How To Make Hot Chocolate From Scratch

‘Tis the season to learn (or re-learn) how to make hot chocolate from scratch—because it is a million times tastier than most powdered mixes.

It was the ancient Aztecs who first appreciated the virtues of a cup of cocoa, but the version they enjoyed would be barely recognizable to people who relish a cup of sweet hot cocoa on a cold winter’s day.

The Aztec version was prepared using finely ground roasted cacao beans that were combined with chile pepper-infused water to produce a fiery, bitter drink that was used for ceremonial purposes and during celebrations. There is some debate as to whether the drink was intoxicating, as some early Europeans claimed. Some culinary historians speculated that fermented cacao pulp or Aztec spirits were also added.

Chowhound’s Amaretto Hot Chocolate

Cortez was the first to bring cacao beans back to Spain in the 16th century. The Spanish added sugar to their new beverage that they heated before serving. The nation went wild for the highly coveted drink and guarded it jealously from the rest of Europe until the English got wind of it in the 17th century.

The British swapped out water for milk and it become a luxurious beverage associated with the British aristocracy. Chocolate houses emerged a few decades later throughout the nation’s cities where patrons convened to discuss the day’s politics over a warm cup of cocoa.

Trader Joe's Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa on a Stick, 4 for $14.95

In case of emergency.

Buy Now

Related Reading: The Best Gifts for Chocolate Lovers

In the early 19th century, a Dutch chocolate maker was the first to develop a process that removed the fat from the cacao beans, enabling them to be transformed into powder, ushering in the chocolate bar and the term “Dutch-processed chocolate.”

Preparing your own hot chocolate from scratch is easy and rewarding, especially on a chilly fall or winter’s day beside a cozy fire. All you need are a few simple ingredients and a couple basic tools.

Chowhound’s Real Deal Hot Chocolate

Here’s What You Need for One Serving:

• 4 ounces chopped chocolate (milk or dark)*
• 1 cup whole milk
• A pinch of salt
• Additional flavorings, as desired**
• Two saucepans
• A wooden spoon
• A whisk

*Hot chocolate is at its richest and most flavorful when it’s prepared using high quality chocolate instead of cocoa powder. Pick your favorite and experiment. While milk chocolate is wonderful, dark chocolate gives your favorite cold weather drink a sophisticated edge.

**Consider adding flavoring agents to your hot cocoa such as ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, or even flaked sea salt which adds a pleasing crunch.

How to Make Hot Chocolate From Scratch:

1. Chop your chocolate as finely as possible and add to a metal bowl.

2. Bring a saucepan of water to a vigorous simmer and place the bowl of chocolate on top. Whisk the chocolate as it begins to melt and continue to do so until it is glossy and smooth. Hold the side of the bowl with a side towel or hot pad because it will become hot. Remove the bowl from the heat.

3. In a second saucepan, add one cup of whole milk for every cup of cocoa you will be making. Don’t reuse the first saucepan because it will be too hot for the cold milk. Over medium-low heat while stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, heat up the milk. Do not let it boil or it could bubble over or scorch.

4. Once the milk is heated, add the warm melted chocolate along with a pinch of salt and whisk until combined. At this stage, add anything else you will be using to flavor your cocoa such as ground cinnamon, nutmeg or ginger.

5. Pour the cocoa into mugs, top with freshly whipped cream or baby marshmallows and add a cinnamon or peppermint stick, if desired. Garnish with sea salt, powdered cinnamon or leftover chocolate shavings and enjoy.

Homemade Hot Chocolate Recipes

Check out our variations for even more flavor inspiration:

Mexican Hot Chocolate

Chowhound

Cinnamon-spiked Mexican chocolate isn’t as smooth and creamy, but it’s packed with flavors, and whisks up into a frothy treat. Add a pinch of cayenne for some heat if you like things spicy. Get our Mexican Hot Chocolate recipe.

