Classic Christmas Recipes

Updated July 31, 2014

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Celebrate Christmas this year with traditional recipes you love to make year after year. From succulent meats, to sweet treats, we have plenty of recipes that bring you right back home in every bite.

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Perfect Beef Tenderloin

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Perfect Beef Tenderloin Recipe

Inspired by J. Kenji López-Alt, author of The Food Lab and managing culinary director of Serious Eats, we take a 3-step, 5-ingredient approach to the best holiday roast: First, season, chill, and air-dry the beef overnight to create a flavorful crust; second, slow roast in a low oven to keep it extra juicy; and third, broil a few minutes to brown it. Serve with Board Dressing, Classic Horseradish Cream Sauce, or both.

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Chocolate Yule Log

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Callie Nash

Chocolate Yule Log Recipe

We've managed to transform naughty into nice with this rich dark-chocolate sponge cake filled with a delicate, yogurt-lightened whipped cream. We cut the amount of sugar in half, letting the intensity of the chocolate in the sponge cake shine--go ahead and splurge on a higher-quality bar.

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Butter-Pecan Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Credit: Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Butter-Pecan Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Classic holiday flavors like buttery sweet potatoes and nutty pecans create a creamy starch that brings a sweet familiar taste in every bite.

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Caramelized Baby Carrots

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Caramelized Baby Carrots Recipe

Use this simple roasted-carrot method as a base, and then layer on other flavor combinations as you like. Try smoky chipotle chile powder, fragrant garam masala, or tart ground sumac.

Pairs well with Creamy Lemon Orzo with Peas and Shrimp.

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Gorgonzola-Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Port Wine Sauce

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon

Gorgonzola-Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Port Wine Sauce Recipe

Gorgeous in presentation and taste, this succulent centerpiece yields a hearty holiday main that the whole crowd will love.

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Whole-Wheat, Buttermilk, and Orange Pancakes

Credit: Raymond Hom; Styling: Pamela Duncan Silver

Whole-Wheat, Buttermilk, and Orange Pancakes Recipe

Serve a short stack of Whole-Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes with a punch of citrus zest. Allowing the batter to sit before cooking gives the leaveners a chance to work, creating light, fluffy pancakes.

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Classic Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Cindy Barr

Classic Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe

Cold winter nights call for a hearty, comforting stew. A nutty dark beer adds richness and depth to the stew. Be careful not to choose a beer that's super-hoppy; it will taste too bitter.

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Herb and Citrus Roast Leg of Lamb

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Herb and Citrus Roast Leg of Lamb Recipe

Orange and lemon in the marinade make for a bright counterpoint to the earthy cumin. Stuff leftovers into pitas, and drizzle with yogurt.

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Marmalade French Toast Casserole

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Leigh Ann Ross

Marmalade French Toast Casserole Recipe

Wake up the entire house with the sweet aroma of French toast on Christmas morning. This easy casserole can be assembled in less than 15 minutes and stored in the refrigerator overnight.

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Roasted Cornish Hens with Cherry-Port Glaze

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Roasted Cornish Hens with Cherry-Port Glaze Recipe

Ginger gives the sweet-tart cherry glaze a little bite atop roasted Cornish game hens.

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Sausage and Polenta Breakfast Casserole

Credit: Johnny Miller; Styling: Heather Chontos

Sausage and Polenta Breakfast Casserole Recipe

Andouille sausage, two types of cheese, and a splash of hot sauce add flavor and a little kick to Sausage and Polenta Breakfast Casserole. This make-ahead breakfast casserole is perfect for holiday mornings--just cook and enjoy.

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Pecan Squares

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro

Pecan Squares Recipe

If you like the taste of pecan pie, you'll love this easy alternative. Serve the squares with vanilla ice cream for an over-the-top dessert

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Fennel-Crusted Rib Roast

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Fennel-Crusted Rib Roast Recipe

Rub prime rib with freshly ground peppercorns, coriander, and fennel for a heady combination of seasonings that perfectly complements this elegant cut of meat. A garnish of fresh cranberries and oranges adds vibrant color to your table, making this dish as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the palate.

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Streusel-Topped French Toast Casserole with Fruit Compote

Credit: Johnny Miller; Styling: Heather Chontos

Streusel-Topped French Toast Casserole with Fruit Compote Recipe

This make-ahead breakfast casserole features slices of French toast arranged in a pie pan and and a layer of sweetened dried fruit. The casserole is topped with a sweet, buttery streusel topping before baking.

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Baked Oatmeal

Credit: Time Inc.

Baked Oatmeal Recipe

"I have been making this for years, my whole family loves it. This recipe is great, I make it all the time." -FoodieSandi

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Iced Browned Butter Sugar Cookies

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr

Iced Browned Butter Sugar Cookies Recipe

With nutty, caramel notes from browned butter and a fair bit of salt to balance the flavors, these cookies will become an instant favorite.

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All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

Credit: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Pam Lolley

All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

If chocolate chip cookies are your favorite cookies, whip up a batch of these all-time favorite chocolate chip cookies. They're the best of the best

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Pecan Cookies

Credit: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Sarah Smart

Pecan Cookies Recipe

Make the cookie dough up to a month in advance, wrap it tightly, and freeze. Thaw dough completely by placing it in the refrigerator overnight.

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Spinach and Mushroom-Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Truffled Wine Sauce

Credit: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart

Spinach and Mushroom-Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Truffled Wine Sauce Recipe

For an easy, elegant meal, serve family and friends Spinach and Mushroom-Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Truffled Wine Sauce.

