Holiday Recipes Recipes
Crowd-pleasing holiday recipes—centrepiece roasts, festive desserts & make-ahead sides—with storage tips and hosting game plans.
Invisible Apple Cake — Layers of Pure Apple Bliss 🍎
Manuela (cookwithmanuela) adapted by JojoM
75 min
Japanese Chestnut Kugelhof—Silky Ganache Glaze
Shigeru (Japanese Pâtisserie), adapted by JojoM
125 min
Boozy Eggnog Ice Cream 🍨🥂 (Holiday Spirit in Every Scoop)
JojoM adapted from Jeni Britton Bauer
25 min
Jeni’s Churro Ice Cream 🍦✨ (Cinnamon Sugar Crunch)
JojoM adapted from Jeni Britton Bauer
55 min
Jeni’s Cranberry Royale Sorbet 🍒✨ (Bright & Festive Scoop)
JojoM adapted from Jeni Britton Bauer
30 min
Jeni’s Hot Toddy Sorbet 🍋🥃 (Cozy Winter Refreshment)
JojoM adapted from Jeni Britton Bauer
25 min
Jeni’s Pumpkin 5-Spice Ice Cream 🎃✨ (Warm & Spiced Fall Scoop)
JojoM adapted from Jeni Britton Bauer
45 min
Jeni’s Sweet Potato & Torched Marshmallow Ice Cream 🍠🔥 (Cozy Fall Treat)
JojoM adapted from Jeni Britton Bauer
35 min
Street-Style Oven Kebab Laffa with Creamy Tahina
Sivan’s Kitchen (adapted by JojoM)
30 min
6-Ingredient Marble Chiffon—Cloud-Soft & Citrus
Sivan’s Kitchen (adapted by JojoM)
100 min
Pillow-Soft Mary Grace Ensaymada (Copycat Recipe)
Chef Rose of Caro and Marie, Cebu adapted by JojoM
110 min
Charred Middle Eastern Chicken Bowls + Garlic
Shredhappens (adapted by JojoM)
35 min
Moist Chocolate Cake with Caramel Icing (Mas Bongga!)
Chef RV Manabat adapted by JojoM
80 min
Hearty Moroccan Harira—Beef, Noodles & Legumes
Sivan’s Kitchen (adapted by JojoM)
155 min
No-Bake Chocolate Fudge Bars—5-Minute Holiday Treat
Chef RV Manabat (adapted by JojoM)
15 min
Easy One Pan Chicken Shawarma with Garlic Sauce
JojoM adapted from recipeincaption
80 min
Othello Bites: Dark Choc Ganache Meringue Kisses
Sébastien Ordioni, adapted by JojoM
120 min
30-Minute Oven Chicken Kebabs + Fluffy Rice
Sivan’s Kitchen (adapted by JojoM)
50 min
Holiday Pichi Pichi—Chewy Cassava Coconut Bites
Chef RV Manabat (adapted by JojoM)
40 min
Intro
This curated holiday recipes collection brings together stress-busting mains, sides, salads, and showpiece desserts—from classic roast turkey and one-pot brisket to Filipino bibingka, Italian panettone, and festive ice creams. Whether you’re hosting a big crowd or keeping it cosy, you’ll find make-ahead strategies, reheating tips, and plating ideas that prioritise flavour and timing. Use Quick Picks to jump to guaranteed hits, scan Make-Ahead & Storage to plan your cooking order, and check Compare Popular Options to choose dishes by time, skill, and how well they hold on a buffet.