Tipsy Hazelnut Hot Chocolate

Chowhound

Instead of chopped chocolate, you can also stir rich Nutella into hot milk, with a little nip of liqueur for the adults. Get our Tipsy Hazelnut Hot Chocolate recipe.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Chowhound

Have a surplus of candy canes? Melt some right into your cocoa for a simultaneously warm and cool treat. Get our Peppermint Hot Chocolate recipe.

Coconut Hot Chocolate

Chowhound

Swap coconut milk in for some of the dairy for a subtle hint of the tropics, or all of it for a vegan hot chocolate drink (provided you use vegan chocolate too, of course). Get our Coconut Hot Chocolate recipe.

Almond Butter Hot Chocolate

Chowhound

Not only does a spoonful of almond butter stirred in make for an even richer texture, it tastes sort of like a melted peanut butter cup. (Incidentally, a good natural-style PB works wonders too, especially if it has a touch of salt.) Get our Almond Butter Hot Chocolate recipe.

Caramel Hot Chocolate

Chowhound

Similarly, a little caramel sauce adds a fantastic twist to hot cocoa. Get our Caramel Hot Chocolate recipe.

Five Spice Hot Chocolate

Chowhound

Even without the Clément Créole Shrubb liqueur, a dash of Chinese five spice powder in your hot chocolate makes it a whole new drink. Get our Five Spice Hot Chocolate recipe.

from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2RPtenP
via IFTTT

What Is the Feast of the Seven Fishes?

Christmas is celebrated all over the world, and every country has their traditional foods for the occasion. The Feast of the Seven Fishes is known as an Italian tradition, although it’s more Italian-American, in fact.

In Italy, as is the case elsewhere, a massive meal on Christmas Day is the norm, so on the night before—La Vigilia, or “The Vigil”—something lighter is in order. The specific Italian traditional dishes eaten on Christmas Eve vary by region, but eating fish the night before Christmas is a Roman Catholic custom, so as you can imagine, it’s widespread throughout the country.

Seafood Print Melamine Dinnerware, 4 sets for $23.99 on Amazon

Serve in style with these on-theme plates and bowls.

Buy Now

How Did the Feast of the Seven Fishes Start?

There are several religious theories to explain the name of the Feast of the Seven Fishes: there are 7 sacraments in the Roman Catholic church; 7 is the number that appears most frequently in the Bible, or is the most significant (it took 7 days to create the earth, there are 7 deadly sins, the number 7 represents perfection, and so on). Or, it could be named after the 7 hills that surround the city of Rome.

Do You Really Serve Seven Kinds of Fish?

Regardless of the name, not every family serves 7 fishes, or even 7 courses total, on Christmas Eve. Some set out 9 (for the Holy Trinity times three), or 10 (for the 10 stations of the cross). Some prepare 13 fishes (to represent the 12 apostles and Jesus), while others serve 11 (to stand in for everyone except Jesus and Judas).

Some don’t keep count at all. There’s no limit to the number of dishes, or fishes, you might find on any given table; it could be laden with nearly two dozen courses, or just a single pot of stew containing multiple varieties of seafood, though that’s far less likely—there’s usually an abbondanza of delicacies, from the sea and otherwise.

Brett Stevens / Cultura / Getty Images

What Types of Seafood Are Served for the Feast of the Seven Fishes?

Calamari, salt cod, octopus, shrimp, sea snails (or whelks), clams, and smelt or whiting are some of the most universally beloved seafood for serving as part of “Festa dei sette pesci” on Christmas Eve.

Eel is another traditional choice that’s fallen somewhat out of favor in the United States, although it’s great grilled with bay leaves.

Particular preparations of seafood vary too, but pasta is often incorporated in some form, and fritto misto and fish stew are both commonly enjoyed.

