Hosting a holiday party? Try these festive recipes
Appetizers
1. Cranberry Brie Tartlets
If you’re looking for a sweet and savory appetizer, these cranberry brie tartlets are perfect. They’re made with puff pastry, brie cheese, and cranberry sauce. The tartlets are easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time and reheated just before serving.
Ingredients:
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 4 ounces brie cheese, cut into small pieces
- 1/4 cup cranberry sauce
- 1 egg, beaten
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut into rounds using a cookie cutter or glass.
3. Place the rounds in a mini muffin tin and prick the bottoms with a fork.
4. Add a few pieces of brie cheese and a teaspoon of cranberry sauce to each tartlet.
5. Brush the edges of the tartlets with beaten egg.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
2. Spicy Sweet Potato Bites
These spicy sweet potato bites are a great addition to any holiday party. They’re made with roasted sweet potatoes and topped with a spicy aioli made with mayonnaise, sriracha, and lime juice.
Ingredients:
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- 1/2 teaspoon lime juice
- Chopped cilantro for garnish
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Toss the sweet potato cubes with olive oil, salt, and pepper and spread them on a baking sheet.
3. Roast for 20-25 minutes or until the sweet potatoes are tender and lightly browned.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sriracha, and lime juice.
5. Top each sweet potato cube with a dollop of the aioli and sprinkle with chopped cilantro.
Main Dishes
3. Slow Cooker Ham with Spiced Applesauce
If you’re hosting a holiday party and don’t want to spend all your time in the kitchen, this slow cooker ham with spiced applesauce is a great option. The ham is cooked in the slow cooker with a mixture of apple juice, brown sugar, and spices, and the spiced applesauce is a delicious accompaniment.
Ingredients:
- 1 (5-6 pound) bone-in ham
- 1 cup apple juice
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of ground cloves
- 4 cups peeled, cored, and sliced apples
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions:
1. Place the ham in a slow cooker.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the apple juice, brown sugar, mustard, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.
3. Pour the mixture over the ham.
4. Add the sliced apples to the slow cooker.
5. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the ham is tender.
6. Remove the ham from the slow cooker and let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
7. Use an immersion blender or food processor to puree the apples and cooking liquid until smooth.
4. Roasted Turkey Breast with Cranberry Glaze
If you’re looking for a lighter main dish option, this roasted turkey breast with cranberry glaze is a great choice. The turkey breast is roasted in the oven and then brushed with a tangy cranberry glaze made with cranberry sauce, orange juice, and honey.
Ingredients:
- 1 (4-5 pound) bone-in turkey breast
- Salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Season the turkey breast with salt and pepper.
3. Place the turkey breast on a roasting rack in a baking dish.
4. Brush the turkey breast with melted butter.
5. Roast for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
6. In a small saucepan, whisk together the cranberry sauce, orange juice, honey, and mustard.
7. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 5-7 minutes or until it thickens.
8. Brush the turkey breast with the cranberry glaze during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
Desserts
5. Pecan Pie Bars
These pecan pie bars are a great option if you’re looking for a dessert that’s easier to serve than traditional pecan pie. The bars are made with a shortbread crust and a gooey pecan filling.
Ingredients:
For the crust:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup butter, softened
For the filling:
- 4 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups light corn syrup
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups chopped pecans
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, powdered sugar, and butter until it forms a crumbly dough.
3. Press the dough into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
4. Bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
5. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, corn syrup, sugar, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
6. Stir in the chopped pecans.
7. Pour the filling over the crust.
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the filling is set.
9. Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting into squares.
6. Gingerbread Cookies
No holiday party is complete without gingerbread cookies. These cookies are soft and chewy and have all the classic gingerbread flavors.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.
2. In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
3. Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until a dough forms.
5. Divide the dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap.
6. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
7. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
8. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and cut into shapes using cookie cutters.
9. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
10. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.
11. Allow the cookies to cool completely before decorating with royal icing.
Conclusion
Hosting a holiday party can be stressful, but with a little planning and preparation, it can also be a lot of fun. These festive recipes are sure to impress your guests and make your party a success. From appetizers to main dishes to desserts, there’s something for everyone on this list. So go ahead and try these recipes and enjoy a stress-free holiday party!