December is a month of festive celebrations, cozy gatherings, and mouthwatering dishes. Whether you’re looking for a traditional holiday meal, a decadent dessert, or a simple snack, there’s something for everyone in this list of delicious recipes. From savory to sweet, from spicy to mild, from classic to creative, these recipes will make your December more enjoyable and memorable.
Game Terrine with Brandy-Soaked Prunes
If you’re looking for a special Christmas dish that showcases the rich and gamey flavors of winter, look no further than this game terrine with brandy-soaked prunes. This recipe by Nicholas Balfe combines tender game meat (such as venison or pheasant) with prune jam, brandy, mustard, and herbs for a savory and sweet filling that’s perfect for sandwiches or appetizers. The terrine is chilled in the fridge until firm and then sliced into portions. You can serve it with crusty bread, crackers, or cheese.
Clementine and Sloe Gin Mince Pies
Mince pies are one of the most beloved treats of the holiday season, but they can also be quite time-consuming to make from scratch. That’s why we love this easy version by Allrecipes, which uses ready-made pastry dough and canned mincemeat. All you need to do is mix the mincemeat with some clementine zest and sloe gin (or any other liqueur you like) and spoon it into the pastry cases. Then bake them until they are golden and bubbly. You can enjoy them plain or with some whipped cream or ice cream.
Black Garlic and Clementine Nut Roast
Nut roasts are often dry and bland when made from scratch, but this recipe by Delicious Magazine 3 proves that they can be delicious too. This black garlic and clementine nut roast uses roasted nuts (such as almonds or walnuts) mixed with black garlic paste (made by slow-cooking regular garlic in oil) and clementine juice for a nutty and tangy flavor that complements the meat (such as beef or lamb). The roast is seasoned with salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves and baked in the oven until tender. You can serve it with some roasted vegetables or mashed potatoes.
Braised Red Cabbage with Pickled Walnuts and Tarragon
Red cabbage is an essential element of the festive plate in December because of its sweetness and acidity, which balance out the richness of other dishes. This braised red cabbage recipe by Allrecipes adds some extra flavor by pickling some walnuts in vinegar, sugar, salt, mustard seeds, peppercorns, cloves, bay leaves, allspice berries, and cinnamon sticks for a few days before adding them to the cabbage along with some tarragon leaves. The cabbage is cooked slowly in chicken stock until soft and caramelized. You can serve it as a side dish or as part of a main course.
Green Macaroni Cheese with Bacon Crumb
Macaroni cheese is another classic comfort food that’s easy to make at home. This green macaroni cheese recipe by Allrecipes twists it by adding some spinach to the cheese sauce along with some white wine vinegar for extra tanginess. The cheese sauce is mixed well with cooked macaroni pasta (or any other shape you prefer) before transferring it to a baking dish lined with bacon strips (or any other crispy bacon you like). The bacon crumb adds some crunchiness on top while baking until golden brown. You can serve it hot or cold.
Celeriac Sage Black Garlic Gratin
Celeriac is also known as celery root or celery root because it resembles celery stalks. It has a mild flavor that pairs well with savory ingredients such as sage, black garlic, and cheese. This celeriac sage black garlic gratin recipe by Delicious Magazine uses thinly sliced celeriac cooked in butter, salt, and pepper until tender. Then it’s topped with layers of black garlic paste, sage leaves, grated Parmesan cheese, and bread crumbs. The gratin is baked in the oven until bubbly and golden. You can serve it as an appetizer or as part of a main course.
Gingerbread S’mores Tree
The gingerbread s’mores tree is not your typical gingerbread house. This recipe by Allrecipes2 uses gingerbread cookies to create a tree shape with branches and leaves. Then it’s filled with marshmallows and chocolate bars to make s’mores. The tree is decorated with candy eyes, a nose, a mouth, and buttons. You can use any kind of gingerbread cookie you like or make your own from scratch. You can also use any kind of candy or chocolate you like to decorate your tree. You can also add some sprinkles or edible glitter for extra sparkle. This gingerbread s’mores tree is a fun and festive dessert that you can enjoy with your family and friends.
Chocolate Orange Cake with Candied Orange Slices
Chocolate and orange are a classic flavor combination that works well for any occasion. This chocolate orange cake recipe by Allrecipes uses a simple chocolate cake mix and adds some orange juice and zest to the batter for a moist and citrusy cake. The cake is topped with a rich chocolate ganache made with heavy cream and chocolate chips. The candied orange slices are made by boiling some orange slices in sugar and water until they become translucent and sticky. They add a beautiful contrast and a burst of flavor to the cake.
Mulled Wine
Mulled wine is a warm and cozy drink that’s perfect for cold winter nights. This mulled wine recipe by Allrecipes uses red wine (such as Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon) and adds some orange juice, honey, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and nutmeg for a spicy and sweet flavor. The wine is simmered on low heat for about 15 minutes until the flavors infuse. You can serve it in mugs or glasses with some orange slices and cinnamon sticks for garnish.