A Modern American Restaurant’s Take on the Tradition

A couple years back, we visited New Jersey’s Halifax restaurant, which focuses on sustainable and locally sourced ingredients for their beautiful dishes, to see how chef Seadon Shouse makes their fritto misto and seafood stew, both of which will be on their Feast of Seven Fishes menu again this Christmas Eve.

Their fritto misto includes shrimp, smelt, cod, and squid, as well as delicata squash and lemon wheels, all battered in buttermilk and seasoned flour, then fried to airy, crispy perfection. They’re served over squid ink aioli with fresh parsley to brighten things up. If you make your own, sprinkle a little extra salt over before serving with fresh lemon wedges for spritzing (seeds removed, please).

Chowhound

For something saucier, check out their gorgeous seafood stew, a combination of Rhode Island mussels, local New Jersey littleneck clams, wild Gulf shrimp from Florida, local scallops, and blue cod. Each type of seafood is cooked separately (seared in plenty of butter or steamed in wine with aromatics) so everything is precisely the right texture, but then they mingle in a light tomato broth with some fresno chiles for a little bit of heat.

If you want to recreate the dish at home, buy a combination of whatever seafood looks freshest and best—and if it’s local, all the better. Don’t forget the grilled country bread on the side for sopping up all the sauce.

Chowhound

You’ll likely want to wash it all down with good wine, but don’t forget the other great Italian drinks tradition of aperitivo! (Negroni, anyone?)

Related Reading: How to Make DIY Digestifs for After Dinner

Whatever your heritage, if you’re a seafood lover, consider serving some on your holiday table this year. We have seven suggestions below (plus a bonus Italian dessert), but feel free to pick and choose—and add as many extra fishes as you please! The holidays are all about joyful abundance and generosity, after all.

As they say in Italy (or at least in the movies), Buon natale, and mangia, mangia!

Seafood Recipes for Your Own Feast of the Seven Fishes

Fish Stew

Chowhound

This particular recipe may have a more Gallic accent, but the idea is the same: plenty of fresh seafood in a light tomato broth. Add whatever fish and shellfish looks best at the market, and play around with the seasonings if you want a more Italian profile (more lemon and garlic, and skip the aioli). Get our Fish Stew recipe.

Sautéed Calamari with Parsley and Garlic

Chowhound

Cooking squid quickly is the key to keeping them tender here. If you have your fishmonger clean them for you, this takes almost no time at all, and it makes a great light, bright, lemony dish to balance out heavier courses. Get our Sautéed Calamari with Parsley and Garlic recipe.

Steamed Dungeness Crabs

Chowhound

Winter is the perfect time to eat sweet, meaty West Coast Dungeness crabs, which are best prepared simply, without much in the way of interference. (The East Coast blue crab season ends around November as the smaller crustaceans migrate South to warmer waters, but if you can find fresh ones, try our Steamed Blue Crabs recipe.) Alternatively, serve snow or king crab legs—whatever’s freshest is always best. Get our Steamed Dungeness Crabs recipe.

Basic Garlicky Spaghetti

Chowhound

Because you have to have pasta, right? This is a simple but satisfying spaghetti with plenty of garlic and pepper, perfect for ladling some quickly-cooked shrimp or clams on top, or add anchovies if you’re a fan of the briny fish. Get our Basic Garlicky Spaghetti recipe.

Fritto Misto Amalfitano

Leite’s Culinaria

If you want to scale back a bit (pun intended), try our Fried Calamari recipe, but if you want to go all-out, batter and fry an assortment of seafood and lemon slices. Actually, try frying lemon slices even if you’re only doing one type of seafood; they’re a great citrusy-crispy accompaniment—but more fresh lemon wedges are also welcome for serving. Get the recipe.

Lobster Risotto

Chowhound

Risotto is luxuriously creamy yet retains a toothsome bite, and this version is especially grand with the addition of tender, sweet-salty lobster. It’s also a great way to add an extra fancy ingredient without breaking the bank, since you only need a couple lobsters for a crowd. (For something a bit less time-consuming and a little less indulgent that’s still stunning, see our Seared Scallops with Lemony Farro and Arugula Salad.) Get our Lobster Risotto recipe.