Quick Picks
- The centrepiece: Ultimate Juicy Roast Turkey with Garlic Herb Butter
- Set-and-forget main: Holiday Brisket: One-Pot Magic for the Holidays
- Iconic dessert: Homemade Pumpkin Pie with Real Pumpkin Purée
- Filipino favourite: Easy Oven-Baked Bibingka with Coconut and Salted Egg
- Ice-cold cheer: Boozy Eggnog Ice Cream 🍨🥂
Make-Ahead & Storage
| Item | Fridge | Freezer | Reheat/Serve Tips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roast Turkey | 3 days (sliced) | 2–3 months | Reheat slices with a splash of stock, covered, 160–170 °C. |
| Holiday Brisket | 4 days | 3 months | Chill in its gravy; reheat gently to keep moist. |
| Pumpkin Pie | 3–4 days | 2 months | Serve chilled/room temp; crisp base 10 min at 160 °C if needed. |
| Bibingka | 2 days | 1–2 months | Warm 5–8 min at 160–170 °C; add butter & coconut before serving. |
| Ultra-Soft Panettone | 3–4 days | 2 months (sliced) | Refresh 3–5 min at 160–170 °C; serve slightly warm. |
| Cranberry Royale Sorbet | n/a | 2–3 months | Temper 5–10 min before scooping; serve with citrus. |
Compare Popular Options
| Dish/Item | Time | Skill | Make-ahead | Best with / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roast Turkey (Herb Butter) | 3–3.5 h | Intermediate | ★★★★☆ | Classic centrepiece; make gravy base ahead. |
| One-Pot Holiday Brisket | 3.5–4 h | Easy | ★★★★★ | Improves overnight; easy carve. |
| Pumpkin Pie (Real Purée) | 1.5 h | Easy | ★★★★★ | Bake day before; chill to set cleanly. |
| Bibingka (Oven-Baked) | 45–60 min | Easy | ★★★★☆ | Great warm; salted egg + coconut for nostalgia. |
| Panettone (Ultra-Soft) | 6–24 h (proofs) | Advanced | ★★★☆☆ | Festive showstopper; slice and lightly warm. |
| Boozy Eggnog Ice Cream | 25 min + chill | Intermediate | ★★★★☆ | Holiday-friendly; pairs with pie or crumble. |
Techniques That Matter
- Cook once, rest smart: Roasts stay juicier with a 20–30 min rest; warm gravy covers last-minute delays.
- Batch your oven: Roast veg at 200–220 °C while the main rests; use lower racks for crisp edges.
- Make sauces ahead: Cranberry, gravy base, and custards hold 2–3 days; finish with fresh herbs/citrus.
- Starch strategy: Parboil potatoes early; rough up edges and roast on hot trays for maximum crunch.
- Dessert timing: Bake pies the day before; whip cream and assemble cold elements just before serving.
- Freezer wins: Sorbets/ice creams, rolls, and gravy freeze well—label dates and reheat gently.
Common Mistakes & Fixes
- Dry turkey → Overcooked breast; spatchcock or shield with foil and baste with hot butter.
- Soggy roast potatoes → Tray crowded; preheat tray, use higher heat, and don’t cover.
- Flat gravy → No fond; deglaze pan with wine/stock and reduce to concentrate.
- Weeping pumpkin pie → Overbake; pull when the centre jiggles slightly, cool gradually.
- Overloaded oven → Stagger cook times; reheat sides while the main rests.
Serving Ideas / Planner’s Notes
- Per person: 1 main + 2–3 sides + 1 dessert keeps plates varied without overload.
- Balance rich + fresh: pair brisket/turkey with a zippy salad like Viral Green Crunch—Pomegranate-Mint Tahini Salad.
- Texture/temperature mix: add a chilled scoop like Hot Toddy Sorbet beside warm puddings.
- Vegetarian inclusion: offer hearty veg mains and festive sides such as Ultimate Crispy Smashed Garlic Parmesan Potatoes.
- Drinks-friendly desserts: serve Brown Butter Chocolate Lava Cakes with espresso or digestifs.
Featured Links
Add playful bites to your spread with Spooky Witches' Fingers Meringues for Halloween, an elegant Japanese Chestnut Kugelhof—Silky Ganache Glaze for Christmas, or a no-bake crowd-pleaser like Creamy Peach Mango Float – No Bake Holiday Dessert.