50 Essential Holiday Recipes You Need in Your Arsenal (2024)

50 Essential Holiday Recipes You Need in Your Arsenal (1)

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

We don’t know if you noticed, but it’s holiday season. (Yes, already.) Our gift to you: 50 essential, oh-so-festive recipes for every occasion. Your Pinterest board won’t be able to handle the deliciousness.

50 Essential Holiday Recipes You Need in Your Arsenal (2)

Half Baked Harvest

1.

Easy Flaky Pull-Apart Dinner Rolls

Just look at those layers. (We’ll take two, please.)

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

2.

The Classiest Cheese Balls in the Universe

Tacky? Dated? Not here.

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50 Essential Holiday Recipes You Need in Your Arsenal (4)

Simply Delicious

3.

Pigs in a Blanket Wreath

Maple-mustard dipping sauce makes it fancy.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

4.

Slow-Cooker Cranberry Hot Toddy

Cozier than your favorite sweater.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

5.

Ultimate Cheese Plate with Roasted Grapes

A staple at any party.

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50 Essential Holiday Recipes You Need in Your Arsenal (7)

Joyful Healthy Eats

6.

Garlic Herb Roasted Shrimp

Shrimp co*cktail gets an elegant upgrade.

50 Essential Holiday Recipes You Need in Your Arsenal (8)

Carlsbad Cravings

7.

Apple Cranberry Bacon Candied Walnut Salad

We’re adults. We’ll eat salad (especially this one).

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

8.

Spicy Glazed Meatballs

Sweet meets heat.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

9.

Baked Brie with Cranberries and Pomegranate

Serve with crackers (or spoons).

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

10.

The Crispiest Potato Latkes Recipe of All Time

Ready the sour cream and applesauce.

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Nerds with Knives

11.

Buckwheat Blini with Salmon Roe and Crème Frâiche

The holidays are a perfect excuse to get fancy.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

12.

Roasted Mixed Nuts

If there’s gonna be co*cktails, there’s gotta be nuts.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

14.

Cranberry-Mint Holiday Punch

The easiest way to imbibe.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

15.

Brussels Sprouts Latkes

The season’s best vegetable meets the season’s best side dish.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

16.

Kale Caesar Salad

Greens never tasted so good.

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I Am a Food Blog

17.

Mini Beef Wellingtons

Tiny, so you can have more than one.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

18.

Hasselback Butternut Squash

Impress the hell out of your dinner guests.

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The Little House in the City

19.

Green Beans Gremolata

Way better than soupy casserole.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

20.

Whole Roasted Carrots

They’re not just for snowmen.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

21.

The Creamiest Brussels Sprouts in the Universe

The mac and cheese of veggies.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

22.

Mulled Wine Sangria

What winter dreams are made of.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

23.

Mashed Potatoes

Psst: These take only 15 minutes. Seriously.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

24.

The Best Potatoes au Gratin Ever

Rich, comforting and you can make it in advance.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

25.

Lobster Risotto

A decadent dish that’s sure to wow.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

26.

Lemon and Herb Roast Chicken

Golden and crisp on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside.

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Stuck on Sweet

27.

Roast Beef Tenderloin

A holiday classic that’s surprisingly easy.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

28.

Pomegranate-Maple Glazed Lamb Chops

You’re just eight minutes away from an elegant main course.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

29.

Pistachio-Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Apple and Escarole Salad

The bright green nuts are extra festive.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

30.

Balsamic Cranberry Roast Chicken

Completely hands-off and oh-so-seasonal.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

31.

Slow-Cooker Turkey Breast with Orange and Herbs

An incredibly easy entrée is essential.

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Kitchen Swagger

32.

Pan-Seared Filet Mignon with Garlic & Herb Butter

Better than at any restaurant.

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Nicky and Max

33.

Cinnamon, Berry and Marzipan Wreath

Ever had stollen? It’s a traditional (and delicious) Christmas bread.

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Zoe Bakes

34.

Rugelach

Chocolate, nuts and fruit packed in a tender, buttery cookie.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

35.

No-Bake Mini Mason Jar Spiced Cheesecakes

Jingle all the way…into our mouths.

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Imma Eat That

36.

Red Wine Hot Chocolate

The best-ever nightcap.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

37.

Classic Eggnog

The unofficial drink for the holidays.

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Boston Girl Bakes

38.

Vanilla Bean Marshmallows

They’re. So. Fluffy.

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

39.

The Best Damn Fruitcake Ever

Homemade holiday gifts, coming right up.

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Eat Good 4 Life

40.

Cranberry Pistachio Chocolate Bark

Red and green and delicious.

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Cooking Classy

41.

Iced Sugar Cookies

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

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Sally’s Baking Addiction

42.

Sea Salt Vanilla Caramels

We bet you can’t eat just one.

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The Domestic Rebel

43.

Snowball Cookies

They’ll melt in your mouth. (Really, though.)

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Umami Girl

44.

Linzer Cookies

Look who got dressed up for the holidays.

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Add a Pinch

45.

Peppermint Bark

Perfect with a cup of cocoa.

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The Baker Chick

46.

Brown Butter Cinnamon Rolls

We’ll never turn down cream cheese frosting.

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Cooking for Keeps

47.

Brown Butter, Dried Cherry and Walnut Scones

Perfect for a chilly morning.

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Pickles & Honey

48.

Gingerbread Cookies

Oh, and they’re also vegan.

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Yay for Food

49.

Chewy Gingersnap Cookies

They might even be better than Grandma’s.

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Culinary Ginger

50.

Bûche de Noël

Seasons greetings from this stunning chocolate cake.

50 Essential Holiday Recipes You Need in Your Arsenal (2024)
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