Related Reading: How to Choose a Live Lobster

Fish Baked in Parchment

Chowhound

Baking fish en papillote (or al cartoccio in Italian) is a super easy and delicious method—fast, foolproof, and impressive when you serve each guest their own little steamy parchment packet. This is a great candidate for a regular weeknight dinner, but also a welcome respite in the midst of a multi-course meal of more elaborate preparations. Get our Fish Baked in Parchment recipe.

Pandoro

Chowhound

The more famous sweet Italian Christmas bread may be the fruit-studded panettone, but pandoro is a close second. It’s a labor of love, yes, but the result is definitely stunning, and the flavor is lovely: sweet, yeasty, citrusy, and scented with vanilla. We serve ours with a Tuaca-Mascarpone Cream and a snowy dusting of powdered sugar. Get our Pandoro recipe.

For more tips, hacks, and recipes, check out our Ultimate Guide to Christmas and visit our Holiday Entertaining Headquarters.

from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2AHGv7a
via IFTTT

The Best Recipes and Tips for Christmas

Hosting people for the holidays? Here’s everything you need to know about pulling off a perfect Christmas dinner, with our best Christmas recipes, tips, and tricks.

There’s more to it than a re-purposed Thanksgiving menu. Unlike the Turkey Day meal, Christmas dinner is much more flexible. Some people even have it on Christmas Eve. And while many do repeat turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, plenty don’t.

Delve into other delicious ideas (from prime rib to pernil) and start new traditions with your family and friends.

Related Reading: The Best Gourmet Food & Drink Gifts for 2019

Here, we’ve provided some tips for planning your Christmas Day meal and rounded up some of our favorite recipes for the holidays, from cocktails to cookies (of course), and from glazed ham to lamb. Plus, tips for doing it on a budget.

If you want to keep it casual, consider hosting a holiday brunch potluck, at-home happy hour, or low-key Christmas party (theme optional but always encouraged). But if it’s the big Christmas dinner you’re tackling, just keep scrolling.

Christmas Dinner Cooking Tips

Even if you don’t touch turkey, there is a lot of overlap between pulling off Christmas dinner and pulling off Thanksgiving—they’re both fairly epic meals, after all. So they require some measure of planning.

1. Consider Your Oven Space

mphillips007 / E+ / Getty Images

Don’t plan a menu that requires too many oven-roasted, braised, or baked dishes, unless you can do several of them ahead of time. Like pie, or practically any other Christmas dessert. If you can make it in advance, you should; one less thing to worry about on the holiday itself.

For the remaining dishes you’ll need to make at the same time, consider alternative methods—if you want to bake fresh bread, roast vegetables, and need to warm your ham, consider cooking one of these things on the stovetop, on a grill, via sous vide, slow cooker, or Instant Pot.

Instant Pot Smart WiFi 6 Quart Electric Pressure Cooker, $99.99 on Amazon

The smartest way to cook Christmas dinner.

Buy Now

Related Reading: Crock-Pot Christmas Dinner Recipes | Instant Pot Christmas Dinner Recipes

2. Check Your Dish Situation

Once your menu is set, make sure you have proper serving dishes and utensils for everything on it. Depending on how you’re going to cook your meat, you might want to invest in a large roasting pan if you don’t already have one.

Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless Steel 16-Inch Roasting Pan with Rack, $44.99 on Amazon

Large enough to roast a 20 pound turkey or a big hunk of pork or beef.

Buy Now

And large platters and bowls are necessary, as well as a gravy boat and other items. If you’re in the market for something new, get some ideas from our Special Occasion Dishes and Linens article.

