30 Holiday Favorites To Make Bake and Celebrate

Discover 30 holiday favorites to make, bake, and celebrate, from festive recipes to easy DIY projects that will fill your home with seasonal celebration.

Making The Holidays Fun and Delicious

The holidays are more than just a season, they’re a feeling. The twinkle of lights, the scent of something sweet baking in the oven, and the sparkle of creativity that fills our homes.

This year, I’m celebrating 30 Holiday Favorites that blend the art of making, with the joy of sharing; decorative projects, recipes, and memories that will warm your heart and your holiday table.

The holidays invite us to slow down, gather close, and fill the kitchen with the scents and flavors that define celebration. Whether you’re hosting a grand feast, baking for friends, or creating cozy moments at home, these festive recipes bring together tradition, indulgence, and a touch of whimsy.

Build Your Own Christmas Tree

Not every Christmas tree comes from the forest. This artistic 8-foot tree is built from slats of wood, designed to hang ornaments, lights, or little trinkets that tell your family’s story. It’s a stunning alternative to a traditional tree, and beautiful enough to keep up all year as a sculptural art piece.

During the holiday season I run delicate fairy lights up the center of the structure, gather long stalks of rosemary from my garden, twist them into beautifully scented wreaths and place one on each of the wooden slats. The rosemary wreaths give the appearance of evergreens while the sparkling lights highlight from within. 

When the holiday season is over, the rosemary wreaths, now dried, are stacked in a basket alongside logs for the fireplace and added to the fire until each has been burned, giving off their last seasonal scent. 

A few small spotlights remain under the tree and offer a different feeling to the room, rather than the lights wrapped up the center of the tree. The mood then changes into a sculptured art piece for all times. 

For details, measurements and all you will need to know should you wish to build your own tree, 8-feet or 4, you will find the full story here: Build Your Own Tree. 

Snowy Village Cake

A winter wonderland on a cake stand! This Snowy Village Cake brings charm and whimsy to your holiday table, one that is created from a detailed village cake pan that makes several houses depicting a winter wonderland village. 

Placing tiny figurines, and glowing fairy lights nestled around the base, quickly transports you to a favorite holiday animated scene sure to transform all into bright-eyed children. It’s part dessert, part decoration, guaranteed to make your guests pause for photos before the first slice.

Holiday Eggnog – No Raw Eggs!

Cooked Egg Holiday Eggnog? Does that mean my favorite vintage holiday eggnog is no long made with raw eggs? YES it does and it’s so much better! 

There’s a moment every holiday season, when the craving hits: that first frosty glass of eggnog. The one that tastes like nostalgia poured over ice, silky, spiced, a little indulgent, and absolutely essential to December.

But somewhere between my childhood memories and my grown-up kitchen, one question started nagging at me, ‘Do I really want to drink raw eggs in a holiday drink’? Absolutely not. I love tradition, but I also love not ending up with an upset tummy at the family party.

Festive Holiday Cranberry Linzer Cookies

A favorite family Christmas cookie has long been the Classic Linzer Cookies, dressed for the holidays! Star-shaped cutouts reveal a peek of cranberry compote, dusted in powdered sugar for a snowy finish.

Made with buttery chestnut flour dough, and filled with homemade cranberry-orange jam scented with orange blossom, cloves, and cinnamon. These cookies are a celebration of flavor and tradition. 

Beetroot and Spinach Bread – Christmas Colors Loaded With Nutrition

This loaf is as beautiful as it is nutritious, swirling the season’s colors of red and green into a tender, earthy bread that’s perfect for the holiday table. A little art, a little nourishment, just right for December meals.

While I boast a moment about having grown both the spinach and beets for this bread, I am most proud of the incredible flavors this bread offers, let alone its vibrant colors, to any holiday charcuterie board or family dinner gathering. 

Get the full recipe for Beetroot Spinach Bread Braid here. 

