- - Kathy Hilton Explains Why She ‘Always’ Cooks on Christmas (Exclusive)

Moná ThomasDecember 25, 2025 at 8:00 AM

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Hilton Family Office

Kathy Hilton holiday party, December 15, 2025. -

Kathy Hilton said she always cooks on Christmas because food makes the holiday feel personal

Her family stretches celebrations over multiple days, from late gift-opening to classic comfort dishes day of

Earlier this month, the RHOBH star hosted a Cheesecake Factory–curated holiday party centered on familiar favorites like The Famous Factory Meatloaf and the new Baked Brie with Truffle-Honey Butter

For Kathy Hilton, Christmas while her kids were younger was never complete without the comforting rhythm of cooking — even after hosting one of the most talked-about holiday parties of the season.

“Yes, always,” Hilton, 66, told PEOPLE in an exclusive interview when asked if she cooked on Christmas Day. “Because we want to have that turkey the next day."

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star said food was central to how her family celebrated the holidays, not just for the meal itself, but for the feeling it created. “I like the feeling of it,” she explained. “I love it.” While she didn’t cook all the time, Christmas was different — it felt personal, she noted.

Hilton Family Office

Kathy Hilton holiday party, December 15, 2025.

Hilton’s Christmas typically unfolded over multiple days, allowing the celebration to stretch out rather than end too quickly. “We didn’t really open our gifts till Christmas night,” she recalled of her children's earlier years. Hilton and her husband, Richard (Rick) Hilton, share eight grandchildren from three of their children, Nicky, Paris and Barron.

Paris and her husband, Carter Reum, share 1-year-old Phoenix and London, 2. Nicky, who is married to financier James Rothschild, are parents to Lily-Grace Victoria, 9, Theodora (Teddy) Marilyn, 8, and a son, Chasen, 3. Kathy and Rick's son, Barron, and his wife, Tessa, share Milou Alizée, 5, Caspian Barron, 3, and 1-year-old Apollo Winter. “We like to make it last," said the proud grandmother. "If you open everything Christmas morning, then what?”

That slow, intentional approach extends to the menu as well. Classic dishes like turkey, mashed potatoes, yams with marshmallows and green peas make repeat appearances, with Kathy admitting she stayed especially hands-on when it came to certain staples. “I’m a control freak with the mashed potatoes,” she jokes, noting that a new cordless beater had made the job easier than ever.

Hilton Family Office

Salted Caramel Cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory at Kathy Hilton holiday party, December 15, 2025.

Just days before settling into her quieter family traditions, the reality star hosted her annual holiday party at her home in Bel-Air on Dec. 15 — a glamorous yet warm gathering that blended vintage décor, thoughtful hosting and a comfort-driven menu created in partnership with one of Kathy's longtime favorite restaurants, The Cheesecake Factory.

Kathy worked alongside the brand’s culinary team and her personal chef to curate a spread that felt indulgent but familiar, anchored by her ultimate comfort pick: The Famous Factory Meatloaf. Guests also enjoyed Chicken Madeira, Cajun Salmon, Honey Roasted Carrots and the always-popular Chinese Chicken Salad, along with appetizers like Crispy Rice Cakes with Crab, “Mini” Ahi Poke Nachos and Stuffed Mushrooms.

One standout bite quickly became a crowd favorite: The Cheesecake Factory’s new Baked Brie with Truffle-Honey Butter. Warm, gooey and just elevated enough, it fit seamlessly into Kathy's hosting philosophy: elegant, but inviting.

“I surprised my husband with cheesecakes,” Hilton added. The party's dessert lineup featured Ultimate Red Velvet Cheesecake, Salted Caramel Cheesecake, Key Lime Cheesecake and Cookie Dough Lover’s Cheesecake with Pecans. As Hilton put it, “No holiday party is complete without a cheesecake moment.”

Besides the more boisterous festivities, Kathy said Christmas itself was about something quieter, where cooking became less of a task and more of a tradition — one she planned to keep. “It just made it feel like Christmas,” she said.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”