3. Add Something Light and Bright

Chowhound

Still feel like there’s something missing from the menu? With all the heavy meat and potatoes probably present, you need something to balance it out. A salad will do the trick. But make it a seasonal salad with some fall or winter fruit, like this pear and spinach salad.

Or, you may want something pickled, like these pickled carrots and shallots, or a Southern chow chow, to cut through the fatty nature of the other foods. Consider this the light, bright tinsel that adds the perfect finishing touch.

4. Don’t Forget About Appetizers

Chowhound

You’ll want some small nibbles to keep your guests happy and out of your hair while you finish up in the kitchen, so check out our 12 Easy Holiday Party Starters for some ideas. But also…

5. Don’t Shun Shortcuts

Andrew Sherman / Getty Images

Yes, it would be amazing to make literally everything from scratch, but it’s perfectly okay not to, and sometimes going the store-bought route really saves your sanity. No time to perfect your pie crust? Buy it, or opt for an easier (and likely tastier) press-in Graham Cracker Crust recipe instead. Or buy dessert outright, either from a mail order bakery or at Trader Joe’s.

Related Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Christmas Cookies | The Best Christmas Desserts Besides Cookies

And you can definitely outsource most of the aforementioned appetizers, either to friends (more on that below), or by buying high-quality items at the store. Simply stocking up on some good cheese, olives, and marcona almonds to arrange on a platter will more than suffice.

6. Ask For & Accept Help

Chowhound

Even if you don’t want to go full-on potluck, don’t be afraid to ask friends and family to bring certain dishes, whether they’re things you don’t personally love (green bean casserole, perhaps) or just don’t have time for (from homemade Parker House rolls your hardcore baker cousin could knock out in no time to any easy appetizer you want to assign).

And if someone asks you what they can bring, tell them what you really need, whether that’s new napkins or a simple side salad, or even some extra serving dishes. Otherwise you’re just going to get another bottle of wine (which might not be so bad).

Related Reading: 9 Grocery Store Wines Worth Entertaining With | How to Chill a Bottle of Wine in 20 Minutes Flat

7. Get a Head Start on Christmas Day

Or whatever day you’re actually making dinner; you can do several tasks in the early a.m. to make the dwindling hours before dinner less stressful. In the morning (before or after presents), assemble and bake any casserole side dishes so you only need to reheat them at dinner time. You could do this while you make breakfast. Five or fewer hours beforehand, mix and refrigerate any batch cocktails if you’re serving them, set up the drinks station, set the table, and do as much of the hors d’oeuvres as you can: wash and prep the crudités, slice the cheeses, and make the dips.

And if you only have so much money to spend, see our guide to Christmas Dinner on a Budget.

Setting the Scene

Oksana Luksina / EyeEm / Getty Images

Your house is likely decorated beautifully already, but make sure the festive warmth extends to the table itself. A simple runner and a seasonal centerpiece with some candles or fairy lights flickering is all you need, but adding special dishes and serving pieces is next-level.

See our tips for decorating with flowers for the holidays, and our favorite floral delivery services too (some will ship you entire tablescapes).

14-Inch Deck the Halls Centerpiece, $45 on FTD

One or two of these (depending on the size of your table) and you're all set.

Buy Now

Special Touches

Con Poulos

If you’re a wannabe Martha and are all for making things extra special, we’ve got tips for you too! Here are some projects you can take on to really wow your guests:

• How to Make Homemade Candy Canes
• How to Make Edible Wreaths
• How to Make DIY Liqueur
• How to Make DIY Digestifs for After Dinner
• Easy Holiday Food Hacks to Make Your Menu Magical
• Christmas Candy Recipes to Give as Gifts

Christmas Recipes

If you’re still looking for just the right addition to your menu, may we suggest some of our favorite Christmas recipes?

Cocktails

Brandy Alexander

Chowhound

The dark, cold nights of the newly turned Winter Solstice are the perfect times to break out this drink. It’s a very sophisticated blend of crème de cacao, brandy, and heavy cream. Shake with ice, then pour into a chilled glass, and top with a fresh grating of nutmeg. Get our Brandy Alexander recipe.