A Lobster Tapas For A Holiday Gathering

Let’s not forget the sea’s offering. Lobster Tails with Potato and Peppers, inspired by Galician tapas, brings the luxury of lobster to your celebration in a humble yet stunning way.

Sweet lobster nestled inside tender, briny potatoes, dressed with olive oil and smoked paprika, it’s the kind of dish that feels both coastal and cozy, elegant yet inviting.

Gift Idea – My Muffin Madness Cookbook

Wrap up warmth this season! Pair My Muffin Madness cookbook with a few handpicked ingredients for one of the recipes inside, tie them together with ribbon, and you have the perfect homemade gift for bakers and dreamers alike.

This collection, of muffins, individually created by a mom and grandma, is unlike any you’ve ever seen, more than you’ll ever need, and some you didn’t know you needed!

There’s something about peppermint and chocolate that feels like the holidays wrapped up in a mug, comforting, nostalgic, and just a little bit sparkly.

This Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cocktail is my go-to December indulgence, rich, velvety cocoa infused with a cool mint whisper and a cheerful splash of holiday spirit. It’s the kind of drink you want to sip while watching the tree lights twinkle or sharing stories with friends around the fireplace.

And the best part? It’s just as delightful as a mocktail. Leave out the spirits and you still have a decadent, grown-up hot chocolate that feels every bit as cozy and festive. Whether you spike it or keep it family-friendly, this is the cup that brings everyone together, warms hands, and sets the perfect holiday mood.

And while we are indulging in the peppermint holiday spirit, this Flourless Peppermint Vodka Fudge Cake might just steal the entire dessert table attention!

Rich, dense, and deeply chocolatey, it’s topped with a cool peppermint vodka icing and a flurry of crushed candy canes. The best part? It’s impossibly easy, only six ingredients for the cake and three for the icing.

Even your tweens will want to bake it (just use peppermint extract for them). And for the grownups? Let’s just say the vodka version comes with a wink and a slice of pure holiday cheer.

Few things capture childhood wonder like Peppermint Bark. Layers of silky chocolate and crushed peppermint candy come together in a treat that tastes like Christmas morning excitement. It’s also the easiest homemade gift you can wrap in a festive tin.

Why do chocolate and mint taste so good together? It is said that these two flavors sit on the opposite end of the flavor spectrum. Chocolate is rich and fatty in flavor while mint is lighter and more bright on the tongue.

We can’t think of a better candy on a frozen Christmas morn than the peppermint that reminds us of the chill outside and the chocolate that feels the warm fuzzies of inside!

Festive gatherings fill the month of December and there is nothing like a special cocktail created just for the holiday celebration. Pomegranate cocktail, made with pomegranate vodka, the sweetness of cranberry juice and the zing of lime makes for a beautifully festive holiday drink.

A Cranberry Pomegranate Martini stands out because it captures the best of both worlds, the tart brightness of cranberries and the rich, jewel-like sweetness of pomegranate.

This keeper of a cocktail is my favorite cocktail to serve from Thanksgiving through Valentine Day.

There’s something magical about a winter sangria made with deep red wine, warm spices, and glistening winter fruits. It’s the kind of drink that greets you like an old friend, comforting, aromatic, and just a little bit festive. While summer sangria is all sunshine and sparkle, winter sangria feels like candlelight: richer, slower, and wrapped in the flavors of the season.

Cinnamon sticks swirl through the pitcher like tiny wands of holiday spice, citrus slices glow like stained glass, and pomegranate seeds fall to the bottom like garnets. Every sip is a blend of cozy warmth and refreshing brightness, making it perfect for gatherings where you want something celebratory but not too heavy. And the best part? It’s gloriously make-ahead. Mix it up hours before the doorbell rings and let the fruits, wine, and spices deepen into something unforgettable.

This is the sangria people hover over at parties, the one that looks like a centerpiece and tastes like a holiday memory in the making.

