The holiday season has descended upon us, and you know what that means– food, food, and more food! My electric mixer has not seen this much activity in months, and it’s only getting started. Holiday parties and family gatherings mean lots of cooking (and baking!), so here are a collection of Bust-approved recipes that will make you the supreme Christmas host:
1. Old School Bourbon Eggnog
Nothing screams Christmas more than a glass of old-fashioned eggnog. Flash forward to adulthood, and now any childhood drink can become instantly more fun by adding booze! Eggnog can be whipped up with a few simple ingredients you already have in stock: eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, and nutmeg. Add in your bourbon and pour over a stemmed glass for a truly festive spirit!
2. Christmas Wreath Charcuterie
Charcuterie is the crème de la crème of appetizers. Everyone loves to snack on finger foods, and there are so many different items to include on your board. Maybe you want to go the savory route with traditional cheese, crackers, and meat. Maybe you want to do something a lil’ sweeter with some diced fruit and chocolates. Or maybe you want it all! This Christmas wreath charcuterie is so simple to make, but it will undoubtedly be the highlight of your holiday party!
3. Victorian Mince Pies
British mincemeat pies are a centuries-old traditional dish of the Christmas season. The only difference between today’s mince pies and those of the past is… meat! This 1854 recipe calls for a unique blend of sweet spices and meat filling (PSA: replace the ox tongue with slow-cooked beef), and it’s sure to set your holiday spread apart from the amateur cooks.
4. Spinach Pull-Apart Tree
@oghowe Christmas appetizer? #christmas2021 #christmasrecipes #christmascountdown
♬ It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas – Michael Bublé
If you want to make a holiday appetizer that is truly on theme, try this easy Christmas tree pull-apart bread. The filling is a blend of cream cheese, spinach, and shredded cheese– all inside a premade pizza dough crust. Serve this up with a side of marinara and watch your guests gather around to snack on some ooey-gooey cheese-filled “tree branches!”
5. Salted Brown Butter Sugar Cookies
Baking Christmas cookies is a holiday tradition in my household. We make all kinds of treats, from cut-out butter cookies, crinkle cookies, and of course, gingerbread men. These salted brown butter sugar cookies are a classic, topped with homemade royal icing. So grab the piping bag and let your inner artist go wild!
6. Holiday Sangria
Sangria is never not in season. This holiday remix is a blend of red wine, citrus fruits, sparkling apple juice, and cinnamon spice. Garnish your glasses with a sprig of rosemary and cinnamon sugar and serve up a holiday punch that is definitely Instagram-worthy!
7. Christmas Plum Pudding
If you are looking to cook a picture-perfect holiday feast straight out of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, it wouldn’t be complete without a Victorian Christmas pudding. This plum pudding recipe comes straight out of Mrs. Beeton’s 1861 Book of Household Management and is achievable for even the novice of chefs. Any relatives that radiate Scrooge energy are sure to be warmed up by this Christmas classic.
8. Peppermint Hot Cocoa Bombs
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♬ It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas – Michael Bublé
Last year TikTok went crazy over hot cocoa bombs, selling out chocolate candy melts and sphere molds in literally every craft store. But it’s no wonder, cause they are super easy to make yourself! This recipe uses mini paper cups as molds for your chocolate casings. Fill the chocolate cups with hot cocoa mix, marshmallows, and a candy cane handle, then dip in hot milk for a dreamy peppermint delight!
9. Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Cinnamon Rolls
There is no better feeling than waking up on a frosty winter morning to the smell of warm cinnamon sugar. All year round, cinnamon rolls are a classic breakfast treat, but the holiday season calls for some extra sugar. This gluten-free, dairy-free cinnamon roll recipe is one to have on bookmark for your early Christmas mornings!
10. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These are a personal favorite of mine during the holiday season. As someone with a nut allergy, many Christmas cookies are a no-go. Chocolate crinkle cookies have the perfect soft chocolate center and a powdered sugar coating. Once you make a batch of these, I guarantee they will be devoured within a day. Time to break out the mixer!
Top Photo: Nicole Michalou / Pexels
Plum Pudding: Lachlan Hardy / Wikimedia Commons