German Mulled Wine

Chowhound

The sparkling, festive Christmas markets of Germany were the inspiration for this rich and fortifying recipe. You heat dry red wine with brandy, and infuse it with lemon and orange peel, cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon, then sweeten discretely with sugar. Get our German Mulled Wine recipe.

Related Reading: Cozy Crock-Pot Cocktails (and Mocktails) to Get the Party Started

Cranberry Sangria

Chowhound

For a cold take on mulled wine, this festive sangria can’t be beat. With fresh cranberries, tart green apples, a warmly spiced simple syrup, ruby-red cranberry juice, and plenty of booze (port wine, Tempranillo rosé, and Cointreau), it’s guaranteed to make things merry. Get our Cranberry Sangria recipe.

Moscow Mule

Chowhound

A cocktail from Cold War times, this is a blend of vodka and ginger beer, garnished with a lime wedge. It’s simple and refreshing, a welcome, ginger-flavored corrective to the creamy heaviness of a holiday drink like eggnog. Serve it in the traditional frosty copper mug! Get our Moscow Mule recipe.

Best Eggnog

Chowhound

Eggnog is the fuel that runs holiday parties, but how often is it really good? We’ve got nothing against a good-quality, non–sugary commercial eggnog, but for a really special party or event, we make our own, using this old-fashioned, good-old spiked recipe that needs time to cure. Get our Best Eggnog recipe.

Meaty Mains

Honey-Mustard Glazed Ham

Chowhound

A beautifully glazed, seared-at-the-edges ham is a holiday centerpiece that only, perhaps, a turkey can vie with for sheer handsomeness. This recipe produces a gorgeous specimen. Please be careful, though, to buy the best ham your budget affords. Get our Honey-Mustard Glazed Ham recipe.

Related Reading: The Best Meat Delivery & Butcher Subscription Services

Puerto Rican Pernil

Andrew Bui

If ham seems ho-hum, try roasting pork the Puerto Rican way: Pernil is a gorgeous hunk of crisp-skinned meat that absolutely deserves the spotlight, and the adobo and lime seasoning are a nice change of pace from sweet, syrupy glazes. Get the Puerto Rican Pernil recipe.

Prime Rib au Jus

Chowhound

A slow-roasted prime rib roast is another top contender. It’s both easier and more delicious when you use the reverse-sear method for a perfectly rosy center and a crusty golden-brown exterior. Get our Prime Rib recipe.

Beef Wellington

Chowhound

Willing to put in a bit more work? A classic beef Wellington is a worthy endeavor and sure to wow with its golden pastry crust and decadent layers of pâté, mushroom duxelles, and prosciutto cradling the tenderloin (which more than lives up to its name). Get our Beef Wellington recipe.

Fennel-and-Prosciutto Stuffed Pork Loin Roast

Chowhound

If you don’t do red meat but still like a layered drama (without a lot of actual fuss), this stuffed pork loin roast is for you. The stuffing includes fennel and apple, and the roast gets a rosemary rub. Get our Fennel-and-Prosciutto Stuffed Pork Loin Roast recipe.

Crown Roast of Pork

Chowhound

Then, of course, there is the crown roast of pork, which you might imagine on a table at “Downton Abbey.” Despite its old-fashioned nature, it’s admittedly impressive, and it tastes wonderful too. Get your butcher to tie it together and most of the hard work is done for you. Get our Crown Roast of Pork recipe.

Basic Boneless Roasted Leg of Lamb

Chowhound

If you’re a lamb fam, this is your go-to, and putting it together is a snap. Gremolata, a mixture of parsley, garlic, and lemon zest, offers assertive fresh herb and citrus flavors. Get our Basic Boneless Roasted Leg of Lamb recipe.

