It's officially the Christmas season! We were sad to say goodbye to the candy of Halloween and the feast of Thanksgiving, but now we are ready for the amazing dishes and treats of Christmas! Whether you are throwing a holiday party, attending one, or just hanging at home with your family, the following recipes are exactly what you need to have a delicious and festive times.
1. Caramel Dumplings
Recipe Courtesy of Coco & Main Staff
This recipe possibly can be traced to a publication, but we heard of it through a staff member, whose family has passed down this recipe orally for years. This breakfast (or dessert!) is super easy to make and requires just a few ingredients and a watchful eye!
Caramel Dumplings:
Ingredients:
1 1/4 c granulated sugar
1/4 c butter
2 c Bisquick baking mix
4 c water
Milk
Heavy cream (to serve)
Directions:
1. In a large pot, caramelize 1 cup of sugar over medium/high heat (until light brown).
2. Add 4 cups of water and 1/4 cup of butter.
3. Bring mixture to a boil.
4. Add 1/4 cup of sugar and enough milk to moisten and use for dumplings.
5. Add dollops of Bisquick to boiling sugar/syrup.
6. Once all Bisquick is added, cook on medium for 10 minutes without the lid.
7. Then cover pot with lid and cook for 10 minutes more.
8. Serve with heavy cream in bowls.
2. Murder Cookies
Recipe Courtesy of Reddit user u/NearKilroy
These scotch cookies have an interesting back story... on the subreddit Old_Recipes, user u/NearKilroy submitted a cookie recipe he found while researching a murder that had happened in his home before he lived there. This 1930s recipe is super simple and a great substitute for ginger snaps when you are a little tired of the usual.
Murder (Scotch) Cookies
Ingredients:
1 1/2 c sugar
1 c shortening
1/2 c molasses
1 egg
3 1/2 c flour
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp mace
1/4 c milk
*Note: If you can't find mace, go ahead and substitute the measurement with 1/2 tsp of nutmeg and 1/2 tsp of all spice.
Directions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Cream sugar, shortening, molasses, and egg.
3. Sift dry ingredients and beat in, along with the milk.
4. Once mixed, drop by tablespoonful onto greased baking sheets. Press down lightly with a floured glass.
5. Bake for 12-14 minutes, making sure to not overbake.
3. Armenian Perok Cake
Recipe courtesy of Reddit user u/flyGERTlfly
Credit again to subreddit Old_Recipes! Reddit user u/flyGERTlfly showcased a gorgeous pie and cake hybrid that came from his Armenian heritage, and it is AMAZING. Another simple recipe, this can be made with items you have in your pantry! While traditionally a perok cake has apricot jam, any jam can be used -- I used a mixture of lingonberry and raspberry when I was in a pinch. This cake will surely be a holiday crowd pleaser!
Armenian Perok Cake
Ingredients:
2 sticks of softened butter
1 c sugar
1 whole egg
2 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla
1 c sour cream (or yogurt)
3 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 c of jam
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Cream together butter and sugar.
3. Mix in egg and egg yolks, vanilla, and sour cream.
4. Sift in flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix.
5. Save a handful of batter for decoration (lattice design). Add more flour to make it easier to handle if necessary.
6. The batter will be thicker than usual cake. Spread into a greased pan or glass dish. Spread jam on top and then place lattice on top of the jam.
7. Bake for around 50 minutes or until the top is golden and a knife comes out clean.
4. Winter Squash Soup
Recipe Courtesy of Ina Garten
The Barefoot Contessa's Winter Squash Soup is probably the best squash soup I have ever had. It's creamy, delicious, and simple to make! I would suggest you make your own croutons out of crusty, French bread and get an immersion blender ASAP. You can find the recipe here.
5. Salted Butter and Chocolate Chunk Shortbread
Image and Recipe courtesy of Alison Roman , Dining In, Bon Appetit
Need a delicious and new way to eat shortbread this holiday season? Take a bite of out of these amazing cookies and you will never look back. A delightful blend of rich, salty, and sweet make this the perfect dessert for children and adults alike. Find the recipe here.
6. Grandma's Lemon Bars
Recipe courtesy of Reddit user u/JustHood
Now this recipe can really be eaten at anytime of year (as can all of these listed), but I don't think lemon bars are typically a holiday dessert. That MUST change. Reddit user u/JustHood shared his grandma's simple but classic lemon bars on the subreddit Old_Recipes, and plenty have shared photos of their recreation. I made this for Christmas Day once, and not only was it delicious, but the acid and tart help cut through the heaviness of all the other Christmas food.
Grandma's Lemon Bars
Ingredients:
2 c flour
1 c butter or margarine
1/2 c powdered sugar
4 eggs
5-7 tbsp. lemon juice
2 c granulated sugar
4 tbsp. flour
1/2 tsp salt
Directions:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Cream 2 c of flour, butter, and powdered sugar into an ungreased 9 x 12 pan. Bake for 20 minutes.
3. Beat eggs and add 5-7 tbsp. lemon juice. Add granulated sugar, 4 tbsp. flour, and salt, creating the lemon mixture.
4. Pour on the baked crust. Bake for 25 minutes and sprinkle extra powdered sugar while still warm.
What recipes do you love to make during the holiday season? Let us know below! Thanks for reading XOXO