All The Recipes You'll Need to Get You Through the Holidays Slideshow (2024)

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Ravi Bangaroo

When it comes to the holidays, shopping, throwing parties, and entertaining guests can be hard. The Daily Meal is here to make everything a bit easier with our list of every recipe you'll need for the holidays.

In our round up, we have carefully selected recipes appropriate for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas (both Eve and Day), and New Year's (likewise). You'll find recipes for breakfasts and brunches, cookies, tasty (and healthy) desserts, edible gifts, holiday drinks, late night noshes, leftovers, lunch, turkey alternatives, and side dishes, as well as five different ways to make turkey.

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Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, they say, and it's even more so on Christmas morning, when all the family is together and good cheer reigns. And on New Year's Day, when, let's face it, you might need a little help recovering from your midnight revels. These recipes will brighten any holiday morning occasion, and might even ease that morning-after feeling.

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There's something about the smell of cinnamon that makes it feel like the holidays. This is the perfect dish for an intimate brunch. Drizzling warm cider sauce on top of the pancakes is easily the best part of the procedure.

For the Apple Cinnamon Pancakes with Warmed Cider Sauce recipe, click here.

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These breakfast muffins are the ideal treat to add to your holiday breakfast spread. Editor Lauren Gordon says, "The banana muffin base gives this pastry a true breakfast feel, while the chocolate chunks simply makes it indulgent."

For the Banana Muffins with Chocolate Chunks recipe, click here.

Danielle Walker

This dish can be prepared the night before and baked first thing in the morning. Everyone will be thrilled to eat this warm and sweet French toast casserole!

For the Cranberry French Toast recipe, click here.

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If you're looking for a unique breakfast dish for the holidays, consider serving this sweet and savory entrée. The salty, crispy bacon gives this smooth and satisfying dish just the right amount of crunch.

For the Pumpkin Bacon Grits with a Poached Egg recipe, click here.

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The great thing about serving burritos during your holiday breakfast or brunch is that you can have the guests do most of the work by letting them build their own. Set out all the ingredients: eggs, onions, tomatoes, corn, and peppers. You can even add a plate of diced bacon for the carnivores.

For the Vegetarian Breakfast Burrito recipe, click here.

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When it comes to holidays, the focus is usually on dinner. Meanwhile, lunch is typically an afterthought. Here are a few imaginative lunch recipes, though, that will satisfy midday appetites and keep folks full till the evening meal.

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This is a simple and appetizing dish from SIMI Executive Chef, Kolin Vazzoler that will make you look like a super star. Stuff a wheel of brie with fig jam and throw it in the oven for 10 minutes. Top it with cinnamon and serve it with crackers as an appetizer that's fun to eat; or serve wedges of the brie with a simple tossed green salad for a festive lunch.

For the Baked Brie Stuffed with Fig Jam recipe, click here.

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This is a sophisticated, delicious dish when you want to go to some extra trouble for a result that will wow your guests. Though lamb is more often associated with the spring holidays than the year-end ones, it's a great match for winter vegetables. SIMI Executive Chef, Kolin Vazzoler gave us a recipe that needs advance preparation, but it will pay off in the end. When you begin to brine your turkey a few days before the big event, remember to start curing your lamb as well.

For the Brussel Sprouts with Crispy Lamb Belly recipe, click here.

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These bite-size tomatoes are filled with a kind of variation on guacamole, given an extra kick with curry powder and chili powder.Serve them as a light but full-flavored appetizer before lunch.

For the Cherry Tomatoes Stuffed with Avocado recipe, click here.

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Sometimes we can't resist a little creamed spinach during the holidays, and this recipe uses mushrooms as a serving vessel— so you cut back on serving size and add another dose of vegetables to the mix. – Leslie Durso

For the Creamed Spinach-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms recipe, click here.

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It's big, made for a crowd; it looks glorious when roasted to a golden-brown; and it's the very symbol of Thanksgiving and of holiday feasting in general. Best of all, there are many ways to cook a holiday turkey. Here are five of our favorite ways to make this iconic specialty of the season.

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As this turkey roasts to beautiful completion, it fills the kitchen with the enticing aroma of apples and leeks, which roast along with it. Cider, used to baste the bird and also in the scrumptious sauce, adds a fresh, fruity accent to this roasted fowl. The recipe calls for a 14-pound bird, perfect for serving eight with leftovers. — Betty Rosbottom

For the Golden Cider Roasted Turkey recipe, click here.