Mediterranean Rotisserie Leg of Lamb with Potatoes, Fennel, and Olives

Chowhound

But if the weather outside isn’t too frightful, take the main course cookery outdoors and it gets even better. A garlic and lemon rub with paprika, cumin, and coriander flavor this leg of lamb is cooked on a rotisserie spit until crispy and browned on the outside and juicy on the inside. Put a tray of potatoes, onion, fennel, and olives underneath the meat while it rotates on the spit so that its drippings don’t go to waste. Get our Mediterranean Rotisserie Leg of Lamb with Potatoes, Fennel, and Olives recipe.

Easy Brined Turkey with Cream Gravy

Chowhound

Last but not least (okay…maybe least, if only because we just got done eating all our Thanksgiving leftovers), there is the tried-and-true turkey option. Check out our best turkey recipes for more interesting takes on the traditional roast bird, or keep it classic and get our Easy Brined Turkey recipe with Cream Gravy.

Side Dishes

Truffled Fingerling Smashed Potatoes

Chowhound

What’s the easiest (not cheapest) way to make a meal fancier? Add truffles or truffle oil. Rich and earthy oil from white truffles folds into fingerling potatoes for a umami-packed side dish. Get our Truffled Fingerling Smashed Potatoes recipe.

Related Reading: How to Make the Best Mashed Potatoes Ever

Broccoli-Parmesan Casserole

Chowhound

This side dish won’t get any beauty pageant awards, but tell us your rating after you taste the cheesiness and feel the fluffy texture in your mouth. We give it five stars. Get our Broccoli-Parmesan Casserole recipe.

Poached Pear and Blue Cheese Salad

Chowhound

You will barely notice the fresh escarole and feathery frisée greens because the poached pear and pungent blue cheese will take all the attention. No complaints here. It’s a salad that people won’t push to the side of their plates. Get our Poached Pear and Blue Cheese Salad recipe.

Sweet Potato Casserole

Chowhound

Sure, a marshmallow-topped, nicely browned sweet potato is a must-make for Thanksgiving, but what about Christmas? It’s easy to assemble in advance, looks cool, and goes remarkably well with a glazed ham as well, of course, as the traditional turkey. The main consideration: how good it tastes. Get our Sweet Potato Casserole recipe.

Related Reading: Creative Sweet Potato Casseroles | 17 Ways to Serve Sweet Potatoes This Holiday Season

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

Chowhound

Butternut squash soup is a fall and winter staple. This recipe is a refinement: It’s not only delicious, with a hint of tart, Granny Smith apple that balances the squash’s sweetness, but it’s exceptionally easy to make. (Spoiler alert: You roast the squash whole, then peel and seed when it’s at maximum easiness.) Get our Roasted Butternut Squash Soup recipe.

Gingerbread Loaf

Chowhound

This bread can go before, during, or after the meal. One taste of this moist, dark bread lets you know the holiday celebrations are on. This is a classic, easier to make than cookies or a fruitcake, and far more versatile. Serve it for breakfast with some good, strong coffee, for dessert after a light dinner (don’t forget the whipped cream!), and even as part of a holiday dinner basket of mixed breads. Get our Gingerbread Loaf recipe.

Dessert (OK, Mostly Cookies)

Eggnog Cheesecake

Chowhound

It’s good to gild the lily every now and again. So when we were left with a gallon of surplus eggnog while recipe-testing our Best Eggnog, we decided to update classic cheesecake by adding a gingersnap crust and a good slug of nog. Get our Eggnog Cheesecake recipe.

Christmas Coconut Cake

Chowhound

Now here’s a show-stopper. Can it get more seasonal than a cake that looks like a fluffy blanket of sweet snow? No. That’s the answer. Don’t use the regular coconut you see in most supermarkets. Spring for the good stuff. It really matters here. The three-layer cake will go great with a nice cocoa, hot apple cider, coffee, or after-dinner drink. Get our Christmas Coconut Cake recipe.

