25 Easy and Traditional Christmas Recipes

The Holidays are warm and nostalgic. Making memories for years to come is something people look forward to. We are excited to share 25 nostalgic recipes with you to make those memories happen.

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Making Christmas Memories Starts in the Kitchen

Some of my best memories of the Holidays are surrounded by my family in the kitchen. Here, we have collected some of the most nostalgic recipes to us and some of our food blogger friends. We hope this list inspires you to make memories of your own this Holiday season.

The Holidays are an easy time to incorporate more extravagant or traditional recipes and this collection has some of the best. We think this TURKEY/HAM GLAZE is a great option too!

How to Have a Merry Holiday

Ask for Help

Whether it is with the cooking or cleaning, asking for help from your immediate family or friends helps keep the gathering days stress free. We like to have a theme and make the cooking fun. This inspires our family and friends to be creative in what they are bringing.

Keep it Simple

Don’t use the big meal at Holidays to try out a new recipe. Stick with family favorites or traditional recipes. If you wanted to try a new recipe, test it in advance so you are not stressed the day of.

Make your own traditions

Traditions are nice but the way they are born is by implementing some new ones. For example, if it makes sense to have Christmas Dinner on Christmas eve for your family, do it. Memories and celebrations are what you make them.

Have a Plan

Plan your meal early. Shop early. Prep and make things ahead of time so you can thaw and reheat them. Your time should be well spent with family, not confined to the kitchen.

Make Cleanup easy

Cooking in disposable pans works well for having Holiday dinners even in your own home. They freeze well, you can reuse them to send leftovers home or store away easily. They make clean up a breeze!

Plan a cooking activity

Making cookies with the kids is a great activity. Having the matriarchs come early to show everyone how to make that coveted dish like dressing is a fun way to give gifts that can’t be found under the tree.

Enjoy your cooking time

Play Holiday music while you cook. Sip on your favorite wine or prepare your favorite SOUP to have the night you cook. Savor the peace of your kitchen and meditate on the memories you are making for your family and friends.