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Cooking your Thanksgiving turkey on the grill in a roasting pan saves your precious oven space for other dishes. Instead of stuffing the bird, you can stuff the cavity with aromatic herbs, onion, and lemon, baking the stuffing in a separate dish. — Christine Hanna

For the Grill-Roasted Herbed Turkey with Chardonnay Gravy recipe, click here.

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This is a simple way to add tons of flavor to your turkey. Make a spice rub using sugar, salt, chili powder, black pepper, cumin, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and coriander for a delicious result.

For the Roast Turkey with Spiced Rub recipe, click here.

Danielle Walker

Chestnut bread stuffing is rolled up tightly in a turkey breast, perfect for a small group, and served with pan gravy and cranberry compote. Throw all of the stuffing vegetables into a food processor for a faster prep time!

For the Stuffing Filled Turkey Breast recipe, click here.

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Sometimes you don't need to roast the whole bird — the breast can be more than enough. The breast in this recipe gets a good brine treatment so that it's flavorful and tender as can be, and the pan gravy that goes along with it is the perfect finish.

For the Turkey Breast with Gravy recipe, click here.

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At big holiday feasts, turkey is the super-hero. There are other showpiece proteins that can be just as festive as turkey, though. Roast chicken, ham, prime rib, and lobster are all great alternatives to the traditional big bird.

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If you're guests aren't big fans of turkey, a perfect roast chicken is the ideal substitute.. This bird gets stuffed with fresh herbs before being roasted until it's golden brown and beautiful.

For the Crispy Roast Chicken recipe, click here.

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Save work and impress your guests by buying a spiral-cuthama brushing on an easy-to-make marmalade–bourbon glaze for a picture-perfect holiday main dish.

For the Ham with Marmalade–Bourbon Glaze recipe, click here.

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A beautiful prime rib roast makes an admirable stand-in for the traditional roast turkey on a holiday table.

For the Prime Rib Roast with Potato and Rutabaga Gratin and L'Etoile Steak Sauce recipe, click here.

Barton Seaver

You may not think of lobster as being a Thanksgiving dish, but chances are pretty good that the Pilgrims ate it at the first Thanksgiving. This stuffed version is worthy of your holiday table.

For the Stuffed Main Lobster recipe, click here.

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The turkey (or ham or lobster or whatever) shouldn't get all the attention on the dinner table. They need delectable counterparts to go with them. Side dishes help make the meal, and these recipes will yield results your guests will love.

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Brioche stuffing is perfect for your holiday buffet table or with the turkey at your Thanksgiving or Christmas feast. This recipe uses gluten-free brioche, but the regular kind may be substituted.

For the Brioche Stuffing recipe, click here.

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Fresh green beans, fried onions, and spices add up to a mouth-watering holiday side dish.

For the Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions recipe, click here.

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Every holiday table needs mashed potatoes. This year, make yours with red potatoes and top the spuds with scallions for color and added flavor.

For the Best Mashed Potatoes recipe, click here.

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Cinnamon adds a touch of warmth and spice to these roasted sweet potatoes.This recipe works perfectly with a holiday turkey or roasted chicken.

For the Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Cinnamon recipe, click here.

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Holidays are about giving, about generosity, so no wonder we always cook enough to feed 20 people when only 10 are coming to dinner. The nice thing about that, besides the fact that nobody is going to go hungry, is that the next day you can reinvent your dishes and turn them into something new. Turn leftovers into a whole new meal with one of these easy recipes.

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These are delicious, indulgent, and perfect appetizers for any post-holiday party! — Lauren Gordon

For the Turkey Empanada recipe, click here.

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Use up your leftover turkey and cranberry sauce and add some tangy cheese to create a perfect day-after-Thanksgiving lunch.

For the Leftover Turkey Sandwich Topped with Muenster Cheese and Cranberry Sauce recipe, click here.

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This is a great morning-after breakfast idea: Make a stuffing hash and have it with a side of eggs for a hearty start to the day.

For the Stuffing Hash and Eggs recipe, click here.

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Along with making sandwiches and casseroles with the leftovers from your Thanksgivingdinner, there's mac and cheese. This recipe incorporates a bit of freshness, with sage and garlic, to make the best use out of your uneaten turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and cranberries. — Michael Ferraro

For the Thanksgiving Leftover Mac and Cheese recipe, click here.

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When you start thinking about entertaining for the holidays, what comes up first? The perfect turkey? The best sides" The tastiest drinks? All very important — but don't forget dessert. You should desserts as much of a priority as the rest of your holiday meal, because it's usually what comes last that your guests will remember most. Elsewhere, we've given readers great pumpkin pie recipes. Here are a few simple and delicious alternatives.

