28 Grandma-Approved Holiday Recipes

Updated October 28, 2019
Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

The holidays are all about family, and there’s no better way to honor family than by making family recipes that have lived on through generations. Between these sweets, snacks, and Thanksgiving staples, you’ll find tried-and-true recipes that bring you right back to your nana’s kitchen after the very first bite. Even if these aren’t YOUR grandmother’s recipes, we guarantee these comforting dishes will deliver flavors that taste “just like Grandma used to make.”

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Granny's Cornbread Dressing

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford

Granny's Cornbread Dressing Recipe

No holiday table is complete without a dish of this classic cornbread dressing. 

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Nana’s Banana Bread

Credit: Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Nicole McLaughlin

Nana’s Banana Bread Recipe

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Nana's Rosemary Biscuits with Cranberries

Credit: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Paige Hicks

Nana's Rosemary Biscuits with Cranberries Recipe

From the Kitchen of…Maureen Callahan, Longtime Contributor

"My Irish grandmother added fresh rosemary from the garden to her biscuits. We like to include cranberries for the best mini turkey sliders the next day--if there are any biscuits left over."

When punching out dough rounds, avoid twisting the biscuit cutter, which will seal the edges and interfere with rising.

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German Chocolate Brownies

Credit: Annie Campbell

German Chocolate Brownies Recipe

This recipe is a combination of my nana’s greatest hits—brownies and German chocolate cake. The fudgy brownies allow the frosting’s coconut flavor to shine and are decadent without overwhelming the palate. We used a 9x13” baking pan, which yielded thinner brownies and a more even distribution of both the brownies and the frosting’s flavor. It’s definitely possible in an 8” or 9” square pan, which will give you thicker brownies and globs of frosting. In that case, you’ll need to use a fork. 

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Grandma Carroll's Cinnamon Rolls

Credit: Leigh Beisch

Grandma Carroll's Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

NOTES: A friend's grandmother introduced Margaret Fox to these rolls. PREP AND COOK TIME: About 1 hour, plus 3 hours to rise.

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Safta's Mock Liver (Green Bean and Pea Pâté)

Credit: Victor Protasio

Safta's Mock Liver (Green Bean and Pea Pâté) Recipe

"My grandmother (safta is Hebrew for grandma) always made this mock liver because she felt it to be healthier than one made with liver and schmaltz (chicken fat)," says Evan Bloom of Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen in San Francisco. Bloom and Wise Sons co-owner Leo Beckerman put this fresh-tasting pâté on the menu for Passover.

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Grandma Thury's Banana Cake

Credit: James Carrier

Grandma Thury's Banana Cake Recipe

Veronica Pape's great-grandmother handed down the recipe for this simple, moist banana cake.

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Old-Fashioned Strawberry Shortcakes

Credit: Bradford Thomason; Stylist: Katherine Tucker

Old-Fashioned Strawberry Shortcakes Recipe

Grandma had it right all along. Make this classic dessert recipe for a refreshing treat when strawberries are in season.

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Grandma's Molasses Crinkles

Grandma's Molasses Crinkles Recipe

Beware: these melt-in-your-mouth molasses cookies are as good as grandma's.

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Grandma Weiser's English Toffee

Credit: Oxmoor House

Grandma Weiser's English Toffee Recipe

Six simple ingredients are all you need to create this easy snack. Share this favorite family recipe.

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Nana Hirl's Pie Crust

Credit: Oxmoor House

Nana Hirl's Pie Crust Recipe

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Grandma Dean's Chicken and Dressing

Credit: Jim Bathie

Grandma Dean's Chicken and Dressing Recipe

Plan a home-style dinner like grandma used to make with only 30 minutes of prep work for this chicken and dressing recipe. You'll come home to a house with smells reminiscent of Sunday suppers with the family.

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Grannie's Cracklin' Cornbread

Credit: Oxmoor House

Grannie's Cracklin' Cornbread Recipe

This classic cracklin' cornbread is a traditional Southern cornbread and calls for just six ingredients. 

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Nana’s Christmas Caramels

Credit: Oxmoor House

Nana’s Christmas Caramels Recipe

“There was a special time of excitement and anticipation in our house back in the 1950s when our grandmother made Christmas candy. It would be a cold, snowy day and my brothers and I were thrilled with these yummy caramels. We could always count on getting them in our Christmas stockings!”

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Grandma Dumeney's Baked Beans

Credit: Gooseberry Patch

Grandma Dumeney's Baked Beans Recipe

Fill your home with the soothing aroma of Grandma Dumeney's Baked Beans this holiday season. With each bite, family and friends will be craving more of this classic comfort food.

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Grandma Erma's Spirited Cranberry Sauce

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Melanie Clarke

Grandma Erma's Spirited Cranberry Sauce Recipe

You'll need about 1 lb. of cranberries. Most are sold in 12-oz. bags, so pick up two and freeze the extra.

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Grandma Mary's Cream Cheese Frosting

Credit: Oxmoor House

Grandma Mary's Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

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Nanny's Famous Coconut-Pineapple Cake

Credit: Charles Walton; Styling: Gage Trinda

Nanny's Famous Coconut-Pineapple Cake Recipe

This coconut pineapple cake recipe is sure to please family and friends, with its surprising blend of flavors and a "secret" ingredient: lemon-lime soft drink. 

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Grandma Salazar's Albóndigas Soup

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Grandma Salazar's Albóndigas Soup Recipe

Albóndigas soup is a traditional Mexican soup featuring spicy meatballs offset by the fresh flavors of vegetables and herbs.

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Grandma's Tea Cakes

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Grandma's Tea Cakes Recipe

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Grandmother's Chicken

Credit: Annbelle Breakey

Grandmother's Chicken Recipe

We've streamlined a classic French dish, poulet grand-mère, so it comes together in little more than an hour--about half the time required for the original recipe. Prep and Cook Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes. Notes: We leave the garlic unpeeled, in keeping with the rustic spirit of this dish. Once cooked, the cloves can be squeezed out of their skins and spread on bread.

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Grandma Gwen's Beans

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Prop Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Grandma Gwen's Beans Recipe

2012 Side Dish Smackdown Winner: Best Baked Beans

This baked bean recipe features four types of canned beans baked in a mixture of brown sugar, mustard, vinegar and bacon. 

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Grandma & Katie's Frozen Dessert

Credit: Oxmoor House

Grandma & Katie's Frozen Dessert Recipe

Refreshing during the summer, or any time of year, this tasty treat can be made ahead of itme.

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Grandma's Soft Sugar Cookies

Credit: Oxmoor House

Grandma's Soft Sugar Cookies Recipe

These cookies will bring back sweet memories of Grandma's kitchen.

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Grandma's Chocolate Cake

Credit: Oxmoor House

Grandma's Chocolate Cake Recipe

A creamy cocoa frosting tops this rich and decadent sheet cake...the ultimate chocolate indulgence!

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Grandma's Chocolate Popcorn

Credit: Oxmoor House

Grandma's Chocolate Popcorn Recipe

Pop up a bunch of this tasty treat and your family will demand more...it's addictive!

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Frosted Turtle Cookies

Credit: Oxmoor House

Frosted Turtle Cookies Recipe

"My great grandma's recipe... these cookies have been at all our holiday family gatherings since the 1940s" -Tami Bowman

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Grandmother Carter's Cornbread Dressing

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Grandmother Carter's Cornbread Dressing Recipe

Make Ahead: Freeze the unbaked dressing mixture in 2 (1-gal.) zip-top plastic freezer bags, making sure to press out all the excess air. Thaw in refrigerator five days before Thanksgiving, and continue recipe with Step 4.

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