As much as the holidays tempt us with cookies, cakes, and every sugary delight under the winter sun, there’s something extra special about the meals that anchor the season, the dishes that bring everyone to the table long before dessert is even mentioned. These are the recipes that feel both celebratory and grounding, the ones we pull out when we want to feed the people we love with a little more intention.

This year, I’m leaning into a trio of festive favorites that showcase the savory side of the holidays. It all begins with Caviar Blini, those delicate, golden little pancakes crowned with crème fraîche and shimmering pearls of caviar. They’re elegant without trying too hard, perfect for handing out as guests arrive with rosy cheeks and high spirits.

For the main event, nothing quite captures the drama of the season like a classic Wellington, whether wrapped around tender beef or richly flavored Mediterranean Venison Wellington. It emerges from the oven like a gift you can actually eat: layers of pastry, duxelles, and beautifully cooked meat all tucked together in a crisp, golden package.

And to bring color, balance, and a burst of freshness, I love serving Festive Green Bean Bundles tied neatly with softened leek ribbons, sprinkled with a confetti of multi-colored peppers, and finished with a silky drizzle of Mediterranean lemon sauce. They’re simple but stunning, the kind of side dish that instantly elevates the plate with both elegance and cheer.

These dishes remind us that while sweets may steal the spotlight, the heart of the holidays is often found in the savory moments: sharing a warm plate, passing a platter, and lingering together long after the candles burn low.

We wait all year for those favorite holiday flavors that conjure up wonderful nostalgia. However, lots of rich foods throughout the season could use a little help to lighten the palate.

For a lighter, jewel-toned touch between all the rich holiday fare, this Almond Milk Cranberry Orange Sorbet is a refreshing pause. Creamy homemade almond milk softens the tartness of cranberries, while orange zest and warm spices whisper of winter mornings. It’s the perfect palate cleanser or elegant dessert, a snowflake of flavor that sparkles without being too sweet.

During the spring and summer months we delight in bringing fresh cut flowers from our garden or a nearby farmers market, indoors to celebrate the floral season. Winter months should be no different; the scent of pine, rosemary or sage, with holly, berries or magnolia leaves set the table for many occasions you will celebrate.

If you happen to have greeneries growing in your yard, great. If not, enjoy a walk in a park or wooded area and forage some of these greens to bring back into your home to scent the holidays with those plants that remain ‘ever-green’!

Every December, as the days grow short and the scent of pine settles into every corner of the house, our kitchen becomes the heart of the season. It’s where stories are retold, where old recipes return like cherished friends, and where each dessert carries its own bit of family history. These aren’t just sweets, they’re rituals, little edible time capsules that remind us why this season feels so comforting and familiar.

The British Christmas Pudding always comes first in our lineup, partly because it needs the most patience and partly because it has the biggest personality. Dense with fresh or dried fruit, lifted by citrus and spices, and steamed slowly until it becomes something close to alchemy, it’s a dessert that Charles Dickens loved, and I like to think he would approve of ours too. Each year when we flip it out of its basin, we hold our breath the same way we did the first time. It feels like performing a bit of Victorian theater in our modern kitchen, a nod to tradition that never grows old.

Then come the Individual Holiday Cheesecakes, small enough to be charming but indulgent enough to make everyone grin. We top them with a jewel-toned cranberry compote that brightens the plate like a winter sunset, and for a touch of whimsy, chocolate antlers perched on top. These were invented one year when we had far too many cranberries and a desire to make something playful. They’ve stuck around ever since, proof that the most delightful traditions sometimes arrive by accident.

On the quieter evenings, when the lights are low and we want a dessert that feels like a walk through a snowy wood, we make Winter Forest Crème Brûlée. Infused with juniper berries and a hint of mastic, it tastes like cold air and evergreen branches and something ancient. Cracking the caramelized top with the back of a spoon always feels symbolic, breaking the shell of the year, revealing warmth underneath.

