25 Ways to Have the Best Holiday Ever, According to the Pros

We asked Food Network stars, chefs, designers and more how to make the season extra-festive — and stress-free!

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Photograph by Getty Images

Photograph by Getty Images

Though we can all agree that Christmas is the most wonderful time of year, it could also be the most stressful time of year, too. We're talking about you shipping delays and holiday traffic (womp!). Though some things are just out of your control, there are still a lot of ways you can put the fun back in your countdown to Christmas. In fact, we have 25 of them for you to try this December, courtesy of some of your favorite Food Network stars, chefs, designers and other pros. Keep reading to see how you can make this year's celebration your most joyful one yet!

1) Put Some Thought Behind Your Party Favors

I love giving out personalized recipe cards for dishes that I make during the holidays. That way, friends and family can re-create them anytime they want.

Eddie Jackson, BBQ Brawl

Photograph by Jake Cohen

Photograph by Jake Cohen

2) Set Up a Grazing Station

I build a giant grazing table by putting down butcher paper and covering it with sliced cheeses, crudités, dips and platters of freshly fried latkes with all the toppings. It’s so photogenic, plus people always end up stuffed, and it lets me spend more time enjoying my guests!

—Jake Cohen, Author, Jew-ish

Photograph by ShutterStock

Photograph by ShutterStock

3) Hot Cocoa is Always a Winner

When in doubt, give chocolate as a gift. This hot cocoa mix is better than anything you can buy in a store, and the recipe goes a long way.

—Jessica King, Co-owner, Brother Wolf, Knoxville, TN

Hot Cocoa Mix:

1 pound dark chocolate, finely grated

5 cups dry milk powder, toasted on a baking sheet at 300˚ F for 20 minutes

4 cups confectioners’ sugar

2 cups Dutch-process cocoa powder

4 teaspoons cornstarch

2 teaspoons fine sea salt

Photograph by Ralph Smith

Photograph by Ralph Smith

4) Utilize Your Mini Muffin Tin

Use mini-muffin tins as a mold for appetizers like puff pastry bites and mini quiches. The tins make things easy to put together, cool and reheat. And they ensure your guests don’t fill up on apps before the big meal.

Jet Tila, Ready Jet Cook on the Food Network Kitchen app

5) Use What's Around You

When it comes to decorating the table, take a walk outside! One year I forgot decor, so my sister Crish and I went around my neighborhood snipping branches from wild eucalyptus trees. Crish laid them on the table, interspersing them with persimmons and pomegranates. It was gorgeous — and I could eat the fruit afterward!

6) Set Aside Your Plates and Cutlery

Pick out all your serving platters, bowls and utensils in advance so you know you have enough pieces and that they’ll look nice together.

Hawa Hassan, Hawa at Home

7) Lights, Lights and More Lights!

Don’t skimp on twinkly Christmas tree lights — they create such a festive atmosphere! My rule is 150 lights per foot of tree, so a five-foot tree should be strung with 750 lights.

—Sabrina Soto, The High/Low Project on HGTV

8) Prep Your Cocktails

If you want to serve a special cocktail, make 10 to 15 portions in advance, add 1/2 ounce of water per serving and store in a pitcher. This way you don’t have to spend your entire time in the kitchen mixing drinks.

—Jeff Bell, Owner, PDT, New York City

9) Stock Up on Cream Cheese

Cream cheese is my MVP during party season — it truly makes everything delicious! It can be used to thicken sauces at the last minute or to whip together cheese balls. And the mild flavor and creamy consistency work well in both sweet and savory dishes.

—LaMara Davidson, Chef and Founder, Cornbread + Kimchi, Dallas

Photograph by Ryan Liebe

Photograph by Ryan Liebe

10) Change Up Your Menu

The Mauro family changes the theme of our holiday menu every year to keep things funky, fun and exciting. Mexican one year, Greek the next, traditional Italian the following. Make whatever you crave!

Photograph by Jon Paterson

Photograph by Jon Paterson

11) DIY Your Gifts

I like a food gift that keeps on giving, so I always make DIY cocktail kits. Last year I did Negroni boxes with two rocks glasses, a silicone ice cube tray and one bottle each of Campari, gin and vermouth. I wrapped it all up with a card that included a Negroni recipe along with a few more recipes using the liquors, and I’m still getting thank-yous.