Related Reading: More Great Christmas Desserts That Aren’t Cookies

Pfeffernüsse

Chowhound

These cookies (literally “pepper nuts”) have been baked in some form since late Medieval days. They’re firm, spiced with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, black pepper, and allspice, with honey, almonds and candied peel—essentially the most precious things available to bakers hundreds of year ago. They’re crisp and crumbly, insulated by a thick coating of powdered sugar. Get our Pfeffernüsse recipe.

Spode Christmas Tree Tiered Stand, $32.99 at Wayfair (normally $100)

A delightful way to display your Christmas cookies.

Buy Now

Christmas Sugar Cookies

Chowhound

Here they are, the cookies as essential to Christmas as the glass of milk left out for Santa on the night of December 24th. Leave out a plate of these buttery, gently crisp cookies in the shape of stockings and snowmen, and they’ll disappear, all right. Get our Christmas Sugar Cookies recipe.

Related Reading: How to Make Your Sugar Cookies Taste Better

Candy Cane Cookies

Chowhound

These buttery hand-shaped cookies don’t just stand out at the cookie swap for their appearance, they’re also delicious. The dough contains lots of butter, like we said, but also powdered sugar and a mix of almond and vanilla extracts. Get our Candy Cane Cookies recipe.

Florentines

Chowhound

Lacy, crisp, and delicate, Florentines are also seriously rich, with plenty of orange zest to balance out the chocolate and buttery caramel-nut flavors. They’re actually easy to make—just melt together sugar, butter, corn syrup, and cream, and mix in flour and almonds: No creaming necessary! Get our Florentines recipe.

Related Reading: Crazy Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes

Icebox Sugar Cookies

Chowhound

“Icebox” because, once you make and shape the dough into logs or rectangular planks, all you need to do is slice a few off when the mood strikes you (or as the holiday cookie swap looms) and bake. This is a foundation recipe that you can alter in various ways. Get our Icebox Sugar Cookies recipe.

Split-Second Cookies

Chowhound

Instead of having to shape and fill individual thumbprint cookies, this ingenious shortcut version simplifies the process by baking logs of dough with a trough of jam down the center. After a quick bake, just slice the logs into cookies and they’re ready for a holiday cookie plate. Get our Split-Second Cookies recipe.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Chowhound

A cross between brownie and cookie, these rich cocoa beauties get their fractured tops by being rolling in white powdered sugar before baking. It creates a dramatic look on top of deep, fudgy, cake-like centers. Get our Chocolate Crinkle Cookies recipe.

Gingerbread Cookies

Chowhound

The sweet, warm, spiced notes of gingerbread cookies say “holiday” regardless of whether you decorate these human-shaped cookies or leave them au naturel. Heads, legs, and arms are all up for grabs with these holiday favorites. Get our Gingerbread Cookies recipe.

Gingersnap Sandwich Cookies with Lemon Filling

Chowhound

Extra-gingery, molasses-sweetened cookies are sandwiched around a lemon cream that gets a triple dose of lemon from zest, juice, and extract. Make them for a fancy holiday cookie plate, a dinner party, or a lovely host gift. Get our Gingersnap Sandwich Cookies with Lemon Filling recipe.

Checkerboard Cookies

Chowhound

They look difficult to make, but these two-tone cookies are actually pretty easy. Start with one batch of vanilla cookie dough, add chocolate to half of it, form four long, square logs, layer the dough into a checkerboard pattern, and slice. Get our Checkerboard Cookies recipe.

For even more holiday tips, tricks, recipes, and ideas, visit our Holiday Headquarters.

Related Video: This Is How Christmas Is Done in Cuba

— Article first created by John Birdsall in 2015; updated by Amy Sowder, Jessica Gentile, and Jen Wheeler.

from Food News – Chowhound https://ift.tt/2PxMMbH
via IFTTT