1
baked Alaska on a white pedestal
www.splashoftaste.com
Baked Alaska recipe – better than ever!
Nothing says retro like a baked Alaska! This nostalgic Christmas dessert will be a showstopper on any Christmas table.
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2
pouring bourbon sauce over bread pudding.
Bread Pudding with Bourbon Cream Sauce
Southern Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce is a traditional old fashioned recipe. Using French bread, raisins and the best Bourbon to create a decadent sauce folks will love.
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3
gingersnaps tied up with red and white string
kitchenserf.com
Gingersnaps (Better than Grandma’s Recipe: Spicy and Sweet)
Chewy,spicy gingersnaps glistening with sanding sugar, have been a staple on our Christmas table for generations. They’re sure to be your family’s favorite too.
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4
candied pecans feature
Quick and Easy Candied Pecans
Quick and Easy Candied Pecans are a special occasion treat that you can make any time. This bite size confection is made with pantry staple ingredients and are ready to devour in about 30 minutes.
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5
beef on white plates
www.withspice.com
porcini crusted roasted beef tenderloin with red wine sauce
This whole beef tenderloin is coated with a ground powder of dried porcini mushrooms, rosemary and black pepper, seared in a cast iron and roasted in the oven. The crust is incredibly savory and the earthiness of the mushrooms and rosemary is complemented by a rich red wine sauce.
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6
sausage brie bites feature
Sausage Brie Bites
Cranberry Sausage Brie bites are a little fancy, a lot of easy and a big bite of delicious. We take yummy crescent rolls and fancy them up with cooked sausage and creamy brie and top it with a dollop of homemade cranberry sauce.
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7
cornbread in black skillet
reneenicoleskitchen.com
Grandma’s Cornbread
Grandma’s Cornbread. Slightly sweet with a tender, moist crumb.
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8
A close-up of a stack of three hash brown patties on a blue and white plate. The hash browns appear golden brown and crispy. There is a fork resting on the plate. A bowl of sauce with a spoon in the background is slightly out of focus.
Louisiana Crab Cakes
Louisiana Crab Cakes are a wonderful addition to any seafood meal. Flaky crab coupled with fresh veggies keep true to the Southern favorite. The slightly spicy chili sauce is so good you'll want it on everything on your plate!
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9
stack of gingerbread pancakes on white plate
www.ketofocus.com
Keto Gingerbread Pancakes Recipe
A delicious keto breakfast for Christmas morning or just when you have a hankering for gingerbread but don't want to have a cookie first thing in the morning.
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10
Lemon Cherry Cheesecake pie feature
Glory Jean’s Cherry Lemon Cheese Pie
Cherry Lemon Cheesecake Pie is a delicious no fail way to get that cheesecake that is perfect every time. Made with 5 ingredients, you will fall in love!
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11
chess pie in silver pie plate
www.littlesweetbaker.com
Old-Fashioned Chess Pie
This classic Southern chess pie is irresistibly buttery and sweet. It’s made with a rich and thick custard filling that’s baked in a flaky pie crust until golden brown on top.
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12
Monte cristo casserole on a white plate.
Monte Cristo Casserole
Monte Cristo Casserole is a delicious treat that is great for breakfast or brunch. Now don't get me wrong, we may have eaten it a time or two for supper too! Made with delicious French bread and smoky ham it is a delight for any special occasion. And that Raspberry sauce is pretty awesome too!
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13
gooey butter cake in clear pan
www.littlesweetbaker.com
Gooey Butter Cake Recipe (from scratch & no yeast!)
Popular since the 1930s, this ooey gooey butter cake is a classic dessert with its signature butter cake crust and gooey top layer. This sticky-sweet indulgence is easy to make and sure to please!
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14
Christmas Eve shortbread cookies
Christmas Eve Shortbread Cookies
Christmas Eve Shortbread Cookies can help you start a wonderful tradition. Every year, we make these and other goodies to put out for Santa. Making them together will always be wonderful memories for me and my kids.
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15
fudge
heartscontentfarmhouse.com
Grandma’s Old Fashioned Fudge {Classic Stovetop recipe}
Classic stovetop fudge with pantry ingredients, just like your grandma made. This is the best old fashioned fudge recipe.
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16
easy breakfast casserole
Easy Breakfast Casserole
Easy Breakfast Casserole, a quick and simple favorite at The Buttered Home. You can whip this up on Christmas Eve and have breakfast done in 25 minutes. It is also a great weeknight dinner favorite at our house. Lots of cheese, sausage and a biscuit bottom that will become a favorite in your house too.
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17
BLT bites feature
Bacon Lettuce Tomato Bites
BLT Bites are a fancy little bite of Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato. Creamy Bacon aioli spread on little light bread bites topped with juicy tomato and a ribbon of green leaf lettuce. Yum!
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18
stollen
savoringtoday.com
Blueberry Cream Cheese Christmas Stollen: Family Holiday Traditions
For as long as I can remember, my mom made what she called Stollen every year at Christmas. Traditionalists would not recognize our family’s rendition of Stollen, which is similar to fruitcake. Ours would be described best as a tender sweet roll pastry cradling fresh or canned fruit, with nuts and a sweet glaze topping.
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19
Christmas Crunch Snack Mix
Christmas Crunch Snack Mix
Christmas Crunch Snack mix is a sweet little snack The Buttered Home has been making for years. Quaker Oats Cereal and smoky pecans candied in a sweet concoction make this snack mix hard to quit. Easily cooked in a low heat oven, this sweet treat is a Holiday favorite.
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20
easy microwave fudge feature
Easy Microwave Fudge
Easy Microwave Fudge. One of the most beautiful, indulgent of chocolate treats. Normally a special purchase, we give you an easy way to make it right at home and in the Microwave!
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21
pimento cheese in a clear bowl with crackers and celery on a plate.
Spicy Pimento Cheese
Spicy Pimento Cheese is a Buttered Home favorite. We take a southern favorite and heat it up a bit. Adding Pepper Jack cheese and a touch of cayenne, it will knock your socks off!
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22
A plate of cinnamon rolls topped with icing, resting on a red and white striped cloth, could easily find its place among 25 easy and traditional Christmas recipes. A small plant in a pot is partially visible in the background.
Cinnamon Roll Cookies
Cinnamon Roll Cookies are a wonderful sweet treat. Reminiscent of delicious cinnamon rolls, these cookies take a standard shortbread cookie to a whole new level. Cinnamon and sugar combined with butter and shortbread make for a special cookie occasion.
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23
Sweet potato casserole on a blue plate.
Easy Sweet Potato Casserole
Easy Sweet Potato Casserole is a southern classic. This traditional Thanksgiving recipe is so simple you will want to make it all of the time. A sweet candied pecan topping is the icing on the cake!
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24
cornbread dressing feature photo
Cornbread Dressing
Southern Cornbread Dressing is a must during the holidays. But it is easy enough to have anytime. A traditional southern recipe that until now has been intimidating. We show you how easy and delicious it is. Savory notes of onion, sage and celery will satisfy any preference and help win folks over from the stuffing team.
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25
star shaped teacakes on a red towel.
The Best Old Fashioned Teacakes
The Best Old Fashioned Tea Cakes recipe is right here. This recipe is well over 100 years old and has been handed down for many generations. Made with simple ingredients like butter, flour and buttermilk, these tea cakes are a bite of days gone by.
Check out this recipe

Make it the Most Wonderful Time

So many recipes we love are built on memories. If you are tasked with cooking for family or friends, remember that you are making those memories today. Don’t let this Holiday be a stressful one. Cook what you love for the ones you love. One day, they will look back and feel the same nostalgia that you feel.

If you make any of these recipes, be sure and post it to Facebook or Instagram and tag us. We love pictures of food. Also, if you pin this recipe, we would appreciate that when you make it, you use the Made It function in Pinterest too. 

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One Comment

  1. I love these traditional, easy to follow recipes. Delicious! Thank you for sharing these with all of us. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.