—Ayesha Nurdjaja, Chef and Partner, Shukette, New York City

12) Turn Opening Presents into a Game

Make a game out of opening gifts: Grab a spinner from one of your favorite board games (think Twister) and add every person’s name to the board. Spin the wheel to decide who opens a gift next. This allows each person to have the spotlight and express appreciation, and it avoids the situation where everyone is ripping into gifts at the same time.

—Amber Kemp-Gerstel, Blogger, Damask Love

Photograph by Getty Images

Photograph by Getty Images

13) Set Up a Gift-Wrap Station

Set up a holiday gift-wrap station you can leave out all season. I start by standing up rolls of wrapping paper in a tall laundry hamper or basket, then I put out a bin of tape, scissors, tags and pens. Having this at the ready makes gift-wrapping fun and easy — and I don’t have to worry about putting it all away each time.

—Jasmine Roth, Help! I Wrecked My House on HGTV

14) Say "Yes" to a Helping Hand

Take people up on their offers to help out. Everyone likes to be involved in the holiday cooking, so when guests offer to bring desserts or other food, let them! Any little bit makes a big difference.

Photograph by Ralph Smith

Photograph by Ralph Smith

15) Stick to the Classics

There’s a time and a place for trying new things, but during the holidays I lean into the classics: I’ll be making tried-and-true nostalgic dishes like soft sugar cookies and crispy potato latkes.

16) Spike Your Morning Cup of Joe

To make the most out of lounging around with family all day, spike your morning or afternoon coffee! I’ve found that a cup of coffee plus one shot of Irish cream is delicious, with just enough zing.

17) Make a List and Check It Twice a la Santa

Write down your holiday menu and then cross three items off your list. Less is more, and you will lessen the pressure!

18) Dress Up Your Table

I love dressing up the table for the holidays — to me, it’s an extension of the meal. With that in mind, I place a variety of spices (such as star anise, chiles and cloves) in the center of the table mixed with candles.

Photograph by Catherine McCord

Photograph by Catherine McCord

19) Add a Kid-Friendly Treat to Your Table

Make kids feel extra special by creating a holiday party board just for them with tons of homemade and store-bought treats.

Catherine McCord, Blogger, Weelicious

20) Dress Up Your Living Room

I dress up my throw pillows to make them look festive for the holidays. For example, if I’m decorating with ice blue, I’ll tie an ice blue ribbon into a bow around my pillows.

—Tiffany Brooks, $50K Three Ways on HGTV

21) Make a Festive Sipper

My pumpkin-spiced bourbon cocktail perfectly captures the flavor of the season and is a big hit with friends — they always ask for the recipe.

Bourbon Pumpkin-Spiced Cider:

6 ounces bourbon

1 cup apple cider

1 ounce lemon juice

1/2 ounce pure maple syrup

Grated nutmeg and Luxardo or maraschino cherries, for garnish

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with the bourbon, apple cider, lemon juice and maple syrup.

2. Shake vigorously, then strain into 2 rocks classes filled with ice. Garnish each drink with nutmeg and a cherry.

Photograph by Stephanie Izard Inc.

Photograph by Stephanie Izard Inc.

22) Have a Quick Sauce On Hand

For a near-instant side dish, use sauces and spice blends that you just need to combine with vegetables. Our 'This Little Goat Went to Southeast Asia' sauce on sautéed green beans is a crowd-pleaser that’s done in 10 minutes.

Stephanie Izard, Chef and Partner, Boka Group Chicago

23) Make a Holiday Pizza

I love making pizza with my guests to keep the party light and entertaining. I’ll use premade dough and set up toppings so guests can pick their favorites and just pop the pizza into the oven. During the holidays, a chestnut-truffle pizza with hot agave is always a hit!

—David Lee, Chef and Co-owner, Planta, Miami

Photograph by Ryan Dausch

Photograph by Ryan Dausch

24) Breakfast Makes the Perfect "Thank You"

If you’re attending a party, bring your host a holiday-inspired breakfast for the next day. Muffins, homemade granola, coffee...it gives them the morning off after hosting and is a nice way to say "thank you."

25) Offer Mocktails and Cocktails

Put as much thought and care into nonalcoholic drinks as you would alcoholic ones. More and more people are partying sober, and they appreciate something more interesting than a can of diet soda. Pomegranate juice, ginger ale, fresh limes and basil or mint can come together in many delicious ways. And don’t forget to garnish with herbs, fruit or edible flowers.

Credits:

Interview by Erica Finamore for Food Network Magazine.

Introduction text and headlines written by Michelle Baricevic for FoodNetwork.com.

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