Posada food is warm, shared and easy to eat standing up after the procession: a big pot of ponche, tamales, something sweet like buñuelos, and an aguinaldo bag for the road. Below is what to serve, how much to make, and three menus depending on how many people are coming.
Once the menu is set, send the invitation from our posada invitations.
Ponche Navideño
Ponche is the drink of the posada. The base is water simmered with piloncillo and cinnamon sticks, then fruit: tejocotes, guavas, apples, sugarcane pieces, prunes, raisins and tamarind; some families add hibiscus (jamaica) or orange peel. Serve it hot in cups with a piece of fruit and sugarcane in each.
- Quantity: plan on two cups per guest; a 5-gallon pot serves around 60 to 70 cups.
- Piquete: if adults want rum, brandy or tequila, add it by the cup, not to the pot, so kids and drivers can drink from the same ponche.
Tamales
Tamales are the main dish at most posadas: red pork, green chicken, rajas with cheese, and sweet tamales for dessert. Two to three per adult is enough when there are other dishes. If you buy them, order a week ahead in December. Serve with hot atole or champurrado (chocolate atole).
Sweets
- Buñuelos with piloncillo syrup or cinnamon sugar.
- Churros if someone has a fryer.
- Colación, the colored sugar candies of the season.
- Fruit from the piñata: tangerines, jícama, sugarcane and tejocotes.
Other Savory Options
For a big crowd, add pozole, tostadas, sopes or a pot of frijoles charros. A taco bar works for an office posada where people arrive straight from work.
Aguinaldo Bags
Aguinaldos are the small bags guests take home: wrapped candy, peanuts, a tangerine, colación and sometimes a small toy for kids. Make one per child at least; many hosts make one per guest.
Three Posada Menus
| Size | Drinks | Food | Sweets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family (15–25) | Ponche, champurrado | Tamales, 2–3 per adult | Buñuelos, piñata fruit |
| Neighborhood (40–60) | Two pots of ponche, one without alcohol | Tamales or pozole, tostadas | Colación, aguinaldos |
| Office (20–50) | Ponche, coffee, soft drinks | Taco bar or tamales | Churros or buñuelos |
Making It a Potluck
Many posadas are shared: the host makes the ponche and others bring a dish. Say it in the invitation and ask guests to mention what they bring when they RSVP. With TwistInvite, guests open your posada video in their browser and answer Going, Can’t make it or Maybe; you see who is coming in the app. Share the link by WhatsApp or SMS.
For the full plan, see how to host a posada and the posada planning checklist. Open the posada templates in TwistInvite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the traditional drink at a posada?
Ponche navideño, a hot fruit punch made with piloncillo, cinnamon, tejocotes, guavas, sugarcane and other fruit.
What food is served at a posada?
Usually tamales with atole or champurrado, buñuelos, and sometimes pozole or tostadas for a larger crowd.
How much ponche do I need?
About two cups per guest. A 5-gallon pot serves roughly 60 to 70 cups.
What are aguinaldos at a posada?
Small bags of candy, peanuts and fruit given to guests, especially children, at the end of the night.
Create it in the TwistInvite app
Download free on iPhone or Android, then share one link with your guests.