5 perfect foods for your Christmas in July party

It is pretty much universally understood that Christmas 2020 kind of, to put it bluntly, sucked. We were in the midst of a pandemic and it meant that families couldn’t get together and celebrate the holiday like they normally would.

Instead of gathering around the tree and opening presents there were Zoom calls. Instead of a massive family dinner to celebrate Christmas there were smaller gatherings around smaller tables. Everything about the biggest holiday of the year was forced to be smaller and it lacked the family connections that make Christmas so special.

Now, with COVID-19 on the run in most of the country (PSA – if you haven’t already, for the love of food get vaccinated!) Christmas this year looks to be a much more normal affair. But maybe you don’t want to wait that long to get your Christmas on. Maybe you have leftover Christmas Spirit from last year that went unused. Maybe you’re just looking for an excuse to have a party.

Well then it may be time for you to embrace a tradition that has gained more and more followers in the last few years. Maybe it’s time to put up your tree, decorate the house then take a dip in your pool. Say hello to Christmas in July!

How to serve an unbeatable Christmas in July spread that will impress everyone.

Now, if you want to have a Christmas in July party that’s great. There’s only one problem: the food. Seriously. Who wants to turn on their oven for hours and hours to cook a roast and cookies in 117 degree heat? No one.

Lucky for you, Guilty Eats is here to help. Because we love food and do nothing but think about it all year, we have a couple of ideas on how you can serve some holiday inspired dishes while not having to abandon all the great things that make summer so much fun. It’s called Christmas in July after all. You can go all traditional when December rolls around.

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Bone-in Ribeye Steaks

One of the big Christmas traditions is the rib roast. You spend days finding the right one and then cook it low and slow for hours to serve it to your family for Christmas dinner. But in July? No thanks. We’ll pass. Instead go with bone-in ribeye steaks that you can cook on the grill. Have your local butcher cut them a bit thicker and your guests will hardly know the difference.

Sriracha-Lime Popcorn

As we all know, stringing popcorn on the Christmas tree is a big part of many family traditions. But since you may decide to not put up a tree (Where would you get a Christmas tree in July anyway?) you can turn the popcorn into a great appetizer. This recipe for Sriracha-Lime Popcorn is a snap to make and will cause your guests to never look at simple popcorn the same way again.

Eggnog

Okay. The biggest issue you may have concerning eggnog is finding it during the summer. But if you can find it you don’t really need to do anything to it in order to adapt it for a Christmas in July party. Mix eggnog with any spirit of your choice and bingo, you have a party. Hand out candy canes instead of mixing straws for some added Christmas cred. (Can’t find the eggnog, this is an easy recipe to make your own!)

Apple Pie

You may be wondering what the best part of throwing a Christmas in July party is. The answer is that you don’t have to make anything from scratch. I kid you not. It’s summer. You’re probably having the party in your backyard by the pool. Do you really think anyone will care if your apple pie is store bought? Hell no! And it will go great with the next item on our list …

Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Cookies are pretty much synonymous with Christmas. But since you don’t want to be wasting time in your kitchen baking, go and buy some chocolate chip cookies, the bigger the better, and then serve them with some vanilla ice cream. Let you guests make their own ice cream sandwiches and become a party legend in the eyes of your friends.

In case it isn’t obvious, Christmas in July is a great excuse to throw a kick-ass party that won’t entail a ton of actual work. That comes in December. For now get some friends together and enjoy an excuse to be with each other and have some much deserved fun.

What do you think of Christmas in July Guilty Eats Nation? Marketing scam or a reason to throw a party and drink eggnog in the summer? Leave a comment below and let us know or join the conversation on our Twitter and Facebook pages.