And then, of course, the Italian sweets begin to appear, as if summoned by memory alone.

The Italian Chestnut Torta is earthy and elegant, made from chestnut flour that carries the aroma of woodsmoke and winter nights. Each slice has the quiet richness of something old-world, the kind of dessert that doesn’t need decoration because its simplicity is the celebration.

Alongside it, we bake Chestnut Flour Linzer Cookies, a delicate sandwich of nutty dough filled with salted caramel that peeks like golden light through the top window. A drizzle of chocolate turns them into tiny edible ornaments. They disappear faster than anything else on the tray, often before they even cool completely.

And last, always last, because their arrival marks the true beginning of the holiday in our home, are the Italian Pizzelles. Warm, lacy, and perfumed with anise or vanilla, they stack up in little towers on the counter while everyone “just tastes one” as they walk by. No matter what else changes in our lives from year to year, the aroma of pizzelles is the one constant, a scent that feels like love, continuity, and home.

These desserts aren’t just recipes we pull out once a year, they’re the threads that stitch our holidays together. Each bite reminds us of who we’ve been, who we’ve become, and the sweetness of sharing something beloved with the people we love most. And that is why we repeat them every year, because they bring us back to ourselves, to our family table, and to the heart of the season.

By the time Christmas morning rolls around, our kitchen feels like a well-loved stage set for traditions we can’t imagine skipping. We always begin with something hearty, because a good brunch is essential when champagne bubbles or creamy eggnog are waiting to be poured. For us, that means Potato Latkes crisped to a perfect golden lace, crowned with a softly poached egg and a slender ribbon of smoked salmon. It’s the kind of dish that makes everyone pause for a moment, fork in hand, knowing they’re about to taste something both simple and spectacular.

From there, the table fills with the sweet, familiar comforts we bake year after year. A fragrant Black Walnut Bread that tastes like the holidays themselves. Beet and Carrot Babkas whose jewel-bright swirls bring a joyful, unexpected twist to the classic chocolate version. And my newest brunch darling, Eggnog Muffins topped with a cloud of sweet meringue, soft, festive, and just indulgent enough to make everyone smile before the presents are even unwrapped.

These are the flavors that anchor our holiday mornings. Recipes that feel like home, but also like celebration, made to be shared slowly, savored deeply, and lovingly repeated every December.

As the whirlwind of the holiday season begins to settle, I love closing the year with something wonderfully simple, cozy, and a little bit festive in its own right: a Stromboli Pizza Night at home on New Year’s Eve.

There’s something about gathering in the kitchen, rolling out dough, piling on favorite fillings, and letting everyone shape their own creation that feels celebratory without any fuss. The oven hums, the house fills with the scent of bubbling cheese and herbs, and suddenly the evening feels less like the end of a long season and more like a joyful pause before a fresh start.

And then, because no New Year’s Day would be complete without a bit of tradition and a sprinkle of hope, we welcome January 1st with a warm slice of Vasilopita, the Greek Good Luck Cake baked with its hidden coin tucked inside.

It’s the gentlest way to step into the new year, coffee brewing, the cake’s sweet, almond and mastic aroma filling the kitchen, and everyone gathered around waiting to see who will find the lucky slice.

The holiday season was magical as always, filled with favorite recipes, new memories to celebrate in the future and new friends I hope I was fortunate enough to share my family favorites with this year. See you back here next year!

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Robin

I am all about the gratification of the senses, and so I have become passionate about capturing the stimuli for my senses through videography and photography. Food provides some of the most alluring subject matter to capture on film, and videography does what a still shot can not do: capture sound. When you hear something sizzling, or pouring, your taste buds and sense of smell are already engaged.

I believe the table... that place that draws people to gather, is the most powerful symbol of togetherness. All that happens before the table is set, the planning, the gathering, the preparing, are all an intricate part of the dance that create the mood of celebration to share with friends and loved ones.

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