1970s Christmas Menu: Classic Retro Dishes for a Festive Feast

The 1970s were a golden era of bold flavours, colourful presentation and gloriously kitsch Christmas food. From vol‑au‑vents to Black Forest gâteau, this decade delivered some of the most iconic festive dishes ever served.

If you’re planning a retro celebration, this complete 1970s Christmas menu brings the decade back to life.

🍸 Starters & Party Nibbles

Cheese & Pineapple Hedgehog

A true 70s classic. Serve on a foil‑covered grapefruit or pineapple base for full authenticity.

Prawn Cocktail

Layered in a glass with:

• Shredded lettuce
• Marie Rose sauce
• Paprika sprinkle

Devilled Eggs

Creamy, tangy and topped with paprika — a buffet essential.

• Retro serving platters
• Vintage glass bowls

🍽 Main Course

Roast Turkey with All the Trimmings

The centrepiece of most 70s Christmas tables.

Stuffing Balls

Sage‑heavy, crispy and served separately.

Roast Potatoes

Golden, fluffy and cooked in fat for that unmistakable crunch.

Vegetables

• Buttered carrots
• Peas
• Sprouts (often boiled within an inch of their life — keep yours crisp!)

Bread Sauce & Gravy

A must for a traditional 70s plate.

🥗 Side Dishes

Coronation Chicken

A leftover favourite — sweet, creamy and mildly spiced.

Waldorf Salad

Apples, celery, grapes and walnuts in a creamy dressing.

Jelly Salad Rings

A very 70s addition — colourful, wobbly and wonderfully kitsch.

🍰 Desserts

Sherry Trifle

Layers of:

• Sponge
• Jelly
• Custard
• Whipped cream
• Hundreds and thousands

Black Forest Gâteau

Chocolate sponge, cherries and cream — the ultimate 70s showstopper.

Arctic Roll

Vanilla ice cream wrapped in sponge and jam.

• Retro dessert dishes
• Trifle bowls

🍹 Drinks

Snowball

Advocaat + lemonade + a cherry. The most iconic 70s Christmas drink.

Babycham

A sparkling perry served in coupe glasses.

Sherry

A staple of the decade.

🎉 How to Serve a 1970s Christmas Menu

• Use coloured glassware
• Add tinsel and foil garlands around the table
• Serve on retro patterned plates
• Use warm, golden lighting
• Play 70s Christmas hits for atmosphere

❓ FAQs

What is the most iconic 1970s Christmas dessert? Black Forest gâteau or sherry trifle.

What drinks were popular in the 70s? Snowballs, Babycham and sherry.

What makes a 70s Christmas menu unique? Bold flavours, colourful presentation and nostalgic dishes.