This festive long-distance date turns a classic Christmas movie into an interactive experience by you recreating some of the food inspired by Elf while watching it together. Instead of simply sitting through the movie, you and your partner will prepare Buddy-inspired treats and enjoy the same foods from your separate kitchens.
From hot chocolate and Christmas cookies to Buddy’s unforgettable spaghetti covered in syrup and candy, there are plenty of ways to bring the movie to life. It is a fun Christmas date for long-distance couples because you can cook, decorate, taste-test, and react together over video call, making it feel like you are sharing the same movie night even when you are miles apart.
Instructions
Pick a time that works for both of you. Use a time zone converter if needed.
Decide which foods you would like to make during the date and purchase the ingredients beforehand.
Some Elf-inspired options include:
🍝 Spaghetti
☕ Coffee
🍁 Maple syrup
🍫 Chocolate syrup
🍬 Candy, such as M&M’s, gummy candy, or candy-coated chocolates
🍭 Sprinkles
☕ Hot chocolate
🧁 Cupcakes or another festive dessert
Hop on a video call using Zoom, FaceTime, Discord, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, or Skype.
Decide how you’ll watch the movie together
Our founders, Vanessa and Mehrad, still prefer the traditional way. They simply hop on a video call, count down “3, 2, 1… play!” and press the play button at the same time. It is simple, reliable, and lets you chat, laugh, and react together throughout the movie.
If you’d rather have your movies synced automatically, there are also several great watch party platforms available, including the following:
Some streaming services also offer built-in watch party features. Depending on your location and subscription, platforms like Hulu and Amazon Prime Video may also offer Group Watch options, making it even easier to enjoy the movie together.
Once you’ve decided how you’ll watch, prepare your food, hop on your video call, count down from three, and press play!
Prepare Buddy’s Most Iconic Foods
One of the funniest parts of Elf is Buddy’s love for sugary food. Before the movie starts, prepare one or more of Buddy’s most iconic foods so you can enjoy them as the matching scenes appear throughout the movie.
☕ World’s Best Cup of Coffee
When Buddy excitedly discovers the “World’s Best Cup of Coffee,” raise your mugs to the camera and celebrate with him.
Make one of the following:
- Coffee
- Peppermint mocha
- Latte
- Hot chocolate
Take your first sip together as the scene plays.
🍝 Buddy’s Famous Spaghetti
Prepare Buddy’s legendary spaghetti before starting the movie so it’s ready to eat when his famous spaghetti scene appears.
You have two fun options:
Option 1: Recreate Buddy’s Spaghetti
Top cooked spaghetti with the following:
- Maple syrup
- Chocolate syrup
- Mini marshmallows
- Sprinkles
- Candy-coated chocolates
- Candy pieces
Option 2: Make a Sweet Pancake Version
Instead of real spaghetti, make pancake batter and cook it into long, thin strips so they resemble spaghetti noodles.
Top your pancake “spaghetti” with:
- Maple syrup
- Whipped cream
- Sprinkles
- Mini marshmallows
- Chocolate chips
- Candy
When Buddy begins eating his spaghetti, show your creations over the video call, take a screenshot together, and enjoy your first bite at the same time.
🍬 Buddy’s Four Main Food Groups
Buddy proudly explains that elves stick to the four main food groups:
- Candy
- Candy canes
- Candy corn
- Syrup
Before the movie begins, create your own Buddy-inspired snack board using these treats and keep it beside you while you watch.
Elevate this Date!
🎄 Make It a Christmas Tradition. Plan this date for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to make it part of your annual holiday tradition.
🧝 Dress Like Buddy the Elf. Buy an elf hat, wear green, or put on your favourite Christmas pyjamas before starting the movie. Seeing each other dressed up over your video call makes the date even more festive and is perfect for taking a screenshot together.
🎬 Turn It Into a Christmas Movie Marathon. Once Elf finishes, keep the holiday fun going with more Christmas classics like Home Alone, The Polar Express, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Santa Clause, or The Grinch. Make it an all-day or all-evening holiday movie marathon together.