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Coconut-Cardamom Macaroons

Credit: Marcus Nilsson; Styling: Robyn Glaser

Coconut-Cardamom Macaroons Recipe

Cardamom adds an exotic sweet flavor to Coconut-Cardamom Macaroons. Coconut gives these drops cookies their chewy, dense texture. The combination adds an elegant addition to your dessert table.

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Marble Snickerdoodles

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Marble Snickerdoodles Recipe

"The best snickerdoodles I've ever eaten!" -lizziebrown

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Chocolate-Triple Hazelnut Truffles

Credit: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Philippa Brathwaite

Chocolate-Triple Hazelnut Truffles Recipe

Mild milk chocolate allows the triple hit of nutty goodness to come forward in these creamy truffles; bittersweet chocolate would overpower those flavors.

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Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts and Bacon

Credit: Yunhee Kim; Styling: Kevin Crafts

Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts and Bacon Recipe

"As a child in England, I loved fire-roasted chestnuts sold on the street in winter and presented in little brown paper bags. You'd turn your fingers black from peeling every last gem. Every time I enjoy the pleasure of a chestnut, I am transported to my youth. My grandma Eve used to make a version similar to this recipe for Christmas dinner." -Consulting chef Andrew Spurgin

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Wild Rice Dressing with Roasted Chestnuts and Cranberries

Credit: Jonny Valiant; Styling: Deborah Williams

Wild Rice Dressing with Roasted Chestnuts and Cranberries Recipe

The nutty, almost smoky flavor of wild rice pairs beautifully with game birds and other poultry.

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Gingerbread People

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Gingerbread People Recipe

For a whimsical presentation, arrange these cookies in a lunch box lined with colorful packing paper. Use a variety of cookie cutter sizes to create "families." If you don't want to cut the dough into shapes, roll it into two logs, cover, chill, and slice into 1/8-inch rounds. Refrigerate

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Pumpkin Streusel Pie

Credit: Leigh Beisch; Styling: Dan Becker

Pumpkin Streusel Pie Recipe

This gourmet dessert combines a classic pumpkin pie with a crunchy streusel topping for a dish that will sure to be a crowd pleaser.

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Brined Pork Loin with Brown Sugar-Bourbon Glaze

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Brined Pork Loin with Brown Sugar-Bourbon Glaze Recipe

"Brined pork is about as good as it gets. Throw some bourbon on it, though, and it somehow gets better." --Mike Wilson, former Test Kitchen Professional

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Roast Stuffed Pork Loin with Port Sauce

Credit: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Philippa Brathwaite

Roast Stuffed Pork Loin with Port Sauce Recipe

Bring elegance and beauty to your table with a lovey centerpiece dish that tastes just as good as it looks.

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Sweet Potato Pie with Marshmallow Topping

Sweet Potato Pie with Marshmallow Topping Recipe

Turn a Thanksgiving side dish into a tasty Christmas dessert with this delicious recipe for Sweet Potato Pie with Marshmallow Topping.

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Pear-Cranberry Pie with Oatmeal Streusel

Pear-Cranberry Pie with Oatmeal Streusel Recipe

If you can't find fresh cranberries, use thawed frozen ones. A prepared pie shell yields a stellar dessert with little effort. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

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Carrot-Apple Spice Cake with Browned-Butter Glaze

Credit: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart

Carrot-Apple Spice Cake with Browned-Butter Glaze Recipe

Fresh carrot and apple plus a splash of bourbon boost the flavor of the layers of this cake, while the browned-butter glaze is, well, the wildly delicious icing on the cake.

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Holiday Pears

Credit: James Carrier

Holiday Pears Recipe

Serve these classic holiday pears as a side dish with turkey or ham. Spooned over vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt, they also make a great dessert.

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Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Credit: Annabelle Breakey

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Take oatmeal cookies to a whole new level by adding chocolate chips and creamy peanut butter. They won't last long after you bake them.

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Rustic Apple Tart

Credit: José Picayo; Styling: Jocelyne Beaudoin

Rustic Apple Tart Recipe

Finish your savory meal with a sweet, decadent dessert featuring sweet-tart apples wrapped in a buttery crust.

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Classic Christmas Recipes

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Perfect Beef Tenderloin

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Chocolate Yule Log

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Butter-Pecan Mashed Sweet Potatoes

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Caramelized Baby Carrots

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Gorgonzola-Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Port Wine Sauce

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Whole-Wheat, Buttermilk, and Orange Pancakes

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Classic Slow Cooker Beef Stew

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Herb and Citrus Roast Leg of Lamb

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Marmalade French Toast Casserole

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Roasted Cornish Hens with Cherry-Port Glaze

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Sausage and Polenta Breakfast Casserole

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Pecan Squares

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Fennel-Crusted Rib Roast

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Streusel-Topped French Toast Casserole with Fruit Compote

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Baked Oatmeal

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Iced Browned Butter Sugar Cookies

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All-Time Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Pecan Cookies

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Spinach and Mushroom-Stuffed Beef Tenderloin with Truffled Wine Sauce

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Coconut-Cardamom Macaroons

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Marble Snickerdoodles

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Chocolate-Triple Hazelnut Truffles

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Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts and Bacon

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Wild Rice Dressing with Roasted Chestnuts and Cranberries

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Gingerbread People

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Pumpkin Streusel Pie

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