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Simple no-bake chocolatetruffles are rich and decadent in flavor and consistency, yet super easy to make.Roll the trufflesin sugar or sprinkles for a festive feel.

For the Aloha Chocolate Truffles recipe, click here.

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Pandoro is the local version of panettone in the romantic city of Verona, synonymous with the year-end holidays. Although pandoro is delicious on its own, it can also be used to enhance such delights as French toast, tiramisù, and bread pudding. This apple pandoro pudding recipe was developed by Luca Manfe, brand ambassador for Bauli, a major producer of pandoro and other Italian baked goods.

For the Apple Pandoro Pudding with Vanilla Gelato, Mulled Wine Sauce, and Apple Chips recipe, click here.

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This holiday season, make your own make your own country-style fudge. The peppermint in this recipe gives this year-round treat a Christmasy flavor.

For the Chocolate Peppermint Fudge recipe, click here.

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Sweet potato pie makes a great change of pace from the usual pumpkin version. Candied bacon makes it even better.

For the Sweet Potato Pie with Candied Bacon recipe, click here.

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This ooey gooey pie's luscious and creamy filling offers that good old familiar holiday flavor so many have come to love! — Recipes Across America Cookbook

For the Texas Pecan Pie recipe, click here.

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For many of us, holiday feasts are all about indulging in rich, delicious foods and not feeling bad about it. On the other hand, we're all increasingly health-conscious these days, and a good host will offer some good-tasting but a little less caloric choices as well. These healthy desserts will satisfy without excess.

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You have to chocolate during the holidays, right? This recipe lets you enjoy it — with the added benefits of spinach, blueberries, and oat bran. Chances are no one will even notice how healthy these delicious brownies are.

For the Brainy Brownies recipe, click here.

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This is an elegant and healthy dessert that will enhance any dinner table. Lisa Gorman, director of St. Joseph Health and Wellness Center says, "Fruit is a nice dessert because it has so many vitamins and minerals and is relatively low in calories.Chocolate, in moderation, contains a healthy dose of antioxidants." Healthy can taste delicious during the holidays with this wonderful recipe.

For the Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries recipe, click here.

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The ginger adds warmth to the glazed fruit in this quick and easy recipe — and ginger is also a tasty aid to digestion, especially useful after a big dinner.

For the Gingered Fruit Parfait recipe, click here.

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Chocolate is a holiday must, and this lightened-up confection will satisfy chocolate cravings without guilt.

For the Low-Fat Chocolate Pudding recipe, click here.

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One of the easiest, healthiest, most colorful desserts you can serve is a fruit salad. A sprig of mint is the perfect topping for these tangy-yet-sweet fruit cups — the perfect palate cleanser after a hearty meal.

For the Medley of Citrus Fruit with Fresh Mint recipe, click here.

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What's the holiday season without pumpkin? Make these healthy pumpkin cookies and impress your guests. Special contributor Alisha Falkenstein says, "This cookie recipe is a healthier alternative to others because of the added Greek yogurt, whole-wheat pastry flour, rolled oats, walnuts, and dark chocolate. Just because it's the holidays it doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice your health — have a treat that's both healthy and sweet."

For the Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies recipe, click here.

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Cookies are great all year long, but the holidays are really cookie season. You can set out cookies for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, keep the kids busy baking them with you in the kitchen, make a batch for that holiday party, even give them as a gift. Here are five cookie recipes that are perfect for all of the above.

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These cookies aren't too sweet, and they maintain the perfect ration of soft and chewy on the inside to crispy on the outside. Your guests will love these cookies (and so will Santa Claus).

For the Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Ever recipe, click here.

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Add matcha tea to your cookies, giving them a healthy boost and a festive hue.

For the Matcha Chocolate Chip Rice Cookie recipe, click here.

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Thesecookies are soft and chewy, and the combination of old-fashioned oats and pecans withpumpkin spice is a splendid evocation of the holidays.

For the Pecan Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Cookies recipe, click here.

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Sweet, minty, and pretty all at once, these easy holiday cookies will make a festive addition to your holiday cookie plate. — Pillsbury

For the Peppermint Crunch Sugar Cookies recipe, click here.

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These madeleines are for anyone who goes crazy for pumpkin spice latte each fall. This gluten-free recipe will surely fill your house with those same spicy scents. If you don't have a madeleine pan, feel free to make the batter into muffins or a sheet cake, which tastes best whentopped with a chai frosting. — Lena Kwak

For the Pumpkin Madeleines recipe, click here.

