Classic Christmas Recipes

July 31, 2014
Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

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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Cornish Hens with Cherry Glaze

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross
Cornish Hens with Cherry 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: Johnny Miller; Styling: Heather Chontos
Streusel-Topped French Toast Casserole 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

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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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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Easy Orange Rolls

Photo: John O'Hagan; Styling: Buffy Hargett
Easy Orange Rolls Recipe
Your family will definitely want to rise, shine, and dine when they smell these baking in the oven.

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Roast Chicken with Meyer Lemon Shallot Sauce

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Dan Becker
Roast Chicken with Meyer Lemon Shallot Sauce Recipe
Shallots roast alongside the chicken; then they're pureed and browned with lemony pan juices to make a fragrant gravy.
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Peppermint White Hot Chocolate

Oxmoor House
Peppermint White Hot Chocolate Recipe
Nothing says Christmas time better than a cup of peppermint hot chocolate. This recipe uses creamy white chocolate for a warming, comforting sip of goodness.