and skip to the next recipe. But if you’re looking for something different, this roasted ham is incredibly flavorful. Ham is naturally tasty, and it doesn’t take a lot to make it shine.

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7. Passion Fruit Mousse

Just like the Aussies, Brazilians absolutely love passion fruit. With its vibrant color and incredible tropical taste, I think this mousse is the perfect end to a heavy Christmas dinner. Since fresh ripe passion fruits are hard to find in stores, look for frozen pulp instead.

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8. Brazilian Carrot Cake

Unlike your typical carrot cake full of grated carrots, this Brazilian classic uses blended carrots. That gives the cake a delightful yellow hue and a lovely light sweetness. It’s also covered with decadent brigadeiro, which is like an elevated ganache made with condensed milk and heavy cream.

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9. Torta Holandesa (Brazilian Dutch Pie)

Funny enough, this recipe has nothing to do with the Netherlands. The name comes from the creator, who named it after a fun trip to Europe. But as far as chocolate cream pies go, this is the one to make. It may look like cheesecake, but the filling is actually a blend of condensed milk, heavy cream, egg yolks, and gelatin.

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10. Brigadeiro Recipe (Brazilian Fudge Balls)

I mentioned brigadeiro sauce earlier, but the most popular way to serve it is as little truffle balls. Brigadeiro are probably one of the most recognized Brazilian desserts around, and you can get them coated in everything from coconut and nuts to chili chocolate and cocoa. They’re dangerously easy to make at home, and just like regular ganache, the more chocolate you use, the harder they will be.

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11. Salpicão de Frango (Brazilian Chicken Salad)

This classic Brazilian chicken salad reminds me of California chicken salad because it’s rich and creamy with a lovely sweet element. Instead of grapes, you’ll use raisins here. The whole dish gets topped with crunchy potato sticks, which are a pantry staple in Brazil. It would make a fantastic light lunch the day after Christmas when you just can’t face another bite of turkey.

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12. Rabanadas (Brazilian French Toast)

I am a huge French toast fan, so I had to try this immediately. It has all the flavors you know and love, but the crunchy cinnamon sugar coating takes it to a whole new level. Traditionally, you’ll want to use French bread cut nice and thick. Brioche or Challah work beautifully too.

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13. Cranberry, Pistachio, and White Chocolate Panettone

Panettone is one of those festive treats that only really shows up around the holidays. It’s big, fluffy, and packed with yummy goodies like candied oranges and nuts. They do take quite a bit of time to make, which is why they cost a little more than your average loaf of sweet bread.

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14. Pudim De Leite Condensado (Brazilian Flan)

Flan is another South American favorite, and each country has its own twist. In Brazil, they like to add condensed milk and cook it in a bundt shaped pan. Use a blender to make sure the mixture is smooth, and get ready to fall in love. One bite and you won’t want to share.

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15. Brazilian Farofa

Farofa is one of those unique Brazilian sides you’ll see on nearly every dinner table. It starts with grated, pressed, and toasted yuca that soaks up all the amazing flavor from whatever goes into the pan. Here, that means bacon, butter, and garlic. It’s savory, hearty, and incredibly easy to love.

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16. Brazilian Chocolate Pavê (Chocolate Trifle)

This dessert is like the most delicious mashup of tiramisu and trifle you could imagine. It’s built with layers of biscuits or cake, creamy condensed milk, and often a little brandy. This chocolate version is ridiculously good and absolutely ideal for your Christmas table. Instead of coffee like tiramisu, it gets its flavor from cocoa powder and just a hint of Cognac.

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17. Brazilian Christmas Rice

Believe it or not, this festive Christmas rice is made with Champagne. It adds a lovely light sweetness and wonderful depth of flavor. Paired with Champagne soaked raisins and cashews, this rice is perfect alongside everything from pineapple ham to juicy turkey.

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