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You've eaten so much you start to think that you might never eat again — but then, a little before midnight, hunger strikes. What are you going to eat? You can always reach for leftovers, but sometimes you're craving something a little different than what you've already eaten. We have some easy dishes, both sweet and savory, that will cure your late night munchies.

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This 7-layer dip has roasted poblanos and fresh cilantro, which add lots of flavor. If you're looking for a savory late night snack, this one doesn't take long to put together and will hold you over until breakfast.

For the 7-Layer Dip recipe, click here.

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When you enjoy late night snacks, you want something rich and delicious. There are many ways to make potato skins, but the best include bacon and Cheddar cheese and this recipe has plenty of both.

For the Bacon and Cheddar Cheese Potato Skins recipe, click here.

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Even though you've had a slice of pumpkin or sweet potato pie, a slab of cheesecake, or big bowl of ice cream for dessert, sometimes, later in the evening, you crave that sugar rush again. Brownies are just the thing.

For the Brownies recipe, click here.

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These are the perfect treat for late night because they're bite-size and scrumptious. Special contributor Carly Goldsmith says, "These decadent cheesecakedessert bites are the perfect alternative to classic pumpkin pie...."

For the Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars recipe, click here.

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Melted truffle-flavored cheese and toasty bread — what else do you need to fend off a late-night hunger attack?.

For the Truffle Grilled Cheese recipe, click here.

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There's nothing wrong with serving carefully chosen red or white wine with your holiday repasts, and there are a host of festive co*cktails that are appropriate for the occasion. But when the weather gets chilly, a good hot drink — with or without alcohol — will always be appreciated.

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If you're a fan of creamy, spicy chai and of rich hot chocolate, then this mug of goodness is right up your alley. Sip it for Christmas brunch, or by the fire when the festivities have died down.

For theChai-Spiced Hot Chocolate recipe, click here.

Danielle Walker

You can enjoy gingerbread in many forms for the holidays — even liquid. This is a luscious coffee beverage with all of the goodness of gingerbread blended in, perfect for Christmas morning.

For the Gingerbread Latte recipe, click here.

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The variety ofwarm drinks you can mix up for the holidays is amazine. This delightful example combines English breakfast tea, honey, apples, orange, cinnamon, and whisky.

For the Harvest Spice Tea Toddy recipe, click here.

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Pomegranate liqueur adds a bright and slightly tart, fruit-forward flavor to this variation on mulled wine. While some mulled wines are quite sweet, this wintertime treat has more balanced flavors thanks to the pomegranate. Make a large batch for your holiday party, and serve one to each of your guests when they come in from the cold.—Allison Beck

For the Pomegranate Mulled Wine recipe, click here.

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This recipe fills your home with the aroma of cinnamon, apples, and allspice. Put everything into the slow-cooker and focus on the rest of your holiday meal.

For the Slow-Cooker Mulled Apple Cider recipe, click here.

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You spend a lot of time choosing just the right gifts for your friends, family, and loved one, and you always bring something along when you make your holiday rounds and go to year-end parties. For small tokens, a nice bottle of wine or a box of store-bought chocolates is never amiss — but why not put your cooking skills to good use and give something you've made yourself? There are many possibilities, but here are a few sweet ideas to get you started.

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It's that time of year when everyone's calendars are sprinkled with holiday parties. To get in a festive spirit, we give you this wonderful pretzel bark recipe. This pretzel bark is really easy to make, and it would make a beautiful gift. It is also dangerously good. You can wrap the bark in a festive plastic and hand it out as gifts during the holidays. — The Kittchen Blog

For the Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bark recipe, click here.

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This cranberry orange jam serves as such a simple but sumptuous host/hostess gift or wonderful condiment. To gift the jam, package it in mason jars after you make it. Your host will love that you took the time to make something special.

For the Cranberry Orange Jam recipe, click here.

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Thesechocolate chip cookies are not too sweet or overpowering, but maintain a great richness from the semisweet chips, a spicy hint of fall flavors, and just enough sweetness to let you know that you're indulging. Make a batch for the holidays and gift it to your host/hostess.

For the Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe, click here.

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These cookies are naturally sweetened withmaple syrup and a fruit-sweetened jam. Wrap them in festive paper and give them to friends or family for the holidays.

For the Raspberry Jam Cookies recipe, click here.

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This recipe for peppermint bark is a white- and milk-chocolaty swirled take on the traditional holiday treat. Simple and tasty, tit's an instant holiday classic.

For the Swirled Peppermint Bark recipe, click here.