5 Showstopping Beef Entrรฉes for Your Christmas Dinner

When you really want to impressโ€”whether itโ€™s a holiday gathering, a milestone birthday, or an intimate dinner partyโ€”nothing commands the table quite like a beautifully prepared beef entrรฉe. Here are five timeless, crowd-pleasing dishes that deliver rich flavor, elegant presentation, and that unmistakable wow factor.

1. Standing Prime Rib Roast

A classic for a reason, prime rib is the picture of indulgence. Slow-roasted to achieve a perfectly pink center and a deeply savory crust, this cut needs nothing more than simple seasoning and a generous rest before carving. Serve with au jus for a traditional feast guests wonโ€™t forget.

2. Braised Beef Short Ribs

Short ribs are humble in appearance but luxurious on the plate. After a long, gentle braise with red wine, herbs, and aromatics, the meat becomes impossibly tenderโ€”falling off the bone with the touch of a fork. Pair with whipped potatoes and homemade dinner rolls to soak up every drop of the velvety sauce.

3. Tony’s Sicilian Beef Braciole

This Italian favorite is as beautiful as it is comforting. Thin slices of beef are rolled around a vibrant filling of breadcrumbs, herbs, cheese, then simmered slowly in tomato sauce until the meat is tender and the flavors meld. Slice into spirals to reveal its stunning, colorful interior.

4. Beef Bourguignon

French comfort food at its finest. Beef chuck is seared and braised in red wine with mushrooms, pearl onions, and bacon to create a dish thatโ€™s both rustic and deeply luxurious. Serve over buttered noodles or creamy potatoes for a meal worthy of any celebration.

5. Horseradish-Encrusted Roast Beef Tenderloin

For a leanerโ€”but no less impressiveโ€”option, tenderloin is king. Coating it in a zesty horseradish and herb crust adds punchy flavor while keeping the meat tender and juicy. Itโ€™s an elegant entrรฉe that slices beautifully and pairs effortlessly with everything from roasted vegetables to a bold red wine.


Whether you’re planning a holiday menu or simply want to elevate a special dinner at home, these five entrรฉes deliver unforgettable flavor and presentation. Any one of them is guaranteed to be the star of your table.

Sharing our menus is half the fun! What are you planning to serve this year? Any special family traditions or new recipes youโ€™re excited about? Iโ€™d love to hear โ€”share in the comments below. Happy cooking!


3 Irresistible Holiday Cookies You Canโ€™t Miss (plus Question of the Week)

This holiday season, treat yourself (and your loved ones) to three irresistible cookie classics. Start with old-fashioned iced oatmeal cookies, perfectly chewy with a sweet, simple glaze that evokes nostalgia in every bite. Next, delight in foolproof spritz cookiesโ€”buttery, buttery, buttery little shapes that are as fun to bake as they are to eat. Finally, indulge in cherry white chocolate chip cookies, where tart cherries meet creamy white chocolate in a cookie thatโ€™s festive, rich, and impossible to resist. Together, these three cookies bring classic charm, effortless baking, and irresistible flavor to your holiday table.

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Bake the Season Bright: Holiday Orders Are Now Open at SarahBakes

I am hosting two sales this season: one for my signature frozen quiches, scones and galettes, and one for my traditional holiday sweets, with separate order forms and pick-up dates for each sale.

I am pleased to offer special Holiday Preview Pricing for both sales, from now through Dec. 4. Place your orders byย Thursday, Dec. 4ย to lock inย special early pricing on all my holiday specialties. Prices increase onย Dec. 5, and some items may sell outโ€”so donโ€™t wait!

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Weekly Holiday Giveaway: Win Festive Prizes Every Week

Jill Abbott of Fargo is the first winner in our weekly holiday giveaway, and she will be picking up one dozen beautifully decorated buttercream cookies this week, just in time for her Thanksgiving feast. Congratulations, Jill!

I will be selecting a new winner each week from now until Christmas week, for a chance to win one of the prizes listed below. Only one entry is needed to be eligible to win – names will remain in the pool of entrants for each weekly drawing, unless they become a winner.

How to Enter

  • Add your email address in the field below and you will be automatically entered for a chance to win each week and receive updates on the giveaway prizes and winners. If you have already entered your name and email address, your entry is still valid until you either:
    • Win a prize or
    • The contest ends
  • You can earn extra entries by answering my Question of the Week at the bottom of this post. Each week I will ask a different question and all you need to do is leave a comment at the end of the post with your answer. New questions will be posted each week from now until Christmas, and you may enter one answer each week for additional entries in the contest.

Go back

Entry Received!

Thank you for entering Sarah’s Weekly Holiday Giveaway Contest – good luck and happy baking!
Warning
Warning

Warning.

I have posted the prize for each of the remaining weeks below and am so excited about this collection of goodies. All prizes can be picked up at Sarah’s home in Fargo, ND. Free shipping is available for the cookbook and cake pan if the winners live outside the Fargo area.

“Bernbaum’s: Recipes from Fargo’s Scandinavian-Jewish Deli”
by Andrea Baumgardner

Bernbaum’s was one of my family’s favorite restaurants of all time, anywhere.
Andrea’s recipes are tried and tested, and her cookbook
is a beautiful homage to a fabulous deli.

If you’d like top purchase a copy, Andrea will be at
Stabo Imports on Saturday, Nov. 29 for a book signing (and selling) event.

A bottle of Mistra Estates Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
imported by Peter Schultz from the Sparta region of Greece

This is the only olive oil we use.
Some people drive sports cars or take fancy vacations – we stock up on good olive oil.

One Scandinavian Almond Cake Pan (with recipe)
sold in-store and online by Stabo Imports in downtown Fargo

This cake pan transforms 8 simple ingredients into one of the prettiest cakes I have ever made. Bonus: the cake tastes even better than it looks!

Assorted SarahBakes Holiday Treats

One lucky (local Fargo-area) winner will receive a box filled with assorted holiday treats from SarahBakes, just in time for the holiday weekend (actual cookie assortment may differ from the photo below). The winner must be able to pick up their goodies in person before Christmas.

How to Enter

  • Add your email address in the field below and you will be automatically entered for a chance to win each week and receive updates on the giveaway prizes and winners. If you have already entered your name and email address, your entry is still valid until you either:
    • Win a prize or
    • The contest ends
  • You can earn extra entries by answering my Question of the Week at the bottom of this post. Each week I will ask a different question and all you need to do is leave a comment at the end of the post with your answer. New questions will be posted each week from now until Christmas, and you may enter one answer each week for additional entries in the contest.

Go back

Entry Received!

Thank you for entering Sarah’s Weekly Holiday Giveaway Contest – good luck and happy baking!
Warning
Warning

Warning.

Post your answer in the comments section below and your name will be entered for a chance to win one of my weekly giveaways. You may submit one answer per person each week to qualify for an additional entry in the contest. Good luck!

As for Team White Meat, Team Dark Meat, Team Both Meats or Team No Meat, the winner is Team Both Meats, by two votes, with a tie between white and dark meat.

This week’s Question is: